Development/Construction
Tom Gibbons joins ZGF Cotter Architects Inc. as an architect and project manager. Gibbons has experience in a range of sectors including aviation, retail, highrise residential, mixed-use projects and health-care clinics. Gibbons’ current projects include Denny Centre, a 41-storey mixed-use/residential tower in Seattle, Washington.
Hospitality/Tourism/Convention
Jeffry Kahle has been appointed executive pastry chef at Vancouver’s Fairmont Pacific Rim. Kahle most recently served as pastry chef at Fairmont Newport Beach in California and, prior to that, worked at Fairmont Olympic in Seattle.
Legal
Maxime Faille, leader of Gowling WLG’s firm-wide aboriginal law group, has relocated from the firm’s Ottawa office to Vancouver, where he will continue to serve clients across the country. Earlier this year, Faille’s litigation skills and dedication to clients were formally recognized at the 2016 Benchmark Canada Awards, where he was named Aboriginal Lawyer of the Year.
Manufacturing
Lilian Choi has been appointed vice-president, corporate communications, at Textile Image Inc./The Flag Shop. Choi’s professional background includes more than 15 years of experience in corporate communications.
Media
Lisa Purdy, director of BBC Kids and Knowledge Kids, has left her position at Knowledge Network. BBC Kids is a national pay specialty channel operated by Knowledge Network and jointly owned with BBC Worldwide. Purdy currently serves as vice-president of CTAM Canada (Cable and Telecommunications Association for Marketing). Rudy Buttignol, president, BBC Kids, is overseeing operations of the specialty channel following Purdy’s departure.
Timothy Cuffe and Jayne Czarnocki have joined Peak Communicators Public Relations as senior consultant and senior account manager, respectively. Cuffe joins Peak after 10 years with Barclays Bank, most recently as director, head of corporate communications for Asia Pacific. Czarnocki joins Peak from Weber Shandwick in Toronto where she was an account supervisor. Before Weber, she was with Ketchum and, prior to that, was U.K. press officer at National Australia Bank.
Sandy Wong has joined Yulu Public Relations Inc. as a senior account manager. Wong has almost two decades of experience in marketing and communications, spearheading marketing campaigns in the venture capital and investment industries for Fortune 500 companies such as Franklin Templeton Investments and Canadian institutions RBC and Phillips, Hager & North.
Non-profit
Barbara Coates has been appointed executive director of the Dan Snook Trust Foundation (Dan’s Legacy), while Nigel Elliott and Janice Tomich have both been appointed directors. Dan’s Legacy works with youth in the Greater Vancouver area who have depression, anxiety and addiction issues as a result of childhood trauma and abuse. Coates has more than 30 years of experience in broadcasting, communications and public relations and is an active community volunteer. Elliott is a public affairs professional specializing in public policy, issues management and stakeholder engagement and currently volunteers at a weekly drop-in centre for male and transgender sex trade workers. Tomich is the principal of Calculated Presentations, a communication firm that helps professionals and executives improve their communication skills.
Real Estate
Mitch Drew has joined the newly opened Keller Williams Realty VanCentral as team leader. Drew previously worked as head of sales for LocalSphere Digital Media.
Sales/Marketing
Samantha Taylor has been appointed vice-president of marketing, U.S. and Canada, at Vega, maker of plant-based natural health and performance products. Taylor has more than 15 years of consumer packaged goods marketing experience at Kraft Heinz Canada, most recently as vice-president/head of meal solutions marketing.
Companies on the Move
New in town
Yule Anderson, an accounting firm in Castlegar, has rebranded to join Grant Thornton, a national firm with offices in Kelowna, Trail, Victoria, Duncan, Nanaimo, Vancouver and Langley. •
