Canada | spring 2015

Alumni Connections

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We’re pleased to share with you the spring 2015 issue of our quarterly alumni e-newsletter.
In this edition, read about:

A message from Frank Vettese

These are exciting times at Deloitte, and I’m pleased to share some recent news with you – members of our extended family – about our firm and our people.
Earlier this year, I was elected to serve a second term as Managing Partner and Chief Executive of Deloitte Canada, effective June 1, 2015. I’ve said many times over the past three years that I have the best job in the world, and I’m incredibly honoured to have the opportunity to continue leading the Canadian firm to new heights over the next four years. In preparation for my second term, I recently announced new leadership appointments and changes, which you can read about under “Deloitte news.”
When I assumed the leadership of the firm in 2012, I charted a new strategy called The Path to Distinction that clearly articulated our aspiration: to be the True Market Leader and Canada’s most sought-after business advisor. As we have advanced this strategy, Deloitte has experienced strong growth, made significant investments to build out new services and add top talent to the firm, and helped to shape public discussions on important issues through our thought leadership. Building on this strong track record, we are now preparing to accelerate our journey.
I’m truly proud of our people and of what we’ve been able to accomplish in a few short years. My pride also extends to our alumni. You are an important part of our family – and have helped make us who we are today. Since you left Deloitte, you’ve continued to make an impact in your careers and communities. Be sure to read some of your stories of success, about such alumni as Helen Kasdorf and Charles Henaire at Great-West Life and Great-West Lifeco, Deborah Starkman at GMP Capital and Jeff Aplin at David Aplin Group, and check out the most recent executive alumni appointments from across the country.
The CEO Challenge
Innovation is at the core of our Canadian strategy. In the fall, I launched a new initiative called the CEO Challenge, inviting everyone in the Canadian firm to share ground-breaking ideas that we could invest in to grow our business and disrupt the market. Employees and partners alike were encouraged to participate and serious prizes were offered, including seed money to implement the winning idea. With a friendly competition, we were looking to fuel creativity and engage our people in further developing a culture of innovation.
When I first issued the challenge, I was confident that in a firm like ours, there would be no shortage of ideas or people ready to pitch. But the response exceeded all my expectations! On the CEO Challenge microsite, there were 663 ideas, 6,000 votes, 2,000 comments and 46,000 views – and a whopping 70 percent of the firm engaged with the challenge at some point – an unprecedented participation level.
On an open platform, our people viewed and voted on all ideas. The top teams participated in Fast Track workshops and from there, five finalists were selected to present at a Dragon’s Den–style event at The Carlu in Toronto in December. The judging panel included Deloitte alumnus and OMERS Ventures CEO John Ruffolo, among other notable business executives. At the end of the process, we had one winning team – but we were so impressed by the quality of ideas and plans that we decided to invest in all top five ideas. You can learn about these winning concepts later in this newsletter.
Without question, the spirit of innovation is alive and well at Deloitte and the CEO Challenge has provided a shining example of the things we can accomplish when we intentionally create an environment where people are empowered to collaborate.
Alumni – another shining example
Similarly, we want to continue to nurture and strengthen the amazing Deloitte Alumni Network. It is here for you – don’t hesitate to tap into this vast and rich resource for career advice and help, assistance with business insights and leading practices or to stay connected with old friends and former colleagues.
All the best for spring 2015!
Alumni Profile

Charles Henaire, Deputy CFO, Chief Accounting & Control Officer, Great-West Lifeco Inc. and Helen Kasdorf, CFO, Canada, Great-West Life

