Our Team

From 1974 to 1998 Gordon was with McLeod Young Weir and its successors, ScotiaMcLeod and Scotia Capital Markets. He was appointed a director in 1980 and to the Executive Committee in 1983. In 1990, he was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of ScotiaMcLeod. From 1993 to 1998, he held the positions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ScotiaMcLeod and the successor organization, Scotia Capital Markets.

During his first nine years at McLeod Young Weir, Gordon served in various Fixed Income Trading and Sales capacities. From 1983 to 1990, he headed all Global Fixed Income, Money Market and Foreign Exchange activities of the firm and chaired the firm's Liability Committee. This committee oversaw all capital commitments of the firm in both global debt and equity markets. During this period, he oversaw the expansion of the firm's fixed income activities into the United States, Europe and Asia.

From 1990 to 1998, Gordon's responsibilities included oversight of all the global activities of the firm. These included all Capital Market activities as well as Retail Brokerage, Administration, Investment Banking and Government Finance. He oversaw the creation of Scotia Capital Markets, which combined the capital markets and investment banking activities of the Bank of Nova Scotia and ScotiaMcLeod. This combination produced one of Canada's leading investment banks. During this time, Gordon also served on Scotiabank's Management, Loan Policy and Asset/Liability committees.

In 1998, Gordon joined Altamira Investment Services Inc. as President and Chief Executive Officer. As head of Altamira, one of Canada's largest independent mutual fund companies, he oversaw the restructuring and eventual sale of the company to the National Bank of Canada. After the sale was completed in 2002, Gordon and Steven Sharpe formed a partnership which became Blair Franklin Capital Partners in 2003.

Gordon is a former director of the Canadian Tire Corporation, Orion Capital (a U.S. based property and casualty company which was sold to Royal Sun Alliance Insurance), The Toronto Community Foundation, Canadian Olympic Foundation, Canadian Air Transport and Security Authority, CML Healthcare Inc. and is the former Chairman of the Board of Upper Canada College and of Canadian Tire Bank.

Gordon currently serves on the Board of Max Capital Group Ltd. (a Bermuda-based insurance/reinsurance company listed on NASDAQ), is a director of Canadian Trading and Quotation System Inc., and is Chairman of the Board of the North York General Hospital.

Joel began his career in 1979 with Continental Illinois Bank (now Bank of America), first in Toronto and then in Chicago. As Senior Director in the Capital Markets Group from 1984 to 1986, Joel was responsible for the Bank's capital markets activities in Canada, including private placements, structured transactions and mergers and acquisitions. In 1986, Joel joined Lancaster Financial, a newly-formed employee-owned independent merchant bank, and in 1990, he was appointed a Director of the firm. As a key member of Lancaster's financial advisory team, Joel acted as advisor to boards, special committees, management teams, shareholders and stakeholder groups on a broad range of transactions, including divestitures, acquisitions, valuations, fairness opinions and financial restructurings, helping to build Lancaster into one of Canada's most successful financial advisory boutiques.

In 1995, Lancaster was acquired by TD Securities, the investment banking arm of TD Bank Financial Group, and Joel continued in M&A, becoming a Managing Director in TD Securities, Investment Banking Department. The following year, he was appointed Head of the Mergers and Acquisitions Group, a position he held until 2001. As the head of the M&A Group, Joel was responsible for all financial advisory services at TD Securities, including public takeovers, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, takeover defense assignments, valuations and fairness opinions. During this time, TD Securities acted on well over $100 billion of M&A transactions, including some of the largest Canadian public takeovers and mergers, and established itself as a top-tier player in the financial advisory business in Canada.

After leaving TD Securities at the end 2001, Joel pursued a new alternative asset management venture, Riverstone Capital Partners, directed at event driven strategies in the Canadian market. In mid 2003, Joel returned to his independent merchant banking roots by joining the Partners of Blair Franklin.

Scot joined Blair Franklin in July, 2006 bringing with him over 23 years experience in investment banking. He began his career in 1983 with Walwyn Stodgell Cochran Murray before moving to McLeod Young Weir in 1986. At McLeod (later ScotiaMcLeod, then Scotia Capital Markets) Scot rose from Associate to Managing Director and Head of Investment Banking, a position he held from 1994 to 1999.

Following the integration of Scotia's corporate and investment banking businesses in 1999, Scot served as Deputy Chairman and Co-Head of Canadian Relationship Management at Scotia Capital where the group's capital markets and advisory focus was broadened to include lending and other bank products.

In 2001, Scot moved to National Bank Financial, where he served as Vice-Chairman. By the time of his departure from National in March of 2006, Scot was responsible for overseeing well over half of the Bank's corporate client base in Canada. Scot's personal experience covers a broad range of assignments including both public and private debt, equity and financial advisory transactions carried out both domestically and cross border.

Scot has a BS and an MBA from Cornell University and is a Director of Discovery Capital Corporation.

Fred joined Blair Franklin in June, 2007. Throughout his investment banking career, he has been responsible for numerous advisory, financing, privatization and restructuring assignments and has extensive experience in the areas of diversified industries, mining and metals, government and public sector entities, and financial services.

