Tag Archive

For: PFM Executive Search

Kurt Heinrich – Senior Director, Media Relations for The University of British Columbia (UBC)

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PFM Executive Search welcomes Kurt Heinrich to the position of Senior Director, Media Relations at the University of British Columbia. UBC with over 65,000 students is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranks among the 40 best universities in the world.Recognized for creating an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada and the world, UBC is a premier international post-secondary institution.

PFM Executive Search was engaged to conduct a national search for this senior communications role with UBC and recruited Kurt into the position. Kurt is a seasoned communicator with extensive media relations, issues management and crisis communications experience. He joins UBC from Simon Fraser University, consistently ranked among Canada’s top comprehensive universities, where he held the role of Director, University Communications, for the past three years.

Prior to this, Kurt was the Public Relations Manager of the Vancouver School Board, one of the largest public school districts in the country. He is a past President of the Vancouver Chapter of the Canadian Public Relations Society and currently sits as a Trustee on the Vancouver Public Library Board.

PFM Executive search is known for its ability to recruit senior leaders to positions in major post-secondary institutions and works closely with the Global Higher Education Practice Group of Panorama Search Partner offices around the world. Our firm is well established in working collegially and collaboratively with diverse selection committees and creating a proactive, open and transparent search process for universities and colleges.

David Long & Cynthia Kinsella – Chief Operating Officer & Chief Development Officer – Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society

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PFM is helping build The Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society’s (GVFBS) Executive Team with two recent placements:

We are excited to announce that David Long will be joining GVFBS to the newly created position of Chief Operations Officer. David will be a key member of the executive team, guiding strategy and operations to ensure assistance is provided to over 27,000 people weekly through multiple distribution locations, community kitchens, training workshops and partnerships throughout the 80 community agencies located in Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and North Vancouver.

Northern Ireland born, David is a chef by background, with a passion for food and people. He spent many years working in the hospitality industry with roles such as Executive Chef at Vancouver’s Terminal City Club, preparing 20,000+ meals a month to then being promoted to Chief Executive Officer of the Club followed by his move to the North Shore Winter Club as their General Manager from 2012 – 2016.

David has transitioned out of his most current role as Vice President, Operations, for Securiguard, where he has been responsible for company wide operations, leadership and executive oversight of key contracts. An experienced operations leader, with a passion for food and the community, we’re very much looking forward to David’s contribution to an ever-important organization in our local community.

Joining David at the executive table is Cynthia Kinsella, to the newly created role of Chief Development Officer. Cynthia will lead the strategy and operationalization of the Society’s revenue development, communications, outreach and donor stewardship activities. This inaugural role will allow the GVFBS to more deeply and effectively connect with the community the Society serves, and further the organization’s vision, mission, values, brand and food philosophy.

Cynthia has had a 28-year career in business development, operations and leadership, working with some of Canada’s most respected organizations. Most recently, Cynthia was Vice President, Employee Support Solutions for Morneau Shepell’s western region, where she was successful in growing market share and increasing customer satisfaction while leading, mentoring and engaging a team of professionals across the west. Prior to her role with Morneau Shepell, Cynthia held senior leadership positions with Optum Canada, TELUS and Accenture Business Services.

With Cynthia’s proven success of mentoring effective teams and implementing process improvements throughout her career, she will be a valued member of GVFBS’s executive team.

PFM would like to congratulate both David and Cynthia and wish them both every success!

Tom Phipps – Director, Risk & Insurance for BC Ferries

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PFM Executive Search was pleased to be engaged in the national recruitment of the Director, Risk & Insurance for BC Ferries,  one of the largest ferry operators in the world. The company provides year-round vehicle and passenger service on 25 routes on west coast coastal waters to 47-different terminals with a fleet of 35 vessels. It is an essential transportation link that connects coastal communities and facilitates the movement of people, goods and services on the west Coast of Canada.

The national search has led to the appointment of Tom Phipps. Tom holds CPA, CA and CIA designations and joins BC Ferries with several years of leadership experience having recently led the Internal Audit teams for both the University of Victoria and the Vancouver Airport Authority. Prior to this, he held the position of Manager, Corporate Treasury for Canadian Forest Products which included the company’s insurance program.

In this position, Tom will report directly to the Treasurer of BC Ferries and will work across the organization on a variety of corporate initiatives.

PFM Executive Search has been engaged on a variety of senior leadership roles at BC Ferries over the years including working directly with the Board of Directors on the selection of the Chief Executive Officer.  We are proud of being a BC owned and operated company working with other British Columbia companies.

Board Directors 2018 – CPABC

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PFM is excited to announce the new Directors who have been elected to the Board of CPABC.

Joining the continuing Board members and government appointed public representatives are:

Lisa Ethans, FCPA, FCA, Director (Vancouver)
Karen Horcher, FCPA, FCGA, Director (Vancouver)
John Mackenzie, CPA, CA, Director (Vancouver)
Martha Thomas, CPA, CA, Director (Victoria)

https://www.bccpa.ca/news-events-publications/news/cpa-news/cpabc-announces-board-of-directors-2018-2019/

Rod Hunchak – Director, Business Development & Community Relations for the Victoria Airport Authority (YYJ)

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PFM Executive Search was pleased to assist Victoria International Airport (YYJ), one of the fasting growing airports in Canada, to recruit its new Director, Business Development & Community Relations, reporting directly to the CEO.

Rod Hunchak has been appointed to this newly created role where he will have direct responsibility for real estate and land development, community relations and will lead media and public affairs activities.

Rod comes to YYJ from Fort McMurray Airport Authority (YMM) where he was Vice-President, Commercial. Prior to YMM, he spent almost 14 years at Calgary Airport Authority (YYC) in various roles of increasing responsibility, his last role was the General Manager, Development Services, Planning and Engineering. Rod brings a broad range of directly related experience to the role, having had a diverse and well-rounded career in airports going back to 1995, where he started working as an Operations and Maintenance Officer with Yellowknife Airport (YZF).

CEO Geoff Dickson stated “…we are very pleased to have Rod’s knowledge, energy and excitement complement our team here at the Victoria Airport Authority and we know he is excited to be moving to the west coast and joining the team at YYJ”.

PFM Executive Search has worked with a variety of airport and port authorities over its 25-year history in executive search and as such has amassed a substantial knowledge of the sector with key contacts in aviation and the maritime industries from around the world. Our firm has recruited senior leaders to a diverse group of sector clients and has developed expertise in effectively working with Boards and senior leadership at airports and ports which we bring to each and every search project.