Montreal, April 14 2026 – The Board of Directors of the Canadian International Organ Competition (CIOC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Forrest as Executive Director of the organization.
As Executive Director, Andrew will be responsible for the strategic and administrative leadership of the CIOC. He will oversee the implementation of the organization’s artistic and institutional mandate and will actively contribute to its national and international outreach, in collaboration with the Board of Directors, Artistic Director Jean-Willy Kunz, partners, and artistic communities. An experienced executive leader, Andrew brings more than twenty years of management and leadership experience within the organ sector and cultural organizations.
“We are delighted to welcome Andrew Forrest as Executive Director of the CIOC. Andrew’s leadership experience, deep knowledge of the organ community, and ability to combine strategic vision, management, and international outreach are major assets for our organization. We are confident that Mr. Forrest will successfully support the CIOC in its next phase of development, in close collaboration with the team, the Artistic Director, and our partners,” said Jean Dagenais, Chair of the Board of Directors.
Andrew Forrest will start in this role as of April 27th, 2026.
Andrew Forrest is Executive Director of the Canadian International Organ Competition. In this role, he provides the organization’s strategic and administrative leadership, oversees the implementation of its artistic and institutional mandate, and actively contributes to the Competition’s national and international profile. He works closely with the Board of Directors, partners, and artistic communities to support the organization’s sustainability, growth, and excellence.
An executive leader, Andrew previously held senior leadership roles for more than two decades at Orgues Létourneau, where he served as President from 2022 to 2026. In that capacity, he led an organization specializing in the design and manufacture of custom pipe organs for leading institutions in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He was responsible for coordinating complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, from the design and bidding phases through to installation and final delivery. He also represented the organization within professional, cultural, and media circles, contributing to its positioning and international reputation.
Mr. Forrest holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Carleton University in Ottawa and a Certificate in Executive and Senior Leadership from the Institut de leadership de Montréal. He has served as President of the Board of Directors of the Organ Historical Society since 2023.