Transaction Advisory Services

Our team

Learn more about the diverse backgrounds and professional accomplishments of our Lead Advisory team. Our most senior professionals are profiled below.

To find a professional, please select the office nearest you:

Vancouver | Calgary | Edmonton | Winnipeg | Kitchener | Toronto | Montreal | Quebec City | Saint John

British Columbia

Capital Advisory

Tim Philpotts | Senior Vice President Email | 604 891 8255 (Vancouver) More information... Tim Philpotts is the National Leader of our P3 project finance group. He joined us in 1986 and worked in the UK before transferring to Ernst & Young in Canada in 2002. Tim’s career in project finance and P3 transactions extends over 19 years. During this period, he has advised on over 50 P3 and project finance transactions in Canada and around the world, totaling in excess of $15 billion that has reached financial close. Tim rejoined us from Concert Infrastructure in October 2011 after spending 19 months helping Concert launch their infrastructure fund. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Exeter in England. Jim Wheeler | Managing Director Email | 604 891 8410 (Vancouver) More information... Jim advises on the execution of infrastructure financing and public-private partnerships. He has 16 years’ finance experience, including over 11 years serving public- and private-sector clients with Ernst & Young’s Project Finance and Infrastructure Advisory practice in the UK and throughout Central and South East Europe. He has been involved in over 35 infrastructure projects with a combined value in excess of $20 billion. Jim is qualified as a chartered certified accountant (FCCA) and has an MSc in International Business Economics. Andre Koncewicz | Vice President Email | 604 891 8409 (Vancouver) More information... Andre is a member of our Infrastructure Advisory team. He has over eight years of experience in financial advisory at Ernst & Young. He specializes in infrastructure procurement, including development of value for money assessments, options analyses and risk assessments. He also advises governments through RFP/RFQ development, evaluation and execution of financial close. Andre is a CA and holds a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and a Bachelor of Commerce in Corporate Finance and Accounting from the University of Adelaide.

Alberta

Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory

Barry Munro | Senior Vice President Email | 403 206 5017 (Calgary) More information... Barry is the Managing Partner of Ernst & Young’s Calgary office, a senior vice president in our M&A practice and our national oil and gas industry leader. He focuses on all facets of corporate finance, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, valuations and financings. Barry’s experience includes advising on deal sourcing, valuations, negotiations and leading multidisciplinary teams of tax, legal, due diligence and accounting professionals. He serves on the Corporate Relations Committee of the Calgary Stampede and the board of the Calgary Stampede Foundation. Spilios Kousinioris | Senior Vice President Email | 403 206 5065 (Calgary) More information... As a senior vice president of our oilfield services industry team, Spil advises corporate clients on mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, buyouts and capital-raising activities. Spil has over 10 years of experience in all aspects of corporate finance, including deal structuring, financial modelling, valuations, acquisitions, divestitures and capital structure optimization. Prior to joining Ernst & Young Orenda, Spil held positions in RBC Royal Bank in both oil and gas commercial banking and strategic finance. Spil is a CFA charterholder and holds an MBA. Logan Day | Senior Vice President Email | 780 441 4226 (Edmonton) More information... Logan focuses on assisting clients with their transaction needs and marketing our group’s corporate finance services. He specializes in sourcing deals and advising on mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. Logan has been practicing in the corporate finance industry since 2000. Prior to joining our team, he provided corporate finance advisory services at Synergy Partners Inc. He also has experience in public and media relations, including five years as an executive assistant to a member of parliament. Logan holds a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University College of Alberta. Darcy Yamada | Senior Vice President Email | 780 441 2456 (Edmonton) More information... Darcy advises clients on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and capital-raising activities, and focuses on the sourcing, valuation, negotiation and closing of transactions. Prior to joining our group in 2006, Darcy spent approximately 10 years in corporate finance with an international accounting firm and a mid-market investment banking firm, advising corporate clients on mergers and acquisitions and capital-raising transactions. He is a CA and holds a Corporate Finance designation, designed by the CICA and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Darcy holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta. Shane Dunn | Vice President Email | 403 206 5011 (Calgary) More information... Shane advises public and private companies on acquisition, divestiture and financing transactions primarily in the energy services sector. He is also responsible for sourcing, structuring, valuation and financial modelling of transactions. Shane joined our group in January 2005 and previously worked at a large Canadian bank and served as the director of M&A for a major Canadian insurance company. Shane has a Bachelor of Corporate Finance from the Gerald Schwartz School of Business at St. Francis Xavier University. Adam Mallon | Vice President Email | 780 441 4683 (Edmonton) More information... Still to come. Brock McMillan | Vice President Email | 403 206 5341 (Calgary) More information... Brock focuses on all facets of corporate finance, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, valuations and financings. His experience includes advising on strategic options, deal sourcing, valuations and negotiations, and leading multidisciplinary teams of tax, legal, due diligence and accounting professionals. In addition, Brock has extensive experience developing business plans and financial models. Prior to joining our team in 2003, he worked in our audit and tax practices for three years, providing audit and accounting services to clients across a variety of industries. Brock is a CA and CFA charterholder and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Manitoba.

Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory

Inga Sheane | Senior Vice President Email | 204 933 0220 (Winnipeg) More information... A senior vice president with over 25 years’ experience, Inga leads the Manitoba Mergers and Acquisitions group, providing a broad range of advisory services to corporate clients with a focus on strategic and business planning. She also provides valuation and business-loss capabilities, and has appeared as an expert witness before courts and land commissions. Prior to joining the firm in 1989, Inga held positions with CP Rail and New Flyer Industries. She holds an engineering degree, an MBA from the University of Manitoba, as well as her professional engineer and certified management consultant designations.

Tony Ianni | President Email | 416 943 3476 (Toronto) More information... Tony leads Ernst & Young Orenda Corporate Finance Inc. He has over 20 years of experience in our corporate finance business and is actively engaged in transaction advisory services relating to M&A, divestitures, alliances and financings to both public and private corporations. Tony also leads our home and building products industry team. He has worked with Ernst & Young LLP’s audit practice, and became a partner in 1997. Tony holds a CA designation and an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory

Kevin Casey | Senior Vice President Email | 519 571 3311 (Kitchener) More information... Kevin is a leader with our automotive and steel industry groups. He provides transaction advisory services relating to M&A, divestitures and financings to private corporations. Before he moved to Ernst & Young Orenda in 1995, Kevin worked for Ernst & Young LLP, where he was as an audit manager and business advisor to privately held manufacturing companies. He holds a CA designation and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Wilfrid Laurier University. Ramona Cheng | Senior Vice President Email | 416 943 3927 (Toronto) More information... Ramona leads our business services industry team, advising clients on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, carve-outs and recapitalizations. She has over 20 years of experience in corporate finance. Before joining us, Ramona held various investment banking positions in Asia primarily in the telecom industry, and was an assistant director at N.M. Rothschild & Sons and a vice president at NatWest Markets. She has also worked as a senior analyst at TD Bank, where she was involved in various acquisitions and corporate development initiatives. Ramona holds an MBA from the University of Toronto, as well as CFA and CPA (Illinois) designations. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Management Studies from the University of Waterloo. Stephen Dewis | Senior Vice President Email | 416 943 2063 (Toronto) More information... Stephen leads the food and beverage industry team. He focuses on M&A, divestitures, buyouts and capital-raising activities. Stephen has over 16 years of experience in corporate finance. Before joining the corporate finance group, Stephen practiced in Ernst & Young’s Audit group. Prior to that, Stephen was the founder and general manager of a commercial printing business. He is a CA and a Chartered Business Valuator. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business. David Dunkin | Senior Vice President Email | 416 943 3535 (Toronto) More information... David provides transaction advisory services relating to M&A, divestitures and financings. Before joining us, David was a founding shareholder and partner of Orenda Corporate Finance Inc. for 14 years. He has been in the industry for over 30 years, advising corporate clients and executing M&A and financing transactions in a variety of sectors. His experience includes positions as director of investment banking at Prudential Securities, vice president of investment banking at Merrill Lynch Canada, and vice president of corporate banking at Bank of America. He holds an MBA from McMaster University and an undergraduate degree from Wheaton College in Illinois. Andrew Schaefer | Senior Vice President Email | 416 932 6244 (Toronto) More information... Andrew is a senior vice president in our Transaction Advisory Services practice. Andrew has more than 18 years of experience in corporate finance, business valuations, public accounting and private equity. He has advised numerous companies across a variety of sectors including technology, automotive, food, consumer products, manufacturing, and retail with M&A, divestitures, financings and valuations. He has also been involved in damages quantification and forensic investigations. Andrew previously served on the Valuation Committee of a private equity group and as a board member for several private companies. Andrew is a CA and Chartered Business Valuator; he has been recognized by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants as a specialist in business valuation. Andrew also holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto. Chris Hutchinson | Vice President Email | 416 932 6002 (Toronto) More information... Chris is