Calgary, Alberta, Canada
A senior executive and visionary leader who has successfully developed some of North America's most popular retailers and brands. Most recently engaged with contracts and consulting in Operations, Brand and Team Development in several industries including Manufacturing, Hospitality, Insurance and Healthcare. Roles of CEO, President, EVP, and Board member with some of Canada’s most popular and profitable consumer businesses. Central to many of Canada’s most exciting retail success stories playing the leadership role in businesses like Canadian Tire, Mark’s, Princess Auto, Spence Diamonds, Hold it All, Alcanna Nova Cannabis and Decibel Cannabis. A dynamic Senior Executive, with exceptional credentials and accomplishments across a variety of experiences. A consistent winning record in sectors ranging from hard goods to apparel in formats from start-ups and small chains to department stores and large concepts, in both the publicly traded and privately-owned sectors. A popular presenter and public speaker, passionate about creating value for consumers, shareholders, employees, and partners, leveraging 30+ years of expertise in strategy, leadership, talent management, and brand development.
Market share growth 4X, Revenue 3X, EBITDA 7X. Decibel is now the 2nd largest LP in Canada by market share with brands typically the largest in their categories. Decibel is regarded as the most innovative and creative company in the sector and often described as Canada's best LP.
Director, Chairman of the Compensation and Governance Committees.
Establishment of Alcanna's Cannabis Division business plan, branding and Corporate integration. An extremely strategic imperative incorporating every element necessary to understand and express the outlook for the emerging Canadian cannabis market .
Hold it All is the Holding Company of a diverse collection of business and philanthropic interests owned by Canadian Billionaire Chip Wilson, founder of lululemon. Enterprise valued in excess of $4B, USD, Hold it All is a well established and capitalized network of interdependent businesses, all with individual mandates, organizational structures and senior level leadership. Multiple Presidents report into Hold it All, and the CEO of Hold it All. Operational Oversight and management: • Strategic Planning • Real Estate investment and development. • Equities investment and PE funding. • Mergers and Acquisition. • Charities. • Brand development.
Responsible for the Strategic Plan and future growth of the most disruptive retail concept in it's sector. Spence earns sales and profit margins that exceed the industry by staggering multiples, and has now extended it's presence in the United States. • Recruited to lead Spence and develop the businesses strategic plan. • Position the business for a strategic partner to accommodate exponential growth. • Successful on all counts including the sale of Spence into Private Equity.
CEO of an 80 year old truly iconic Canadian retail brand, established in the home, shop and industrial consumer and commercial markets, intent on growing and reclaiming their innovative heritage. Reporting to the Board Chairman and Lead Board Advisor, primarily responsible for the next generation Strategic Plan, more than doubling the sales, and for the stewardship of the business's Shareholder Value. Achieved every objective including preparing an exceptional Leadership Team for rapid growth in a very challenging consumer sector. • Recruited to lead Princess Auto and craft the next term Strategic Plan. • Collaborated with newly created Board to refine the business's operating procedures. • Reorganized the Senior Leadership Team and developed new organizational structure. • Introduced strong resources and completed full consumer profiling and growth roadmap. • Completed the Strategic Plan, and achieved approval in first 9 months. • Planned omni and multiple channels, product innovation and rapid market share growth.