When Charles Henaire and Helen Kasdorf talk about their highly successful careers, it’s striking how often they mention how fortunate they feel. Fortunate to be enjoying successful, 20-plus year careers in their hometown of Winnipeg at Canadian financial services icon Great-West (where they started nine-months apart); fortunate to have started their careers at Deloitte within a year of each other, working as audit managers on Great-West and Investors Group; and fortunate to have sparked a lifelong friendship when they studied together in the commerce faculty at the University of Manitoba.
Their career paths have crisscrossed and overlapped while bringing them to the point they’re at today. On March 31, 2015, Charles assumed his new role as Deputy CFO and Chief Accounting and Control Officer for Great-West’s global parent company, Great-West Lifeco (Lifeco), while Helen became the Canadian CFO of Great-West Life the same day.
After being hired in the mid-1990’s as the fourth and fifth chartered accountants (CAs) to join Great-West, Charles and Helen witnessed the organization’s dramatic growth firsthand. Lifeco’s earnings have grown from $500 million a year when they started to $2.5 billion today, with assets under management now ringing in at $1 trillion. Both Charles and Helen have worked on every one of Great-West’s Canadian and international acquisitions and the integrations that followed. Charles began his career at Deloitte, moving through increasingly senior roles for six years before moving to Great-West in 1994. He initially joined the insurer when they were considering buying Confederation Life. Charles then worked on the 1997 acquisition of London Life. He says that deal “really transformed the organization, really brought a little Winnipeg-based insurance company to really be a national player.”
The London Life transaction also brought closer working relations with Investors Group, a related company in the Power Financial Corporation group of companies. Charles was involved with Investors Group’s subsequent acquisition of Mackenzie Financial Corporation in 2001, as well as Great-West’s purchase of Canada Life in 2003. Charles translated his unique skills and experience with acquisitions into further opportunities. He believes the timing of the transactions served his career well.
“As you continue to excel on initiatives, you continually have more exposure,” he says, noting he was able to parlay his experience into the roles of Controller and then CFO at Great-West, the latter being the position now held by Helen. She, like Charles, spent the first six years of her career at Deloitte in Winnipeg. “One of my senior managers from Great-West moved to be the Chief Internal Auditor here and convinced me that internal audit wasn’t the ‘dark side,’” Helen jokes of her transition to Great-West’s internal audit team. She was also very involved in the London Life integration, logging considerable time in London, Ontario.
Helen briefly left Great-West for a stint at the Assante Group, an opportunity that saw her join a small organization just as it went public while consolidating and integrating its Canadian subsidiaries. When Helen returned to Great-West two years later, she took on progressively senior positions, including four-and-a-half years as Senior Vice-President and Chief Internal Auditor. Before her most recent promotion, she held the role of Senior Vice-President, Corporate Resources. Helen’s work at Great-West has taken her throughout Canada, the United States and Europe.
Both Charles and Helen are excited about what’s on the horizon as they step into their new positions. As the CFO role becomes increasingly complex due to regulatory changes and increased globalization, Charles and Helen are ready to meet these challenges head on.
Charles is looking forward to working directly with the President and CEO of Lifeco and learning from his strategic insight, while growing the company in new ways. He is also excited that his new position will help him reconnect with Lifeco colleagues around the globe.
Helen, who thrives on challenge and opportunity, is excited about the diversity of her new role. “Charles and I talk about this so often,” she says. “We both love living in Winnipeg and working with Great-West and with Lifeco. It’s a huge, multi-national, multi-billion dollar organization…It doesn’t get better than to have these opportunities – CFO Canada, Deputy CFO, Lifeco – and live 15 minutes from my house in a city that has lots of great things to offer, from sports, entertainment, culture, nearby lakes, raising a family and having community and relationships around you.”
The type of work they’re engaged in is especially attractive according to Charles. “We deal with as complicated issues as you’ll ever see in Toronto, New York, anywhere, and we can do it from here,” he says. “If you find the right opportunity and the right role that you’re passionate about, everything works. The community is spectacular. I love Winnipeg and its diversity.”
Both Charles and Helen funnel their enthusiasm and energy back to their communities and share long histories of volunteerism. Charles was active in both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Manitoba and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA), serving on the national board. Helen is also active in the industry and volunteers at her children’s schools and with her church. In 2009, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Manitoba recognized Helen with its Community Service Award.
Charles and Helen agree that the attitude of giving back is synonymous with both Deloitte and Great-West. “I’d say that grew out of Deloitte where we were encouraged to find something that we’re passionate about or had interest in,” is Helen’s way of putting it. “They wanted to see everyone give back to their community and give back their time. And I think that really became ingrained in us.”
Charles’ comments follow a similar thread. “It’s amazing to me the more you give, it really does come back tenfold,” he says. “We all have tremendous talents and it’s our responsibility to help the communities that we live in. The model we have at Great-West is helping our communities and we make an unbelievable difference.”
Advancing Great-West’s commitment to improving the financial, physical and mental well-being of Canadians has been critically important to the organization as it continues to grow and prosper. Charles and Helen feel strongly that Great-West is in the business of helping people. Their roles are paramount to Great-West continuing as a strong, financially stable organization to enable that broader goal. Much of how Charles and Helen approach work today is drawn from good habits they learned from early career mentors during their initial experiences at Deloitte. “They helped to actually show us how to be good professionals,” says Charles. “That’s something we’ve tried to adopt…We actually train CA’s. The buddy system, the mentoring system…we’re trying to emulate as much of that as possible at Great-West. It’s been very good.”
Helen’s main takeaway from her days at Deloitte is a team mentality that she pushes forward to this day. “You’re a team and whatever is good for the client is good for everyone who works with the client,” she says. “I think we’ve both taken that approach all the way through…And that’s very much what we learned from Day One at Deloitte.”
Getting personal with Charles and Helen
What’s a favourite motto you live by?
Helen: You start every day with the opportunity to say if your glass is half-full or half- empty and I choose to say it’s half-full every day.
Charles: Be thankful for the challenges you have, because if you didn’t have those you’d probably make half as much money.
How do you relax when you have a moment?
Helen: My kids are very sports-oriented, so it’s watching them play sports. When they’re not playing sports, it’s still watching sports – I have Jets and Bombers tickets – or spending time with friends.
Charles: Playing hockey and I golf in the summer. And we go to the cottage year-round.
If you weren’t doing the job you are in now, what would you be doing?
Helen: Working with a children’s hospital or volunteering full-time.
Charles: I would hope that I would have been a partner at Deloitte!
Alumni Profile

You can’t be a wallflower in this industry: GMP Capital’s CFO on work, life and laughs