a vice president in our private mid-market group and focuses on lead advisory, as well as due diligence and valuation services. Over the past six years since joining the Lead Advisory group, he has worked on a number of going-concern and distressed divestitures, mergers and acquisitions, and refinancing mandates. Chris has served clients in a wide range of industries including manufacturing and distribution, food production, retail and franchising, and business services. Chris is a CA and Chartered Business Valuator, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Queen’s University. Sajjad Mahmood | Vice President Email | 416 943 5395 (Toronto) More information... Sajjad leads the knowledge-based industries team within our Lead Advisory practice where he focuses on M&A, divestitures, buyouts and capital-raising activities for high-growth companies. Sajjad has over 15 years of experience in corporate finance, private equity and investment banking, and has worked at a number of international financial institutions in North America and Asia. He holds his corporate finance designation, designed by the CICA and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Honours and Distinction) from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Jason Marley | Vice President Email | 416 943 3088 (Toronto) More information... Jason is a member of the Lead Advisory team where he focuses on M&A, divestitures, buyouts and capital-raising activities. Jason has over eight years of experience in corporate finance working for clients in a diverse range of industries. Before joining our team, Jason was a member of HSBC’s investment banking teams in Toronto, New York, London and Singapore. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the Richard Ivey School of Business. Jorden Sleeth | Vice President Email | 416 943 3369 (Toronto) More information... Jorden joined Ernst & Young’s M&A Lead Advisory practice in 2011 and focuses on advising and assisting clients with their divestiture and acquisition mandates, both in distressed and going-concern situations. Before joining our practice, Jorden spent over 11 years in Ernst & Young’s Restructuring practice, where he managed several complex and court-supervised sale processes involving troubled assets. Jorden has significant industry experience in the health-care sector as well as in other sectors, including manufacturing, automotive and agriculture. Jorden is a licensed trustee in bankruptcy, a chartered insolvency and restructuring professional and a CA.

Capital Advisory

Brian Allard | Senior Vice President Email | 416 943 2665 (Toronto) More information... Brian advises on all aspects of structured debt, equity and infrastructure finance, including its placement and negotiation. He has over 25 years’ experience with corporate clients in a wide variety of industries. Before joining us in 1994, Brian was an executive of a major Canadian bank, where he directed all commercial banking activities in Ontario. Brian holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Western Ontario, a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Windsor and an MBA from York University. Steve Lewis | Senior Vice President Email | 416 943 2659 (Toronto) More information... Steve advises on senior debt, junior debt, equity and mezzanine financing, using an extensive network of financing sources in both US and Canadian markets. He has substantial experience in a number of industries, advising on the structure, negotiation and placement of financing. Before joining us in 1994, Steve was with Nortel. He holds a CA designation, and a Bachelor of Commerce and MBA from McMaster University. Roger Leslie | Vice President Email | 416 941 1811 (Toronto) More information... Roger joined our team in 2005 and provides advisory services relating to debt and equity financing transactions. Prior to joining our firm, he held positions with Capgemini and The Boston Consulting Group. Rogers holds an MBA from Wilfred Laurier University. Edward Ng | Vice President Email | 416 943 2953 (Toronto) More information... Edward provides transaction support and lead advisory services in the execution of infrastructure financing and public-private partnerships. He joined us in 2003, bringing his international experience in the public and not-for-profit sectors, including service with the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan — where he was involved in a number of commercial trade and policy initiatives. Edward is a CFA charterholder. Edward holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Victoria and an MBA from the University of Toronto. Richard Simm | Managing Director Email | 416 943 2102 (Toronto) More information... Richard focuses on infrastructure advisory. He has experience in corporate finance and development spanning the private and public sectors. Most recently, he was a vice president at a major international accounting and consulting firm. Richard has a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematical Statistics from Wilfrid Laurier University and an MBA from Queen’s School of Business.