From 1989 to 2006, Fred was with BMO Capital Markets, most recently as Vice Chairman and Head of Global Investment and Corporate Banking. In that role, he was responsible for all of the firm's origination business in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia, including the firm's expansion into China. From 2001 to 2004, he was Deputy Head and Chief Operating Officer; from 1997 to 2001, he ran the firm's global mining and metals business; from 1992 to 1997 he was responsible for the firm's government and privatization practice; and from 1989 to 1992, he was a member of the Capital Markets Group. Prior to joining BMO, Fred spent six years with Citicorp Investment Bank and McLeod Young Weir Limited in investment banking and international capital markets.

Fred is also active in several Board and community organizations. He is currently a Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Altius Minerals Corporation (ALS:T); Chair of Trinity Capital Management Inc., a private holding and operating company; and Chair of the Board of Management for Restoration of St. Paul's Church in Toronto.

Fred holds a B.Comm. (Honours) degree from Queen's University, an M.B.A. degree from The University of Chicago and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program of the Harvard Business School.  He has also been an Executive in Residence at INSEAD in France and Singapore.

Christopher brings to Blair Franklin 20 years of experience in fixed income sales and trading. He began his career with McLeod Young Weir (later Scotia Capital Markets) and worked with Peter Zaltz for 3 years in corporate bond trading before moving into fixed income sales. After nearly 10 years at Scotia Capital Markets, he left to help build a fixed income operation for Salomon Brothers in Toronto. Five years later, when Salomon moved their Canadian bond desk to New York, he joined BMO Capital Markets as a Managing Director in fixed income sales. Christopher has been noted several times as a "Top Gun" in the Brendan Wood Survey as a top fixed income salesperson in Canada. Christopher holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Guelph.

From 1989 to 1997, David was a director in the Investment Banking Mining Group of ScotiaMcLeod Inc. in Toronto. During that time, David was responsible for managing relationships and transaction execution. From 1997 to 1999, David was Managing Director and senior member of the Investment Banking Group of CIBC Wood Gundy, responsible for public and private equity and debt financings, provision of valuations and fairness opinions, and M&A advice.

From 1999 to 2002, David was a Managing Director in the M&A Group of Scotia Capital Inc., with responsibility for generating advisory mandates and ensuring effective execution of transactions.

Prior to entering investment banking, David spent seven years in management positions with a small manufacturing company and the Canadian Armed Forces. He holds an MBA degree from the University of Toronto and an engineering degree from The Royal Military College. David currently sits on the board of the Esprit Orchestra.

Peter brings to the Blair Franklin Asset Management Group 14 years of trading experience in fixed income, high yield and investment grade credit trading as well as global equities. Peter began his career at Scotia Capital Markets in Toronto as a trainee in the fixed income group. He subsequently became Co-Head of the Corporate Bond Group, a Director of the High Yield Bond Trading Group in New York City and ultimately Head of Canadian High Yield and Credit Proprietary Trading for Scotia Capital.

In 1998, Peter moved to Altamira Management Limited (later Natcan Investment Management) where he co-managed the Global Telecommunications Fund and the High Yield Bond Fund. He also participated in the management of Altamiraís Global Diversified Fund. Later, Peter acted as Lead Manager of the Health Sciences and Biotechnology Funds.

A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Peter has held his CFA charter since 2001.

Shelagh joins the Blair Franklin Asset Management Group with close to 10 years of investment management experience. From 2000 until 2006, she worked for MFC Global Investment Management, a Manulife Financial Company. Shelagh was a Portfolio Manager on the Canadian Total Rate of Return desk managing approx. C$10 billion in Canadian fixed income assets. Prior to that, Shelagh was a Senior Credit Analyst covering various North American and European industries and credits for MFC Global.

From 1997 until 2000, Shelagh was a member of a Bank of Montreal team managing US$6 billion in investment grade and high yield credit assets. As well, she developed models and strategies to manage the bank's corporate lending portfolio.

Shelagh holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from Glendon College, York University in Economics and Political Science and a Master of Arts degree in Economics from Queen's University. She was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2001 and currently serves as Chair of the Fixed Income Committee for the Toronto CFA Society.

From 2001 to 2003, John was an analyst in the RBC Capital Markets Mergers and Acquisitions Group. During that time, he was actively involved in a wide range of corporate advisory assignments, including divestiture, valuation, restructuring and unsolicited bid mandates for clients across a wide spectrum of industry sectors.

John holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen's University and has achieved his charter as a Chartered Financial Analyst. He is currently a Board Member and the Treasurer of AMICI Camping Charity.

Maurizio joined Blair Franklin in the summer of 2007, bringing over 7 years of combined experience in mergers and acquistions, investment banking, corporate restructuring and corporate development.  Prior to joining Blair Franklin, Maurizio was an Associate at National Bank Financial in the Mergers and Acquisitions Group. Prior to that, he worked in the Investment Banking Group at Blackmont Capital and as a consultant with Prowis, a Toronto-based corporate restructuring boutique.  Maurizio started his career working in The Netherlands in the Corporate Development Department of the Nederlandsche Credietverzekering Maatschappij (a Swiss Re Group subsidiary now called Atradius), a group focused on international expansion opportunities through mergers and acquisitions.  Maurizio holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business and an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Catholic University of Milan.