Deborah Starkman is happy to have found a place where she can be herself at work. “I have a big personality,” she laughs.
Today she is the CFO of GMP Capital Inc., one of Canada’s leading independent investment dealers, a role she thinks suits her, noting “you can’t be a wallflower in this industry.” However, she began her career as a not-so-mild-mannered accountant. Starkman got her start at Arthur Andersen, a firm that integrated into Deloitte in 2002. When she started her accounting career in the pre-digital age, the job still required manually counting physical inventory. “After having tripped over enough boxes counting widgets, I decided to try financial services,” she recalls. “I figured counting certificates and bearer bonds would be easier and safer.”
Finance may have meant fewer falls, but it was no less grueling. She remembers 12-hour days spent at the photo-copier and doing paperwork until midnight. “It was tough at times, but it was a great training ground,” she says. “It was instrumental in developing the work ethic I have today. Another thing I learned there is that no job is too small, and every role offers an opportunity to advance your learning and skills.”
Starkman’s time in the Financial Services Audit group also offered its share of perks. A secondment to San Francisco at the height of the dot-com boom, for instance, she remembers as exciting and a great learning experience. And travel continues to be an integral part of her role today, especially now that GMP has expanded to include offices in London, New York, Houston, Sydney and Perth. She notes how the business world has changed since she started. “Technology has made it easier and harder,” she says. “It’s made the work easier to do but there are higher standards now, an expectation that you’re always on-call. At times, it can be difficult to unplug.”
Mentors and mensches
Growing up, Deborah never imagined she would become a Bay Street executive. “I wanted to be a lawyer like my father,” she explains. “But he really dissuaded me from it; it’s not like how it looks on TV.” Instead she decided to follow in her older brother’s footsteps and try accounting instead. He recommended she join Arthur Andersen.
Starkman found mentorship in Cathy Bateman, today a senior Deloitte Audit partner and a former vice-chair of the Board of Directors. “Cathy is a mensch,” she enthuses. “I can’t say enough good things about her. She was always in control. I learned a tremendous amount under her tutelage.”
The connections Starkman made while she was at Arthur Andersen have stayed with her even decades later. When she was promoted to CFO of GMP Capital in 2012, Cathy threw her a party to celebrate. “She was so proud of me, and all these Andersen people came even though it had been years. It was hugely flattering and humbling.”
Starkman appreciates the mentorship she’s received from people like Cathy and Richard Nunn, a partner in Deloitte’s Financial Services industry practice. She is now looking to pay this forward and mentor people new to the industry. “I’m always looking to support young bright minds coming up in this industry,” she explains. She recognizes that the C-suite is still a male-dominated environment, but Starkman sees increasing opportunities for women. Her advice to women is to “Be yourself in the workplace, and support each other.”
Starkman recognizes that some women face additional challenges in the workplace, but she has never had that experience at GMP. She emphasizes that finding a supportive and suitable workplace is critical to success. “My personality is perfectly suited to GMP. I’m able to be myself at work.” “I love it here. I don’t mind staying late or working on the weekend, because I love who I work for. It feels like a family.”
Getting personal with Deborah
How do you like to relax when you have a moment?
Movies, plays, travelling, and spending time with my nieces and nephews.
How are you involved in the community?
I’m the treasurer of the Centennial Child and Infant Centre, which works with children with developmental disabilities, and I’m active with the United Jewish Appeal.
What’s your favourite place to visit?
I love Paris and London, but I went to Israel for the first time last year and it made a lasting impact on me.
If you weren’t doing the job you’re doing now, what would you be doing?
I’d like to be a movie critic, or a comedian…
What’s a motto you live by?
Don’t take yourself too seriously.
Alumni Profile

Striking “Gold” – Jeff Aplin, President, The David Aplin Group

The David Aplin Group has two reasons to celebrate in 2015. Not only is this year the 40th anniversary of the company’s founding in 1975, but David Aplin’s namesake business marked the occasion in style. It announced its arrival as a Gold Standard winner among Canada’s Best Managed Companies for 2014, an achievement reserved for companies that maintain their Best Managed designation for four consecutive years.
Alumni Connections recently sat with David’s son Jeff, who took over as the Group’s President and Head of Corporate Services following his father’s 2011 retirement.
Congratulations on winning the Gold Standard of Deloitte’s 2014 Canada’s Best Managed Companies awards. What does this recognition mean to your people and company?
I speak for all of our people when I say we’re absolutely thrilled about the award, especially because it coincides with our 40th anniversary. We’re celebrating two milestones this year. Participating in Best Managed enhanced our business, our connections and our brand. The rigour of the application and coaching from Deloitte challenged us to work harder and re-think some of our strategies. And by being part of this “special club,” we met and connected with other successful private companies and potential clients. In addition, the recognition has helped, and will continue to help, attract and retain talent which is imperative for our ongoing success.
Tell us about your career and present job?
I started my career in Deloitte’s consulting practice in Calgary upon graduating with an MBA from the Haskayne School of Business. It was during the time of Sarbanes-Oxley and when Deloitte merged with Arthur Andersen in Canada, so it was exciting to be part of the firm and witness all of the changes taking place. At Deloitte, I had an amazing experience; I learned a lot, worked with smart and interesting people and formed great memories.
The decision to leave Deloitte was difficult. I loved consulting and still do. If it wasn’t for the opportunity to work for the company my father founded, I’d still be in consulting today. But at the David Aplin Group, there’s never a dull moment. From a small beginning in the Edmonton house I grew up in, the Group now has 10 branches coast-to-coast across Canada offering a full suite of recruiting solutions.
What was the most important experience you gained from your time at Deloitte that you continue to leverage today?
At Deloitte I developed a skill that is simple but critical to any service or business. It entails doing a “quick study” of a client by asking good business questions and listening to understand the needs, the lay of the land and the people. Being exposed to a wide variety of organizations helped me hone this skill which I use today with each client engagement.
What is your best memory from Deloitte?
I was part of a strategic project that aimed to identify alternative and sustainable energy resources. Our work covered a whole bunch of energy clients across Canada from hydro companies in Ontario and Quebec to pipeline and oil and gas companies out west. This was my favourite piece of work, and the most intellectually challenging and forward-thinking project.
What is your favorite piece of business advice?
There are many, but the one that comes to mind is: “Be tough because business is.” I can’t remember who said it, but I often think about it when making difficult decisions.
What inspires and drives you?
What I call “the triple win” is the reason I do what I do. I have one of those rare jobs where if I excel, everybody wins. When we secure the right candidate for a client, the client wins, the newly hired employee wins and we get paid for doing the job. Helping contacts and friends find the right jobs and candidates is something that we’d naturally do anyway. I always think it’s neat that we’re able to build a business around this. I thrive on being able to be of service to people every day. Even for the majority of candidates who do not get the job, our focus is to add value and “leave people better than when we found them.”
Getting personal with Jeff
About family
I love being a father to my three amazing children. I have two sons, 13- and 10-years-old and a five-year-old adopted daughter.
What’s your favorite activity?
Heli- and powder skiing in British Columbia. It’s an exquisite experience, good skiing due to the large amount of snow, and magnificent natural views.
Recommended reading
Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand, on the real life story of Louis Zamperini
Deloitte Profile