Transaction Real Estate

Ray Drost | Senior Vice President Email | 416 943 4455 (Toronto) More information... Ray has practiced corporate finance and restructuring for over 28 years and currently leads Ernst & Young’s Canadian Transaction Real Estate practice. He has worked on numerous and diverse real estate assignments and has valued over $10 billion of real estate — including major portfolios of residential, commercial, industrial and hospitality properties. Additionally, Ray has worked on many assignments involving financing, acquisitions and divestitures, valuations, and restructuring in various industries, including manufacturing, real estate, retail, forestry and public-private partnerships. Ray holds a CA designation and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto, and is a licensed trustee in bankruptcy. Stuart Clinton | Senior Vice President Email | 416 943-3042 (Toronto) More information... Still to come. Michael Cane | Contract Associate Email | 416 943 5416 (Toronto) More information... Michael has 40 years of Canadian experience as an appraiser and consultant. His experience includes valuations of urban commercial real estate for institutions, pension funds, REITS, developers, mortgage lenders and corporations in Canada, the US, the Caribbean and Europe. Michael also advises on property acquisitions and dispositions, and has carried out due diligence work on acquisition and disposition projects for large commercial properties and portfolios. He has experience developing ARGUS models for office and shopping centre portfolios. Michael is an accredited appraiser (AACI), a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS) and a Professional Land Economist (PLE). Wissam Francis | Vice President Email | 416 943 4432 (Toronto) More information... Wissam is a member of our Real Estate Advisory group and has over 15 years of experience providing transactional services, corporate finance and strategy formulation through mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity origination, commercial and financial evaluations, corporate restructuring and strategic assessment. Wissam has also actively been involved in various projects serving a diverse group of industries including real-estate, banking, and consumer markets. Prior to joining us, Wissam was the Director of Finance and Acquisitions for a major Canadian real estate organization. Wissam is a CMA and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Economics and an Honours Degree in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Western Ontario. He also holds a Master of Arts in Economics and Finance from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University. Tony Morgan | Vice President Email | 416 943 3834 (Toronto) More information... Tony is a member of the Transaction Real Estate practice, which focuses on lead advisory and capital markets services, dispute advisory, strategic real estate advisory, and valuation and financial modelling. Prior to joining us, he worked for several global companies in both Canada and the UK in various real estate finance and advisory roles. Tony has over 11 years’ experience with a wide range of assignments dealing with advisory, valuation, fundraising, debt underwriting, acquisitions and disposals, and audit. Tony is a CA and registered salesperson with Ernst & Young Real Estate Services Inc. Jeffrey Wood | Vice President Email | 416 943 3962 (Toronto) More information... Jeffrey is a member of our Real Estate Advisory group and provides advisory services to all levels of government across the country. Specializing in portfolio planning, accommodation management, supply and demand management, and long-term capital planning, Jeffrey has worked with clients to develop successful long-term strategies supported by practical implementation plans. He has completed portfolio strategies for public sector real estate portfolios in excess of $2 billion dollars accommodating over 300,000 public sector employees. Jeffrey's experience covers a broad spectrum of real estate projects, ranging from traditional office space to social housing. He is an accredited Professional Land Economist and holds a Bachelor Degree from the University of Ottawa.

Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory

Ken Brooks | Senior Vice President Email | 514 874 4412 (Montreal) More information... Ken leads our Global Plastics and Packaging industry team, providing transaction advisory services relating to M&A, divestitures, restructuring, alliances and financing to companies in this sector. Before joining us, Ken was a partner with a Montreal-based mid-market M&A firm for seven years. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University and an MBA from the John Molson School of Business (Concordia University). François Tellier | Senior Vice President Email | 514 874 4351 (Montreal) More information... François leads our M&A and Infrastructure Advisory Services group in Quebec. François has been executing transaction advisory services on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, financing and buyouts to both private and public corporations in a variety of industries for over 15 years. Before joining us, he worked in RSM Richter’s Audit practice for five years. François holds his CA and Chartered Business Valuator designations. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from HEC Montréal. Todd Caluori | Senior Vice President Email | 514 879 2793 (Montreal) More information... Todd focuses on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, financings and buyout transactions with both public and private mid-market clients across several industries. Over his 15 years with the firm, he has worked on a wide variety of lead advisory, restructuring, valuation and due diligence assignments. Prior to joining us, Todd spent six years with Ernst & Young's Valuation & Business Modelling group, and before that was with our firm’s Audit practice for four years. Todd is a CA and Chartered Business Valuator. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a graduate degree in Public Accountancy from McGill University. Bernard Cormier | Vice President Email | 514 874 4305 (Montreal) More information... Still to come. Charles Rousseau | Vice President Email | 514 874 4362 (Montreal) More information... Charles is responsible for mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, buyouts and financing transactions for both public and private mid-market clients in a variety of industries. Before joining us in 2000, he was a member of corporate treasury teams, primarily with a public telecommunications company, involved in financial modelling of acquisition and divestiture transactions, capital markets, foreign exchange and derivatives. Charles is a certified general accountant and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Finance, both from the University of Sherbrooke.

Capital Advisory

Daniel Roth | Managing Director Email | 514 874 2713 (Montreal) More information... Daniel is a managing director of Infrastructure Advisory Services, providing advice on the financing and structuring of transport, health, education and other public infrastructure. He has 19 years of experience advising public agencies and private sector companies on infrastructure development and financing, as well as successful business strategy and effective structures for concessions and public-private partnerships. Daniel moved to Montreal from Ernst & Young in the UK, where he had similar responsibilities for seven years. Daniel has a master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Systems Engineering degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Daniel speaks French fluently as well as German, and has worked with clients in Canada, the UK, the US, Germany, France, Belgium, and North and South Africa. He has written several publications and has spoken frequently at conferences and to the press.

Transaction Real Estate

William Jegher | Vice President Email | 514 879 8143 (Montreal) More information... William leads our Transaction Real Estate Advisory Services practice in Montreal. Before joining the firm, he ran his own consulting company for six years, providing corporate real estate strategic consulting services to major corporate real estate groups across North America. William was also engaged by a number of companies to perform strategic consulting mandates in the real estate and facility management industries. These mandates have included benchmarking real estate metrics for occupancy cost reductions, building financial models for potential acquisitions, dispositions and consolidations of real estate assets, site selection, building real estate tenant satisfaction surveys and several other projects for the corporate real estate industry. He has written extensively for several publications and has spoken frequently at conferences. William speaks French and Hebrew and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University.

Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory

Jim Lutes | Senior Vice President Email | 506 634 2158 (Saint John) More information... With over 30 years of experience in strategic advisory and operations, Jim is the Managing Partner of Atlantic Canada and leads our mergers & acquisitions group. He is also the leader of our Atlantic Canada Structured Finance practice. Jim is the former National Director of our health and life sciences and consumer products corporate finance group in Toronto, and the former President and COO of a large manufacturing business with operations in North America, Europe and Asia. Jim has extensive financial advisory and transaction experience in the real estate and construction, manufacturing and distribution, and technology industries. He is a CA in Ontario and Nova Scotia and holds the Corporate Finance (CF) qualification in Canada, England and Wales. Jim is also a certified exit-planning advisor in North America, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (cum laude) from Dalhousie University. Todd Bethune | Vice President Email | 902 421 6287 (Halifax) More information... Todd advises clients on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and financings. Todd brings a wealth of experience in corporate strategy development and execution from his previous senior operational and corporate finance roles. Prior to re-joining us in 2011, Todd was the CFO of a North American consulting engineering company with over 1,700 employees. Todd has also held senior finance roles with public companies and has extensive acquisition integration experience. Todd holds an MBA from Dalhousie University and is a CMA.