Marentette, who has served as executive director for the last four years, announced he is leaving the role of executive director effective Dec. 31, 2008, as will Murphy from the role of president.

Murphy, who is director of security operations at Woodbine Entertainment, served a two-year term as president. He says his work at Woodbine is demanding more of his time and CSIS really requires more of a commitment than he is able to give.

“My 
role at Woodbine has been expanding and it is difficult to find the time 
to do an appropriate job for CSIS,” he says, adding Woodbine has experienced a number of labour actions in the last year.

Atlantic Region chairperson Roger
 Miller has also taken on other responsibilities that made it
 difficult for him to continue, says Murphy.

“We all remain committed to the Society's 
work,” he adds, saying Paul Guindon will continue to represent the National Capital Region, Mike McPherson in the Prairies and Jim
 Foston in B.C. will remain as Pacific Region chairperson.

Having concluded his term, past-president Graham Ospreay advised the Board that he would also be resigning as Chair of the Canadian Security Certification Authority as well.

“This is really just trying to go through an orderly transition,” Murphy said. “Our 
terms of office expired last month. Graham chose not to go on. “

Murphy and Marentette have offered to stay on until the positions are filled CSIS holds its next AGM May 26, 2009 in Ottawa. It will be issuing a call for papers for the AGM in January. CSIS currently has about 340 members across the country.