Mark Whitmore, Managing Partner, Deloitte Private

Mark Whitmore has been with Deloitte for almost 30 years, during which he made significant impact internally and externally, through leadership positions at the firm and as a strategic advisor to clients in Canada, the U.S., Mexico and Europe. Mark became Managing Partner for Toronto in 2010 and most recently, the Deloitte Private Managing Partner. He’s a member of Deloitte’s leadership team.
Alumni Connections recently caught up with Mark at our Deloitte Private office in Vaughan where you can find him often at a work station or in a temporary private workspace. A leading champion of Deloitte’s Workplace of the Future, Mark was among the first leaders to give up his office and “go agile.” When he’s not with clients, Mark regularly moves between Deloitte’s offices in Toronto and Vaughan.
Tell us about your career path and how you got to where you are today?
I joined Deloitte’s Consulting practice in Toronto in 1986 upon graduating with a mathematics degree from the University of Waterloo. In 1991, I got my MBA from the University of Western Ontario, and spent a couple of years with Deloitte in Denmark before coming back to Canada in 1995. I was promoted to partner in 1998.
I came back to Canada at the right time. Our Consulting practice was taking off in a big way. I led our SAP Retail Practice from 1997 to 1999, and then moved to a national and international role as CRM Managing Partner for Canada and Eastern Americas. For seven years, I was in charge of Toronto’s Consulting practice, from 2003 to 2010. My new role as Managing Partner Deloitte Private allows me to be dedicated to a sector that I’m extremely passionate about.
What is Deloitte Private?
Deloitte Private is the practice that serves private clients – companies and individual/family enterprises – of all sizes in all industries in Canada. Deloitte has long been a major player in this space, advising and supporting entrepreneurs and their companies. In fact, Deloitte is Canada’s largest professional services advisor to private clients and for more than 150 years we have helped thousands of private companies of all sizes develop and grow. This practice is growing and currently comprises a good share of our business.
What are your immediate priorities for Deloitte Private?
As trusted advisors, we’re focused on our private clients’ futures – on looking ahead to help anticipate their needs and aspirations to continue building prosperous businesses. To do that, we’re working on a number of exciting new offerings that will include a full suite of advisory services harnessing lessons from our Canada’s Best Managed Companies program. This 22-year-old program gives us unique insights and a leading competitive edge.
Other new offerings will include cloud-based accounting services for small to medium sized companies and consulting for high net worth individuals and families.
Can you share with us your long-term aspirations for Deloitte Private?
Private companies matter to the Canadian economy and they matter to Deloitte. We’re very committed to private clients and to investing in the success of the dynamic, entrepreneurial companies that are vital to Canada’s economic growth. We’re doubling our efforts and increasing our investment to elevate this practice so we clearly and significantly distinguish ourselves in the market.
What motivates and drives you?
I love business. I get a big kick out of creating value for my clients – serving as a trusted advisor, helping them discover and chart the path to where they want the business to go and getting them there and beyond. I thrive on being a part of the fascinating journey of building and growing a successful business.
Do you have a secret recipe for success?
I feel very lucky to have the three – not so secret – ingredients to a balanced and fulfilled life. I have a career I’m passionate about. I have great and healthy relationships with my family whom I adore – my wife Patty and my three children, Grant, 15, Erika, 13, and Elaine 12. I complement both with community work and favorite sports and activities.
I’m a hockey coach and have had the wonderful opportunity of coaching all my children’s teams at least once throughout the past ten years. Farming is another passion that I developed early on as a kid at my grandfather’s farm. I now have my own production farm where I love to spend quality time with my family. Last but not least, I serve on various boards, including the Richard Ivey Advisory Board and the Ivey Alumni Network Board. I’m also a member of the board of Crohn’s and Colitis Canada – a cause that I feel strongly about since my oldest child was diagnosed a few years ago.
What does the Deloitte alumni network mean to you and why is it important?
Throughout my 30 years at Deloitte, I developed relationships that enriched my life, both personally and professionally. Relationships that start at work with colleagues who share your day to day challenges and successes almost always stand the test of time – they are the most natural and easiest to maintain.
Our firm is changing all the time. No matter when people leave they can always count on benefitting from staying close to the most connected firm in Canada. Alumni can approach us for help with their business, introductions to industry peers, assistance with career transitions, including rejoining Deloitte, or for matters as simple as accessing our insights and thought leadership. I encourage all alumni to reach out to past colleagues or their regional alumni contacts for any of the above matters.
Can you share a best piece of business advice?
Business starts and ends with clients. Keeping clients’ needs, perspectives and expectations at the heart of all you do is the best way to succeed and make a difference – not only for clients, but for one’s own career development and accomplishments!

Community

Harley Mintz with Mark Whitmore at the Buzz Party just before shaving his head.
Vice chair’s hair dare raises $720,000 for cancer research
Deloitte vice chair Harley Mintz loved his long hair, which he had for as long as he can remember. “This hair is known – people know me from behind just by my hair,” he told Toronto television station CityTV. But when Harley was challenged, he did not hesitate to part with his precious locks for a good cause. He joined the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation’s #NoHairSelfie campaign to raise funds for cancer research and treatment, hoping to raise $500,000. He shaved his head as part of the campaign’s Buzz Party in Toronto on February 4 and ended up raising $720,000.
“This is probably the most expensive haircut in history,” he said in an interview with CityTV. “Over 350 people contributed to it. It’s incredible.”
See how Harley’s journey started and culminated.
Deloitte makes a $3.15 million difference through United Way
In 2014, our partners, people and retired partners raised a whopping $3.15 million for United Way. This is the eighth year in a row that Deloitte has raised more than $3 million and the 13th consecutive year that we’ve raised more than $1 million firm-wide. “Our people are amazing. Working together, we have made a difference in the lives of thousands,” says Leila Fenc, Director, Corporate Responsibility and Deloitte Foundation.
Our United Way campaign takes place each October as part of Deloitte’s National Month of Giving, which also includes Impact Day and other initiatives focused on giving back to the communities in which we live and work.

