Co-chair Bill Weymark and Laureate selections sponsor Shelina Esmail of PFM Executive Search offered congratulations to Lululemon Athletica founder Chip Wilson on his induction into B.C.’s Business Hall of Fame. Photo: Fred Lee.
For more information, please go to: https://theprovince.com/entertainment/celebrity/fred-lees-social-network-celebrating-the-b-c-business-laureates-gala
Victoria International Airport (YYJ), operated by Victoria Airport Authority, is the 10th busiest in Canada with almost 2-million passengers per year and has been rated one of the top ten most loved airports by CNN Travel and was twice named ‘best regional airport’ in North America by Airports Council International. PFM Executive Search was asked to identify and recruit a innovative and senior operational leader to YYJ.
Our firm has now completed the national search in which Lars Olsson becomes YYJ’s new Director, Airside Operations and Safety. Lars most recently held the position of Senior Manager, Airport Operations at Hamilton International Airport (YHM) one of Canada’s premier regional airports which has been a strong economic driver for the region.
Previous to Hamilton, Lars spent over 19-years with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport (YYZ) – one of North America’s largest airport operations. During his time at Pearson International, Lars developed extensive knowledge and experience in airside operations as the Manager, Aviation Programs, Compliance and Coordination.
Lars and his family are extremely excited for his new career opportunity at Victoria International Airport and being part of the southern Vancouver Island community.
PFM Executive has worked within the Canadian aviation sector for more than 20-years and brings an expertise few other executive search firms can match in terms of identifying and recruiting senior leadership talent to one of the most innovative and fast growing sectors in our country. PFM Executive Search also has completed numerous senior leadership searches for a diverse group of private and public sector clients in Victoria and on Vancouver Island. We are a trusted advisor and recognized for our ability to work effectively with search committees seeking top talent.
PFM Executive Search is pleased to announce Kerry L. Simmons, QC as the new Executive Director of the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC). The Canadian Bar Association is the professional organization representing more than 38,000 lawyers, judges and law students across Canada with 7,000 members in British Columbia.
Kerry was called to the bar in 2000 and practiced with Cook Roberts LLP in Victoria, BC until 2018 in family law, risk management, employment law, commercial disputes, estate litigation, and professional negligence. She served on the firm’s management committee for four years.
Kerry joined CBABC in 1996 as a law student and became a member of the CBABC Executive Committee in 2008. She was CBABC President in 2012-13, leading the organization’s advocacy for legal aid funding. She also served on the Canadian Bar Association National Board, leading and developing its strategic, governance and financial changes for three years, culminating in her year as National President in 2017-18. Most recently, she co-chaired the CBA’s Truth & Reconciliation Task Force. With extensive knowledge of the association’s history, mandate, culture and operations, member services and its role in the justice system, CBABC’s new Executive Director brings over twenty-five years of leadership experience and training, formal education in supervision, management and governance, and a decade of management experience of business operations and volunteers.
PFM Executive Search is a recognized leader in senior leadership recruitment and is known for its ability to facilitate large and complex Selection Committees in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Over the past 26 years, PFM has recruited senior leaders from all over the world.
PFM Executive Search is excited to announce that Yale Loh has accepted the position as The University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Treasurer. Yale joins UBC from Aritzia, where he served as Treasurer and was responsible for leading all treasury, retail accounting, and sales audit functions. Previously, Yale held positions with Finning International and Capital Power Corporation, along with progressively senior financial positions at BC Hydro, including five years as Treasurer.
Yale’s extensive treasury experience with private and public sector organizations will help the University continue to build strategic direction and leadership support for financial liquidity, capital financing, corporate borrowing, cash management, financial projects management, tax, leases, and revenue accounting on all UBC campuses. Yale currently serves his community as a member of the Finance Committee of the Board at West Point Grey Academy and the United Way of the Lower Mainland Campaign Cabinet, and has been an occasional guest lecturer at the UBC Sauder School of Business. Yale is a commerce graduate from UBC and earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Yale also holds his Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Professional Accountant designations.
PFM Executive Search is a recognized leader in senior leadership recruitment and is known for its ability to facilitate large and complex Selection Committees in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Over the past 26 years, PFM has recruited senior leaders from all over the world.
One of British Columbia’s most visible and highly regarded organizations, WorkSafeBC, has completed an extensive international CEO recruitment process led by PFM Executive Search which worked closely with the Board of Directors of WorkSafeBC. Anne Naser has been named the new President and Chief Executive Officer.
Anne has been mostly recently at the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation where she served as the Senior Vice-President of Information Technology. Her knowledge of WorkSafeBC and its mandate is extensive having spent 20 years of her career with the organization.
“Anne Naser is a proven leader and innovator in occupational health and safety,” said Ralph McGinn, Chair of WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors. “We are very pleased to have her leading WorkSafeBC as we strive to make B.C. the safest jurisdiction in Canada in which to work.”.
“I look forward to leading WorkSafeBC as the organization continues to evolve and innovate for the benefit of workers and employers in the province,” said Naser. “I’m excited to take on this important role as we endeavour to make workplaces safer, improve supports for injured workers, and ensure the financial sustainability of the system.”
Naser, who has a degree in economics from Simon Fraser University, previously held senior positions with Price Waterhouse Urwick and Canadian Airlines.
WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors took a focused approach to finding the ideal candidate to lead the organization into the future — an individual noted for working in collaboration with a multitude of stakeholders, an ability to operationalize strategies and priorities with measurable outcomes, and a commitment to innovation and enhanced service delivery focused on people.
PFM Executive Search worked closely with the Chair and Board of Directors of WorkSafeBC, along with consultations led by PFM with various stakeholders. WorkSafeBC partners with workers and employers to prevent injury, disease, and disability in British Columbia and serves approximately 2.4 million workers and 238,000 employers across B.C.
This global search is another example of the high profile C-suite level work PFM Executive Search has conducted for more than 26-years. The firm is known for its ability to work effectively with Boards and Selection Committees in creating a proactive search process which creates a diverse slate of well qualified candidate for senior leadership roles. PFM worked with its international offices of Panorama Partners to ensure the outcome of this search matched the desire of the WorkSafeBC Board for a global outreach.
