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For: Success Stories

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.

Leslie Stevens – Deputy Chief Constable for the Port Moody Police Department

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PFM Executive Search is pleased to announce that Inspector Leslie Stevens is the successful candidate for the Port Moody Police Deputy Chief Constable position, effective October 2020.

Leslie grew up in Montreal’s West Island neighborhood participating in competitive sports from a young age and earning a Diploma in Applied Sciences at John Abbott College and a B.A. in Economics at McGill University. She moved to B.C. in 1989 and worked in the banking industry before joining the Vancouver Police Department in 1992.

In 1996, Leslie moved to Port Moody and joined the PMPD. She has fond memories of living here and working as a front line officer, and is excited to be returning to this community.

In 1998, Leslie moved back to Vancouver and rejoined the VPD, initially working Patrol and Financial Crime. Promoted to Sergeant, she was assigned to the Planning, Research & Audit Section, Financial Crime, and Human Resources.

Promoted to Inspector in 2012, Leslie spent a year as a Discipline Authority, followed by two years as Officer in Charge of the Professional Standards Section. In 2015, she returned to Operations as the District 3 Commander, responsible for the deployment of 145 front line police officers. In 2018, she was seconded as Bureau Director to the Criminal Intelligence Service of B.C. and the Yukon, a multi-jurisdictional integrated unit comprised of police professionals.

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 sector clients over the past 27-years. We are known for our ability to recruit senior leaders from around the world to top management positions.