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Finance
Mike Thiessen has been promoted to vice-president, sustainable research, at Genus Capital Management, one of Vancouver’s largest investment firms. In this role, Thiessen will help lead the fossil-fuel-free and impact-investing disciplines. Prior to joining Genus, Thiessen was a strategic consultant at a boutique consultancy in London, U.K., focusing on projects in finance, technology and sustainability for Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index companies.
Michelle Zuliani has joined Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel’s fixed-income team as a credit analyst. Zuliani was most recently with HSBC Asset Management in a similar role. Prior to that, she spent time at RBC Capital Markets in equity research, rates and foreign exchange sales.
Legal
Lawson Lundell welcomes Ryan Berger as a partner in its labour and employment and privacy groups. Berger is working out of the firm’s Vancouver office.
Joel Ello has been appointed director of finance and technology at Roper Greyell LLP. Ello has more than 20 years of experience in finance, accounting and project management. Prior to joining Roper Greyell, Ello was manager of business analysis and process design at Southern Railway of British Columbia Ltd. and controller at its subsidiary, Southern Railway of Vancouver Island Ltd.
Conrad Nest has become the newest shareholder of Boughton Law. Nest is a member of the firm’s securities practice group, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, venture financing, initial public offerings, corporate finance and corporate governance.
Manufacturing
Dan Hua recently joined Daiya Foods Inc., a fast-growing plant-based brand, as vice-president, marketing, after 11 years with Pinnacle Foods Canada, where he managed the Gardein brand. Hua will be responsible for leveraging Daiya’s North American momentum to build Daiya into one of the pre-eminent plant-based brands in the world.
Real estate
Camille Reid has been appointed vice-president, customer operations, at the Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia (LTSA). Prior to joining the LTSA, Reid was vice-president, financial and employee services, with the Provincial Health Services Authority/BC Clinical and Support Services since 2012. Reid’s career also includes 13 years of experience with Accenture, where she held numerous human resources positions including director of human resources for Accenture Canada.
Macdonald Real Estate Group, parent company of Macdonald Realty, Macdonald Commercial, Macdonald Property Management and Platinum Project Marketing, has appointed Dan Scarrow president. He is replacing Lynn Hsu, who will remain as chairwoman and CEO. Since joining the company in 2006, Scarrow has held several roles, first as a residential agent, then moving to commercial. In 2010, Scarrow moved to the management side as vice-president, operations, helping the company expand during that period. Most recently, from 2014 to 2018, he lived in Shanghai, China, opening and running Macdonald’s office there (branded the Canadian Real Estate Investment Centre).
Transportation
Zygimantas Surintas, CEO, SmartLynx Airlines, has been appointed to Canada Jetlines Ltd.’s board of directors. Surintas has more than eight years of executive experience with commercial businesses in North America and Europe combined. Since June 2016, he has held the position of CEO and director of SmartLynx. Surintas joins the board following the closing of the initial $7.5 million SmartLynx private placement in late December 2018. Canada Jetlines is set to become Canada’s first ultra-low-cost carrier airline, with plans to operate flights across Canada and provide non-stop service from Canada to the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean.
COMPANIES ON THE MOVE
New merger
Argyle Public Relationships, one of Canada’s largest independent communications consulting firms, has expanded Argyle Group with the integration of ChangeMakers and Context, two consultancies in Western Canada. Argyle now has a team of 80 professionals in seven cities. The announcement merges three management-owned firms with roots, resources and relationships in cities across Canada. Context, founded in 1990 and focused on public engagement and public health programming, has offices in Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary and Edmonton. ChangeMakers, founded and based in Winnipeg since 1998, is a creative and social marketing firm. Argyle was founded in Toronto in 1979.
The senior executives of all three firms continue in senior roles in the new organization. Daniel Tisch remains Argyle’s CEO. ChangeMakers’ founder, Correy Myco, is now Argyle’s executive vice-president, marketing, and Stefan Moores is now Argyle’s executive vice-president and chief operating officer. Context COO Krista Bax is Argyle’s senior vice-president for Western Canada, and the firm’s long-standing principals, John Forsdick and Jack Boomer, continue in their current roles as senior advisers. Argyle’s senior vice-presidents, Roanne Argyle, Alison George and Rob McEwan, will each have national practice leadership roles in the expanded organization.
HATS OFF
Business in Vancouver welcomes submissions from local small businesses and large corporations alike that demonstrate examples of corporate philanthropy and community involvement in the Vancouver area. High-resolution images are also welcome.
LNG Canada and the BC Construction Association (BCCA) have announced that Marissa McTavish, an electrical apprentice from Prince George, has become the 1,000th participant in LNG Canada’s Trades Training Fund (TTF) and her employer, Primus Electric, the 500th employer to sponsor an employee with the fund. Launched in the fall of 2015, the LNG Canada TTF is administered through the BCCA to support industry and apprenticeship training in the construction sector across B.C. To date, $1.5 million in TTF funding has helped cover the costs of training for apprentices developing their skills in high-demand trades.
Centaur Products Inc. donated $10,000 to Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver to fund mentorship programs for local children and youth.
The late Alan Codyre pledged $100,000 to PALS Autism Society’s school program through the Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society, in memory of Marilyn Codyre. This donation will be allocated toward tuition bursaries for 10 years and commenced in 2018.
The Goodwyn Family Fund, held at the NWM Private Giving Foundation, has donated $5,000 in support of Down Syndrome Research Foundation’s programs and services for individuals with Down syndrome.
Rotary Club Coquitlam Sunrise donated $1,000 in support of Children of the Street Society’s school-based prevention workshops that help young people learn how to keep safe from sexual exploitation. •
