Executive Director & Chief Protocol Officer at the Minnesota Trade Office
Gabrielle Gerbaud was hired in April 2017 as executive director of the Minnesota Trade Office (MTO), the state’s official export development arm. As director, Gabrielle is responsible for developing the state’s international marketing plans, identifying international market opportunities, managing trade missions, guiding the development of export education programs and promotional events, and overseeing a staff of regional trade managers. She also serves as chief of protocol for the State of Minnesota and is the State’s liaison to Minnesota’s diplomatic consular corps.
Gerbaud previously served in international sales and operations positions at Polaris Industries. Prior to her work at Polaris, Gerbaud was managing owner of the Hotel Punta Couso in Santiago de Compostela, Spain; General Secretary and business development manager for the Thomson Prometric standardized-testing firm and responsible for business and operations for Spain, France and Portugal; and international relations manager for E.N. Mercasa, an organization within the Ministry of Agriculture that is responsible for food policy in Spain. In this position, Gerbaud was responsible for the international execution of several food distribution channels for China, Senegal, and the Ivory Coast among other countries. Gerbaud also was appointed for the Board of Directors of MercaValencia and liaison between Spain and the World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM).
Gerbaud holds bachelor’s degrees in economics and international relations from Boston University.