Deloitte news

Proud to be recognized for our inclusive culture, our leaders and our workplace
United Nations recognition for Frank Vettese
Our Chief Executive, Frank Vettese, has been recognized by the United Nations for his exceptional championing of gender equality and inclusion. Frank was one of only five leaders to be honoured on March 10 in New York.
The 2015 Women’s Empowerment Principles CEO Leadership Awards recognize business leaders who empower women to participate fully in economic life across all sectors.
Today, nearly half of Deloitte’s workforce is female. Under Frank’s leadership, the firm took inclusion to the next level, making shifts in our culture, actions and decision-making. Congratulations, Frank!
One of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2015
We’re very proud that Deloitte was named one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2015. “At Deloitte, inclusion means that our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and deliver the best experience for colleagues, clients and communities. It means creating opportunities for all and leveraging diverse ideas,” says Shannon MacDonald, Chief Inclusion Officer.
As alumni, you helped build our inclusion culture and made us who we are today and for that we are grateful.
Best Workplaces in Canada recognition for fifth consecutive year
For the fifth straight year, we’re proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s Best Workplaces. This recognition is especially meaningful because two-thirds of our score is based on our people’s anonymous feedback about the level of respect, fairness and credibility exhibited in the workplace, their sense of pride in what they do and the firm’s spirit of camaraderie.
Leadership appointments
On June 1, Frank Vettese will officially begin his second term as Managing Partner and Chief Executive of Deloitte Canada. In preparation for the next four years, Frank restructured his leadership team and made several new appointments. He will be supported by a core 18-member Executive Team plus a number of additional leaders, which together will make up the Leadership Team.
Many of the roles from the previous Executive remain on the new one, with a few changes. Newly appointed leaders are represented in navy, newly created roles in green.
All five current managing partners will stay in their roles:
  • Richard Olfert, Managing Partner, Audit
  • Tim Christmann, Managing Partner, Consulting
  • Janet Lewell, Managing Partner, ERS
  • Iseo Pasquali, Managing Partner, Financial Advisory
  • Heather Evans, Managing Partner, Tax
There are a few notable changes to our Regional Managing Partners:
  • Etienne Bruson, Managing Partner, BC
  • Chris Lee, Managing Partner, Prairies (Alberta and Prairies will merge to form a new, single region)
  • Mike Runia, Managing Partner, Ontario
  • Ryan Brain, Managing Partner, Toronto
  • Marc Perron, Managing Partner, Quebec
  • Mat Harris, Managing Partner, Atlantic
The remaining roles on the new Executive are:
  • Jason Winkler, Managing Partner, Talent
  • Nathalie Tessier, Managing Partner, Quality and Risk
  • Pierre Baraby, Managing Partner, Operations (Finance, IT, Marketplace Services, Real Estate, including Workplace of the Future, and Business Services groups)
  • Dave Keddy, Managing Partner, Growth and International Investments
  • Carol Paradine, Managing Partner, Leadership Development and Succession
The remaining roles on the new Executive are:
  • Ken Fredeen, General Counsel
  • Stephen Mansfield, Chief Information Officer
  • Guy Cogan, Chief Strategy Officer
  • Vice Chairs:
    • Frank Rochon, Vice Chair, and Chair of the Client Cabinet
    • Jonathan Goodman, Vice Chair
    • Jane Kinney, Vice Chair
    • Pierre Laporte, Vice Chair, and President of Deloitte Quebec
    • Shannon MacDonald, Vice Chair
    • Duncan Sinclair, Vice Chair
    • Mark Whitmore, Vice Chair, and Managing Partner, Deloitte Private
Technology Fast 50TM 2015 application period open until May 31
For 18 years, Deloitte has been recognizing the talent and brilliance of Canadian technology companies. Want to be among the 2015 winners? Seize the opportunity and submit an online application before May 31, 2015.
There are two new elements to this year’s edition: A change to the Technology Fast 50 eligibility criteria and the addition of a new award category, Global Technology Fast 100. To learn more about the award categories and the nomination process, visit www.fast50.ca
What it takes to be a Best Managed company – meet recent winners!
Now in its 22nd year, Canada’s Best Managed Companies program continues to recognize private companies at the forefront of economic growth – those that drive innovation, create jobs and thrive among global competitors. The most recent winners are no different and they have what it takes to be recognized.
The 2014 Best Managed program winners are characterized by their continued focus on customer relationships as the foundation for growth. Through the recession, Best Managed companies continued to invest while most companies mined cash flow. They specifically invested in technology to help maximize productivity, provide access to data to enable greater efficiency with business processes and gather insights to help strengthen customer relationships. Best Managed companies also took innovative approaches to remain competitive, forging strategic alliances and partnerships to enter a new geography or sector.
The next nomination period will run from June to September, 2015. Stay tuned for further details and visit www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca/en.
The CEO Challenge winners
As shared by Frank Vettese in his alumni message at the beginning of this newsletter, the CEO Challenge took place last fall when Frank asked all Deloitte people to suggest ground-breaking ideas that the firm should invest in. A total of 663 ideas were submitted.
On December 3, the winner of the challenge was decided at a Dragon’s Den-style event that featured a showdown among the top five teams and tough deliberations by the judges.
Here are the top five in order of the vote tally:
  1. Deloitte Wearables (the winning team): Over the next three years, the wearable technology industry is set to grow from an estimated $3.3 billion to $8.1 billion. Our Wearables team will capitalize on this opportunity with a focus on health and safety, establishing partnerships with vendors and academia, and working with clients to co-design disruptive new solutions that infuse analytics capabilities into wearable technologies.
    The team successfully validated the concept of leveraging wearables to enhance mining safety in a workshop at the Deloitte Greenhouse with executives from a gold mining company. Several more client co-design sessions are planned.
  2. Enigma: developing a Blockchain technology product for two conceptual uses in insurance and audit
  3. Machines: connecting everything to enhance the way we work, live and play.
  4. Pi2: creating an ecosystem of partners that brings together data providers, data owners, technology vendors, the private sector and “datapreneurs” to deliver insights that benefit citizens.
  5. CMO: Focusing on ‘CMO of the Future’ and key challenges that they will face and the potential solutions to address these challenges.

