Author Archives: PFM Search

Dermot Strong – President – RSL

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PFM Executive Search is delighted to announce the appointment of RSL‘s new President, Dermot Strong. He will officially begin his new role on January 18th.

Dermot’s appointment results from an extensive national search, which sought an accomplished leader who will build on RSL’s successful record as a high-performance organization in collaboration with the Senior Leadership team.

Having worked for two family-run businesses, Dermot brings a wealth of knowledge to the role. He has forty years of experience in manufacturing and distribution. Most recently, he held the President’s position at Motion Industries Canada Inc., a $600 million Industrial Distribution Company, for twenty-two years. He has led teams in Canada, Latin America, the United States, and southeast Asia. Dermot also serves on multiple boards in Vancouver as a Board Member.

Dermot recognizes our organization’s many strengths and will inspire, coach, and develop the next generation of leaders within RSL, ensuring they have all the leadership competencies, functional expertise, and business acumen to take over the business eventually.

As noted by Dermot, “I am honoured to have been selected to be the new President of RSL! RSL has experienced an outstanding 75 years of growth, enjoying a significant industry presence in Canada. I am thrilled to be joining a storied western based company with such a great history. I look forward to working with the ownership group, the leadership team and meeting as many of the staff as soon as possible. RSL is well-positioned to enjoy an exciting future, and I am delighted to be a member of the team as we advance.”

PFM Executive Search is recognized as a leader in executive search and has been working with some of the most prominent Canadian private, public, and not-for-profit clients over the past 29-years. We are known for our ability to recruit senior leaders from around the world to top management positions.

Michael Atkins – Chief Executive Officer – CVAC

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PFM Executive Search is excited to announce that Michael (Mike) Atkins has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer for the Comox Valley Airport Authority (CVAC), effective January 4th, 2021. Mike will take over the duties of Alex Robertson, who has served as acting CEO since Fred Bigelow’s departure for medical leave in November of 2019. Mike is a former Commander at 19 Wing Comox, with established relationships with community stakeholders, making him ideally suited to take the lead at CVAC in the midst of ongoing recovery efforts.

Mike is excited to be joining the Comox Valley Airport Commission, having fallen in love with the Valley during his tenure as the Wing Commander. He brings significant team-building, leadership, crisis and strategic planning experience developed through multiple positions in Search and Rescue and higher headquarters during a 35-year military career. In addition to his command at 19 Wing, he is a former Commanding Officer of 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron, and most recently, the Canadian Defense Advisor to the United Kingdom. Mike’s professional education includes a Bachelor of Engineering (RMC), an MBA (Saint Mary’s) and an MDS(KCL). He and his wife Susan look forward to putting down roots in the beautiful Comox Valley.

The Comox Valley Airport Commission is the governing authority for the operation of YQQ. The nine-member Commission is broadly representative of the Comox Valley community and its members are nominated by the City of Courtenay, the Town of Comox, the Village of Cumberland, the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD), the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Comox Valley Economic Development Society (CVEDS).

PFM Executive Search is recognized as a leader in executive search and has been working with some of the most prominent Canadian private, public, and not-for-profit clients over the past 29-years. We are known for our ability to recruit senior leaders from around the world to top management positions.

Tom Wong – Chief Risk Officer & Corporate Audit – ICBC

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PFM Executive Search is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Wong as the new Chief Risk Officer & Corporate Audit for the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). Tom commenced his employment on December 14th.

Tom was formerly a Risk Advisory Partner at EY. More recently, he was the Head of Wholesale Operational Risk for Canada at HSBC and the Global Head of Risk Management and Internal Audit at Harry Winston Diamond Corporation. He comes highly designated; CPA, CMA, Certified in Risk & IS Control (CRISC), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certified IS Auditor (CISA). He has experience in building up both an internal audit and risk management function at EY, as a consulting practice, and at Harry Winston.

PFM Executive Search is recognized as a leader in executive search and has been working with some of the most prominent Canadian private, public, and not-for-profit clients over the past 28-years. We are known for our ability to recruit senior leaders from around the world to top management positions.

Al-Karim Kara – President & Chief Executive Officer – LTSA

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PFM Executive Search is pleased to announce the appointment of Al-Karim Kara as the company’s next President and CEO effective December 7, 2020. Al-Karim joined LTSA in November 2009 as VP Business Transformation and CIO, helping LTSA become one of the world’s leading land title authorities over the past 11 years.

“Al-Karim has played a key role in our success during his 11 years with LTSA and we look forward to building on our achievements with him as President and CEO,” said Diane Friedman, Chair of the LTSA Board. “He will be working closely with the Board and Executive team to continue implementing our corporate strategy. Meeting with LTSA’s various stakeholder groups will also be a priority”.

PFM Executive Search is recognized as a leader in executive search and has been working with some of the most prominent Canadian private, public, and not-for-profit clients over the past 28-years. We are known for our ability to recruit senior leaders from around the world to top management positions.

Federica Di Palma – Chief Scientific Officer & Vice President, Sectors for Genome BC

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PFM Executive Search is thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Federica Di Palma as the new Chief Scientific Officer & Vice President, Sectors for Genome BC! Dr. Di Palma commenced her employment on September 1, 2020.

Dr. Di Palma brings over 20 years of international experience in science, technology and innovation with an emphasis on understanding complex biological systems. Her deep understanding of genomics and strategic expertise will make her an essential member of the Genome BC leadership team and a key asset in fulfilling the goals outlined in the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan.

Dr. Di Palma holds a PhD in Immunogenetics from the University of Reading and brings strong international connections, with experience in the US through institutions such as NIH, Harvard and MIT. Most recently, she was Director of Science at the Earlham Institute and she remains Professorial Fellow in Biodiversity in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia.

Her previous experience also includes roles as the Assistant Director, Vertebrate Genome Biology at the Broad Institute of Harvard, a Senior Research Scientist and Service Centre Manager at the Hubbard Centre for Genome Studies at the University of New Hampshire, Durham and a Fogarty Fellow, National Institutes of Health.

Throughout her career, Dr. Di Palma has also developed an extensive list of accomplishments in scientific outreach, publications, editorial development, public and policy engagement, and international development activities. She sits as an elected member to the “Mission de Sabios” to establish the future in Science, Innovation and Technology for Colombia’s Vice-President and holds a professorial fellowship in biodiversity in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia.

PFM Executive Search is recognized as a leader in executive search and has been working with some of the most prominent Canadian private, public, and not-for-profit clients over the past 28-years. We are known for our ability to recruit senior leaders from around the world to top management positions.