Magazines Canada, the national magazine trade association, has announced the appointment of Matthew Holmes as its CEO, effective Jan. 25.

Holmes is the former executive director of the Canadian Organic Trade Association, an organization focused on Canada’s organic sector, which he founded in 2007. His background includes federal government policy development and analysis, and he has worked as special assistant of government relations for the president of York University. Holmes has served as reviews editor and an editorial board member of Arc Poetry Magazine. His own debut collection of poetry, Hitch, was published by Nightwood Editions in 2006, and he is the recipient of a gold National Magazine Award for poetry.

Holmes replaces outgoing Magazines Canada CEO Mark Jamison, who has led the organization since 1999.