Join us on Workplace of the Future journey – next stop is Montreal

Deloitte is committed to the idea that professionals of the future need a workplace of the future so we are completely rethinking the way we work.
As we shared in previous newsletters, our national real estate project, Workplace of the Future, will create an outstanding experience – for our people and our clients – through dynamic and collaborative workplaces that fundamentally change how we interact with each other.
We began creating this experience in Ottawa and St. John’s last year and we’re so excited to bring the Workplace of the Future to Montreal in summer 2015 and to Toronto after that.
Come join us on this fascinating journey and take a glimpse into our next stop at Tour Deloitte – Montreal’s Workplace of the Future

Innovative partnerships put UP Express guests first

Cisco, Deloitte and Rogers along with CIBC create an enhanced and connected travel experience for riders of the new UP Express train. Learn more in our press release.

Join the group and win

Join the official Deloitte Canada LinkedIn group by June 30, 2015, and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a fitness tracker bracelet (1 of 2) or a $100 gift card (1 of 2). There will be four drawings for new members who have joined the group during the contest period.
By joining the Deloitte Canada Alumni LinkedIn group, you can:
  • Find about upcoming alumni events
  • Stay connected to other alumni and Deloitte professionals
  • Learn about new insights from Deloitte
  • Share your news and perspectives with other members
  • Join in the conversation
Winners will be announced on July 6, 2015 on the Canada Deloitte Alumni LinkedIn group webpage. Click here for detailed contest rules.

“Who’s where?” – Share your news

Have you moved to a new job or started a new business? Did you complete a new designation or degree? Are you making a difference through community work? Or perhaps you’re celebrating a career milestone and would like to share with your past colleagues?
As of the next edition of this quarterly newsletter, we will start a new section entitled: Who’s where? This will be dedicated to your submissions about your career, professional news, community involvement or business ventures – and all relevant news that you’d love to share with Deloitte alumni and current employees.
Please submit no more than a paragraph or two of maximum 250 words to tell us about your business, job, community work and what you’ve been up to recently or since you left Deloitte. Make sure to include the years you were with Deloitte, your last office and title at the firm. Send your submissions for editorial consideration to deloittealumni@deloitte.ca with the subject line: Who’s where?
We are keen to hear from you and share your news. For consideration in the fall 2015 newsletter, please submit content by July 3, 2015.

Alumni news and appointments

Congratulations to the following Deloitte alumni on their recent appointments:
Alberta
Laurence Broos was appointed vice-president of finance at Cardinal Energy Ltd. in February. Laurence was an audit senior at Deloitte from 2000 to 2003.
Alan Milgate was appointed board member at KKR Credit Alpha Fund in January. Alan was with Deloitte’s taxation practice from 1994 to 2007.
British Columbia
Sandy Pratt was appointed CFO at T-Bird Pharma Inc. in January. She began her career in public practice at Deloitte in 1990, and left the firm in 2001. Most recently, Sandy served as vice-president of finance at the Oak Bay Marine Group.
William Larkin was appointed CFO of First Growth Holdings Ltd. in March. Early in his career, William worked as auditor at Deloitte in Los Angeles.
Evan Brown was appointed CFO of Carmanah Technologies in March. Early in his career, Evan was part of Deloitte’s audit team in Bermuda and has now returned home to Victoria, B.C.
Sam Wong was appointed CFO in February to two companies in British Columbia, Athabasca Nuclear Corp. and Strike Diamond Corp. Sam was an audit senior with Deloitte from 2006 to 2009. (See Sam’s other appointment under “Prairies”).
Kenneth Tollstam was appointed the new CFO of Pacific Potash Corp. in February.
Ontario (excluding Toronto)
Carman Joynt was appointed as chairperson of the board of directors of the Royal Canadian Mint in February. Carman is a Deloitte retired partner who was with the firm from 1969 to 2006. This appointment is for a five-year term.
Prairies
Sam Wong was appointed CFO of Gold Royalties in Saskatchewan in March. Sam was an audit senior with Deloitte from 2006 to 2009.
Quebec
Jacques Plante was appointed chairman of the board of Capital régional et coopératif Desjardins in March. He has been a director at CRCD since January 2010. Jacques had 37-year career with Deloitte, including 29 years as a partner. He retired from Deloitte in 2009.
Marie-Soleil Tremblay was appointed to the board of directors of Québec Port Authority for a three-year mandate in February. She began her career as an Audit staff accountant at Deloitte in 1994 and worked there until 1997.
Toronto
Michael Lam was appointed the new CFO of CRS Electronics Inc. in February. Michael served as a senior manager in Financial Advisory at Deloitte from 2008 to 2009.