Lindsay moved to the Blair Franklin Asset Management Group from Advisory Services in 2008, bringing five years of capital markets experience.

Prior to joining Blair Franklin in 2005, Lindsay spent two years as an analyst in the RBC Capital Markets Mergers and Acquisitions Group. During that time, she was actively involved in a broad range of corporate advisory assignments, including divestiture, valuation, restructuring and unsolicited bid mandates for clients across a wide spectrum of industry sectors.

Lindsay holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) degree from the University of British Columbia where she won the Dorothy Anne Dilworth Memorial Shield for the Top Female Graduate in the faculty of Commerce. She is also a CFA charterholder and a member of the Toronto CFA Society.

Prior to joining Blair Franklin in late 2006, Brian spent a year as an Associate in KPMG's Transaction Advisory Group in Toronto. During that time, he was involved in a variety of corporate advisory assignments including divestitures, valuations, due diligence and restructuring for clients across a wide spectrum of industry sectors.

Brian holds a Masters in Business Administration from the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University and an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from Queen's University. He has also successfully completed Level III of the Chartered Financial Analyst program.

Avi joined Blair Franklin in 2006 from the University of Western Ontario, where he earned a Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies - Finance. Avi developed an understanding of entrepreneurship and small business management as the President and Founder of Avisys Incorporated, a provider of affordable technology solutions. Through internships at Citigroup he gained experience in budgeting, research and financial analysis. Avi completed his Canadian Securities Course in 2004.

Sandy joined Blair Franklin in January 2007 as an Analyst in the Advisory Services group after his graduation from the University of Toronto with his Master of Financial Economics (MFE) degree. The MFE program is a joint offering of the Department of Economics and the Rotman School of Management. Sandy completed an Honours BA in Applied Economics at Queen's University in 2005.

Ian joined Blair Franklin in February of 2008 after completing his Masters of Financial Economics (MFE) at the University of Toronto. The MFE program is a joint offering of the Department of Economics and the Rotman School of Management. Ian also completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto where he earned his B.A. Specialist in Economics.

Prior to joining Blair Franklin, Ian gained experience through an internship at the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board where he was involved with the portfolio design and private equity groups. Ian is currently a CFA Level III Candidate.

Hugh has over 35 years in the Investment business. In 1974 Hugh joined McLeod, Young Weir & Co. Ltd. and in 1983 became the Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Executive Committee. In this capacity he was responsible for the Finance, Operations, Information Systems, Human Resources, Secretarial and General Services departments. After McLeod was acquired by the Bank of Nova Scotia, Hugh assisted with the integration of the support departments of Scotia McLeod Inc. and those of The Bank. Hugh retired from The Bank on October 31st, 1998.

Hugh has served as an Executive Committee Member of the Investment Dealers' Association of Canada and is a Past Chairman of the Financial Administrators' Section of the I.D.A. He also chaired the Working Committee for the new Industry Capital Formula and won consensus between the various SRO's and the IDA members resulting in a new capital formula. Hugh also contributed on many other industry regulatory committees.

He is a serving member of the IDA's Disciplinary Panel.

A lawyer by training, Steven spent his career at the Torys firm, from 1979 to 1986, and Davies, Ward & Beck from 1986 to 1998. During that time, he spent a significant amount of time acting on behalf of investment and commercial banks, multinational companies, boards of directors and shareholders, providing all aspects of business advice, with an emphasis on strategic, conflictual and governance issues. Steven co-headed the Work-out and Restructuring Group and participated in a variety of national and international situations, spanning a number of sectors of the economy.

In 1998, Steven was approached by The Kroll-O'Gara Company and asked to join the company in New York and take part in the development of the growth strategy for the newly-merged enterprise. As Executive Vice President, he was responsible for strategic planning, business development and the creation of the firm's M&A group. Over the course of almost 3 years, the M&A Group completed more than 10 acquisitions of scale, spread out over the U.S., Canada, England, Colombia, Argentina and the People's Republic of China. In addition to the usual responsibilities associated with completing a transaction, Steven shared responsibility with the heads of the operating units for the successful integration of those businesses into the existing corporate structure.

When he left Kroll to return to Toronto, Steven agreed to undertake the restructuring and ultimate auction of Security Technologies Group, a Florida-based national security integration company, on behalf of its stockholders. Subsequently, he undertook a similar role as Chief Restructuring Officer with a private holding company in Toronto, working out and rationalizing its portfolio of operating businesses and passive investments.

Steven is a former director of Foamex International, Inc., Security Technologies Group, Inc., Altamira Investment Services Limited, RMX Exploration Company, Central Toronto Youth Services, the Child, Youth and Family Policy Research Centre, Camp Oochigeas and The Donwood Institute. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd. and chairs its Governance and Compensation Committee.