CAREER SUMMARY
A senior executive / AI enthusiast / CFO / management consultant with 30+ years of experience solving problems and leading organizations through massive change. 18 of those years at a marketing agency, Klick Health, managing its rapid organic growth from 70 to 1300 people and from $7 million to $500 million in net revenue, a 26% CAGR during my tenure. Consulting, teaching, and project experience in software, technology, pharmaceutical manufacturing, retail, and financial services.
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
Klick Health www.klick.com 2006 – Present
Klick is consistently recognized as one of the country’s Fastest Growing and Best Managed Companies while employees simultaneously say that it’s a Great Place to Work. It has become the world’s largest marketing agency in healthcare, named Agency of the Year for the past 10 years, and achieved all this through 100% organic growth while remaining independent. Top clients include: Pfizer, Takeda, Merck, Bayer, AbbVie, Vertex, Indivior, Novartis, Sanofi and smaller biotechs.
- Partner, EVP Global Operations 2022 – Present
- Partner & CFO 2017 – 2022
- Partner & SVP, Finance 2013 – 2017
- SVP, Corporate Development 2012 – 2013
- VP, Strategic Planning 2007 – 2012
- Director, Strategic Planning / Senior Project Manager 2006 – 2007
- Setting up global operations for Klick in Singapore, UK, Switzerland, Brazil, Uruguay, Germany.
- Managing $1 billion in gross revenue and 1300 employees, as part of Klick Group leadership.
- Led a small but mighty finance, tax, accounting, payroll & legal team of 22 superstars plus advisors
- Transaction experience:
- Shepherded a dividend recapitalization with a syndicate of U.S. lenders
- Negotiated a credit facility with TD Bank
- Organized a tax restructuring and asset sale within the Klick group of companies
- Executed a leveraged management buy-out of a retiring, founding partner
- Renewed a 10-year lease in Toronto for 150,000 sq ft with a 5-year out-clause
- Carved-out an enterprise Software-as-a-Service business, Sensei Labs, with venture capital financing & a $24 million valuation.
- Sold non-core businesses, K2 Digital and Klick Learning Solutions; fired unprofitable clients.
- Operational experience:
- Managing $96 million in foreign currency hedges, rolling over 12 months
- Overseeing payroll & benefits for 1300 employees in Canada and 28 states across America
- Negotiated and settled dozens of significant legal issues, including client bankruptcies.
- Created and performed the initial functions for each of these departments:
| Culture & Engagement (HR) | Marketing | Sales Support |
| Recruiting | Public Relations | Corporate Social Responsibility |
| Strategic Alliances | Contracts & Legal | Tax – SR&ED, OIDMTC |
| Performance Management | Training & Development | Corporate Communications |
BPS Inc. (now Resolver) 2003 – 2005
Solution Architect / Project Director
- Led the delivery team and helped raise venture capital for a growing fintech software company.
- Architected and successfully delivered a $1 million solution to Goldman Sachs in New York City.
- Mentored and trained new staff as the company grew from 7 people to 40 in 18 months.
CGI www.cgi.com 2002 – 2003
Senior Manager, Strategy Consulting & Project Management (COGNICASE)
- Managed a program to outsource all technology operations for financiaLinx, an online car leasing company with a $2 billion portfolio that provides leases for Hyundai, Kia, Subaru, and Nissan.
- Created the $2.4 million project budget, outsourcing strategy, and overall project plan for:
- Bank of Montreal, COGNICASE, LAC, financiaLinx, and The CIT Group Inc.
- Coordinated the activities of over 60 resources from 6 companies to deliver the entire program in 11 months, on-time and on-budget.
eDrugstore.ca Inc. www.edrugstore.ca 1999 – 2002
Co-Founder
- Created an online retail drugstore from concept to pre-launch.
- Chosen by Microsoft, Compaq & Intel to be the first promising Internet start-up in Canada to enter their speedStart Program of support, which garnered international media coverage.
- Convinced law firm, Gowlings and ad agency, Infinet, to both become equity stakeholders.
Delano Technology Corporation www.delanotech.com 1999 – 2001
Account Executive
- Sold enterprise e-business software, and managed projects for existing accounts, focusing on web-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) applications.
- Negotiated signed contracts for 5 major deals, with an average deal size over $200,000 USD.
Deloitte Consulting www.deloitte.com 1998 – 1999
Senior Consultant, Supply Chain Management group
- Solved complex inventory accuracy problems ($500,000 discrepancy) for Astra Pharma, a large pharmaceutical manufacturer, resulting in the CFO receiving a positive audit report.
- Facilitated a company-wide business process review for Future Shop, a $2 billion dollar consumer electronics retailer, while implementing Retek and Oracle Financials.
Price Waterhouse – Management Consulting Services www.pwc.com 1995 – 1997
Consultant, Change Integration practice (process re-engineering)
- Facilitated an operations review of JVC consumer electronics & found $900,000 in potential savings.
- Reengineered the business processes for Sony, as part of an enterprise resource planning system implementation (SAP R/3). Consulted with Coca-Cola on supply chain optimization.
CIS Asset Management Corporation 1994 – 1995
Investment Advisor / Special Projects Manager
- Sold mutual funds and GICs, on 100% commission. Advised the CEO on new opportunities.
Webster Consulting 1993 – 1994
Consultant (self-employed)
- Created a marketing strategy for the $1 billion Ontario horse-racing industry. Developed and wrote a business plan for a small credit union, and a feasibility study of a used furniture store.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
- Rotman-Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD): Board Dynamics for Executives 2020
- Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania – Executive Negotiation Workshop 2019
- Managing at Klick 101 & 201 courses 2018-2019
- Media training with Jeff Ansell & Associates 2017
- Harvard Continuing Education – Negotiation Skills: Strategies for Increased Effectiveness 2015
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification 2003
- Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation 1999
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Professor (part-time)
York University – Schulich School of Business
Strategic Management of e-Business – SGMT 6960 Winter 2006
- Updated the course curriculum while teaching an MBA night class.
Introduction to International Business – IBUS 3100 Fall 2005
- Taught undergraduate business students.
Mergers, Acquisitions & Strategic Alliances – SGMT 6050 Fall 2004
- Taught a second year MBA course in the Strategic Management group at
one of the top ranked business schools in the world.
Ryerson University – School of Retail Management
Issues and Innovations in Retailing II – RMG 908 Fall 2003
- Developed the entire course curriculum for this brand new offering.
Retail and Services Management I – CRMG 200 Winter 2002
- Became a recurring Guest Lecturer
George Brown College
Principles of e-Business I – COMP 1113 Fall 2001
- Advisory Board Member: Marketing Management Post-Graduate program 2001-2004
Centennial College
Emerging Trends in e-Commerce – ECOM 101 Summer 2001
Work Placement – COMP 232 Summer 2001
- Advisory Board Member: Centre for e-Business and Network Technologies
The University of Western Ontario
Accounting and Business Analysis – Business Administration 2257 1997 – 1998
EDUCATION
Master of Business Administration (MBA) www.ivey.ca 1997 – 1998
Richard Ivey School of Business – The University of Western Ontario
- Graduated on the Dean’s Honour List (top 10% of the class)
- Scored in the 97th percentile on the General Management Acceptance Test (GMAT)
Bachelor of Arts, Honors Business Administration (HBA) 1989 – 1993
The University of Western Ontario
- Managed a $6.3 million budget as VP Finance for the university’s student government.