Deloitte reads

Age of disruption – are Canadian firms prepared?
There’s a storm of disruption heading Canada’s way. It’s going to bring major challenges and incredible opportunities. By taking decisive and immediate action, Canadian businesses can withstand – and even thrive within – the age of disruption. Learn more and download the report.
CMO survey – critical new challenges face CMOs
The Chief Marketing Officer’s sphere of influence and ability to shape business objectives is expanding dramatically. As the primary owners of growing mountains of data, CMOs have become valued strategic advisors – and expectations for them to deliver results have risen accordingly.
In partnership with the Institute of Communication Agencies (ICA), Deloitte surveyed more than 300 CMOs and heads of marketing departments across the country. The survey found that 89% say marketing has changed drastically in the past five years, and that 71% recognize data analytics as their most important challenge.
Read about survey findings and learn how Deloitte solutions can enable marketing executives as they lead their organizations in the world of big data, social networks, mobile technologies and digitization.
Federal, provincial and territorial budget coverage
Don’t miss Deloitte’s coverage of the 2015-16 Canadian federal, provincial and territorial budgets for summaries of the measures and implications for individuals and businesses. Summaries will be provided as the budgets become available.
Actuarial 20/20 – Canada: in focus
A new POV from our Actuarial, Rewards and Analytics team, Actuarial 20/20 – Canada: in focus, reveals how the actuarial role must transform to help companies grow revenues, proactively manage risk and maintain a healthy bottom line.
Tech Trends 2015
Deloitte’s sixth annual Technology Trends report outlines eight trends that could potentially disrupt the way businesses engage their customers, how work gets done and how markets and industries evolve. Read about the eight trends, download the full report, and explore our interactive tablet app.
Human capital trends 2015: Can Canadians handle work’s new reality?
Human capital trends 2015 looks at what Canadian business and HR leaders think about this new world of work—from the trends that concern them, to their ability to respond and evolve to the realities and demands of today’s workplace. Explore this year’s trends.
Gaining ground in volatile times 2015
Oil prices rise and inevitably fall and, as we find ourselves in the trough of this cycle once again, we need to remember yesterday to plan effectively for tomorrow. As part of our Gaining ground in volatile times insights, our new POV, Hard times: Been there, done that?, outlines a range of activities that companies should consider – not just while in the grip of a low-commodity-price environment, but any time.
The Future of Work – A Reorientation Guide
People are people, it turns out, and much of what we are told “divides” millennials from other generations really comes down to differing approaches to work itself and the ever-faster adoption of new technology and media. A new research from Deloitte that surveyed 502 Canadian professionals and their perspectives on working life, revealed that the future of work is more social, more flexible, more technological and less hierarchical.

Learning

Deloitte’s Financial Reporting Updates
Gain clarity and obtain Continuing Professional Education credits. Register for one or more of our informative and engaging live webcast series and hear from our subject matter experts who strive to bring you clarity in the financial reporting world. Feel free to share this invitation with other alumni and with your own colleagues.
Technology executive webcast series
CIOs and technology executives face the relentless need to stay current. There’s always something evolving – from technology innovation and new business practices to emerging security threats and cost pressures – that can have a significant impact on IT and the entire business.
To help CIOs keep pace with the latest developments and trends, Deloitte’s quarterly webcast series offers a mix of innovative thinking and practical advice that addresses challenges based on the feedback received from CIOs who participated in our 2014 CIO Survey. Check coming webcasts and access archived sessions

Around the country

Atlantic
Supporting Neptune Theatre and hosting Best Managed Companies program CEOs
Deloitte is proud to support Nova Scotia’s Neptune Theatre and a production from their 2015-16 season, “The Addams Family.” Jointly with CIBC, we will be holding a reception on May 22 for the CEOs of Atlantic companies in the Canada’s Best Managed Companies program. This will be the second Neptune Theatre show Deloitte has sponsored this year. In January, we welcomed the CEOs of our Best Managed Companies to the opening night of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps.”
Joining Halifax in hosting the 2015 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship
Congratulations to Team Sweden on their win at the 2015 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship. Twelve countries competed in this exciting event, which was held at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax from March 28 to April 5. Deloitte was a Diamond Sponsor and we enjoyed the opportunity to see familiar faces from our alumni community and watch some world-class curling.
Alberta
Calgary Risk Series seminar on May 19
Contractual agreements in today’s interconnected business world are of utmost importance. Join us on May 19, 2015, from 7:30 to 9:30 am, at Deloitte’s office, 850 2nd Street SW Calgary, for an interactive session on contract risk and compliance. We will explore what an effective third-party risk-management program is and look at some of its elements, including:
  • Information flow within extended business relationships
  • Contracts that contain variable elements
  • Effective business controls
  • Transparent business relationships
  • Revenue leakage concerns
For more information please contact Laura Jonson ljonson@deloitte.ca
Prairies
Spring is a time for renewal and our offices in the Prairies will be hosting two alumni events to reconnect and renew relations with alumni. We hope to see many of you at these events:
Saskatoon alumni golf event, June 10
Saskatoon is hosting an alumni golf event on June 10 at the Willow Golf and Country Club. Stay tuned for your invitation and contact saskalumni@deloitte.ca with any questions.
Winnipeg alumni reception, May 27
Winnipeg will be holding the 2015 alumni reception on May 27, 2015, from 5:30 to 8:30 pm, at our offices, Suite 2300, 360 Main Stree. For now, please save the date and stay tuned for your invitation and registration link. For more information, contact winnipegalumni@deloitte.ca
Quebec
Tour Deloitte – Montreal’s Workplace of the Future
Tour Deloitte is set to open in summer 2015. This will be Montreal’s first office building targeting LEED Platinum certification and that’s only one of its many neat features.
Tour Deloitte will be the future home of Deloitte and our people in Montreal. Learn more at “Welcome to the Workplace of the Future.”
Twelve Quebec companies join Canada’s Best Managed Companies program
In the 2014 Canada’s Best Managed Companies program, Quebec had a record year, placing 12 winners among the 50 new Canadian companies who made it to the list, and three among the 15 companies to watch. Among the 12 Quebec winning companies, four have Deloitte alumni on their senior management team:
  • Boire & Frères inc.
  • Distech Controls
  • Le Groupe Maurice
  • Pelican International
Ontario (excluding Toronto)
Deloitte’s second Greenhouse opens in Ottawa
We’re excited to announce the opening of the firm’s second Greenhouse, located in Ottawa. The Deloitte Greenhouse is an advanced, immersive environment designed to accelerate breakthroughs. The space combines behavioural methods, analytics, technology and expert facilitation to create an experience that can propel clients to extraordinary results. As the name suggests, the Deloitte Greenhouse is a place for cultivation – of ideas, of relationships, of opportunities – to help our clients and our people get to breakthroughs.
Toronto
Deloitte 360° Toronto, coming in September 2015
We’re thrilled to announce that planning for this year’s Toronto edition of Deloitte 360° is well under way. In its third year, our premier conference series will take place in Toronto in mid-September. The event will be a dynamic, interactive experience with insightful, thought-provoking and business-focused sessions. Please stay tuned by visiting Deloitte 360° and making sure we have your most up-to-date contact and professional information. You can send your updates to talumni@deloitte.ca and join the Canada Alumni LinkedIn group to stay current on all alumni events and activities.
Toronto alumni events recap
Judith Humphrey book launch: On January 22, the Toronto alumni team hosted an intimate breakfast featuring Judith Humphrey, author of “Taking the Stage: How Women Can Speak Up, Stand Out and Succeed.” Deloitte professionals, along with a number of our alumni, participated in an engaging and insightful conversation and enjoyed networking with former colleagues. Participants received signed copies of Humphrey’s book. Check out pictures from the event on our Facebook album.
From left to right: Author Judith Humphrey, Deloitte’s Chief Inclusion Officer, Shannon MacDonald, and Toronto’s Alumni Chair, Rahim Kassam
PDAC mining reception: On March 2, Deloitte held a reception for attendees of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) International Convention, Trade Show and Investors Exchange. The Convention, the event of choice for the world’s mineral industry, took place from March 1 to 4 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Following an eventful day of workshops, guests at the reception – Deloitte colleagues, clients and alumni – enjoyed the opportunity to network while discussing the latest in mining news and trends.
Sourcing and Procurement alumni event: On March 5, Consulting’s Sourcing and Procurement group hosted an intimate dinner to reconnect with former colleagues. The event took place at Cibo Wine Bar.
Women of Influence Luncheon: Access to the C-Suite: On March 25, Deloitte hosted a number of alumni at the Women of Influence Luncheon “Access to the C-Suite.” The event featured female leaders who have coveted positions in the C-Suite of some of Canada’s top companies. Speakers included Janet Kennedy (President of Microsoft Canada), Tracie Crook (Chief Operating Officer at McCarthy Tétrault) and our very own Chief Marketing Officer, Colleen Albiston. Colleen led an engaging conversation on the topic of rethinking the approach to B2B marketing. For more information on Deloitte’s Women of Influence Series and upcoming events, click here.
Second Annual ERS Alumni Event:
Last year’s Enterprise Risk Services Alumni event in Toronto was a great success. This is why the Toronto ERS management team, along with Toronto ManagERS Forum and the Alumni Committee, were excited to host their second annual Alumni social. Deloitte’s ERS group reconnected with past colleagues over music, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at Toronto’s Pravda Vodka House. ERS partners Donald McColl, Mike Flintoff and others were on hand to welcome Alumni and share the latest in ERS news.
Hitting the ice for Hockey Helps the Homeless
On April 18, a Deloitte hockey team comprising current and former employees competed in the Toronto Bay Street Men’s Tournament to support Hockey Helps the Homeless. We finished second in fundraising, out of 16 teams, securing over $25,000 to help the homeless. Our fundraising success, led by Financial Advisory’s Lou Odette, gave us second pick in the two draft rounds held at the ACC on April 16. We picked former Toronto Maple Leafs players Mike Krushelnyski and Mark Osborne to join our team.
 
On tournament day, we were tied for first after Round 1, but lost in the tie breaker. Then again, we won our final game. Congratulations, Team Deloitte.
Left to right: Mark Osborne, Deloitte alum Jerry Hussar, and Mike Krushelnyski

Alumni Connections is sending this message on behalf of alumni Sandy Halim and Paul Pew

Class of ‘87 Unofficial Drink-Up Reunion
Do you recognize anyone in this picture? If yes, then you might know us, we were the First Canadian Place Touche Ross A1’s in 1987. We are hosting an Unofficial Drink-Up Reunion on Saturday, May 30 in Toronto. We’d love to see other people we worked with! For more event information, contact Sandy Halim at pewhalim@rogers.com. (Note: this is definitely NOT a business networking event!)

Don’t miss out on alumni communications!

To receive invitations to industry and technical events, make sure you we have your current professional and contact information. Register or update your profile in our alumni directory or join our Canada Alumni LinkedIn group. For help, please contact us at deloittealumni@deloitte.ca.

Stay Connected!

Register or update your profile in our alumni directory or join our Canada Alumni LinkedIn group. For help at any time, please contact us at deloittealumni@deloitte.ca
Your alumni contacts