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People and Companies News for Week Ending July 31, 2026
- Fengate Asset Management has appointed Lekan Idowu as senior vice-president of capital formation to help expand the firm’s real estate investor base across Canada and the U.S. He brings extensive experience in institutional fundraising and investor relations across private market strategies including infrastructure, private equity, private credit, and real estate. Most recently, Idowu was responsible for institutional capital raising initiatives at Fiera Capital, where he worked with pension plans, insurance companies, endowments, foundations, family offices, and investment consultants across Canada. He has also held business-development and distribution roles with Foyston, Gordon & Payne and RBC Global Asset Management.
- Calgary-based JLL executive Kim Wingerak was among the 2026 GlobeSt.com Women of Influence recipients for her leadership in commercial real estate. Wingerak serves as the global integrated facilities management director for a U.S.-based bank’s property portfolio.
- Cathy Cranston will be appointed chair of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan board on January 1, 2027. The decision was made by the Government of Ontario and Ontario Teachers’ Federation, who are the plan’s co-sponsors. Cranston has been a member of the board since 2019 and currently chairs its people and compensation committee as a member of the investment and risk committee. She will succeed current chair Steve McGirr as he retires following the completion of his full term. Cranston spent 32 years with BMO Financial Group, most recently as treasurer.
- As Connect reported earlier, U.S. investment giant BlackRock has appointed Katherine Tweedie as the new head of its Canadian business. Prior to joining BlackRock, Tweedie served as co-head of North American institutional investment at Ninety One in Toronto, previously known as Investec Asset Management. She has also held executive positions with the World Economic Forum as head of Africa, HSG (now Stonehage Fleming) and CIBC World Markets.
- Josée Guibord has been appointed president and CEO of Electricity Canada, effective September 8. Guibord has held senior leadership positions in the energy sector for more than a decade, most recently as executive advisor at Dunsky Energy+ Climate. Before then, she served as president and CEO at Evolugen by Brookfield Renewable, where she managed a portfolio representing US$10 billion in assets.
- Julian Blaise has been promoted to manager of pre-construction design at Alumicor. He succeeds Steve Gusterson, who retired July 31 after 52 years of service with the company. Blaise joined Alumicor in 2015 and has more than 20 years of experience working with aluminum-fenestration and framing systems.
- International engineering and building-services firm Building Theory has opened a Toronto office. The company says the move brings it closer to clients and reinforces its commitment to delivering exceptional solutions across North America.
- David Bassal has joined Savills‘ Quebec industrial real estate practice, serving as a senior vice-president in the firm’s Montreal office. Bassal joined Savills from Michael White Realties, where he advised both tenants and landlords across a broade range of industrial real estate transactions. “Throughout his career, Bassal has advised clients on lease negotiations, asset dispositions, sale-leaseback transactions and strategic real estate planning,” said Savills.
- Kingswood Capital President Lorne Segal has been named a member of the Order of Canada. Segal was honoured for his “visionary, detail-driven leadership in landmark real estate development:” as well as his “enduring commitment to community service, including leadership in mental-health and youth-empowerment initiatives.” The governor-general’s office said his combined impact reflects of a “lifelong legacy of principled enterprise and meaningful civic contribution.” He joined his late father Joe Segal, a legendary commercial real estate investor and philanthropist, as a member of the Order. Lorne Segal said his honour carried special meaning for him because it connected him to his father, who first showed him what a life of contribution looks like. “He taught me that success is measured not only by what we accomplish but by what we contribute,” said Lorne Segal. “Those values have guided me throughout my life.”
- Andrew Clarke has been appointed CEO of Calgary Co-op. Clarke has 30 years of retail experience on four continents.
- Saar Pikar will join Kensington Capital as the company’s new president on August 10. Pikar will leave his post as the head of venture capital and equity investments at the Ontario Municipal Employees Pension System. In addition, Bogdan (Bo) Cenanovic will join Kensington as managing director and head of private equity on the same date. Both Pikar and Cenanovic will become members of the firm’s investment committee, also on August 10.
- Versabank has appointed Moe Danis to its structured receivable program (SRP) team. He will support business development in response to the bank’s launch of its real-time SRP with a particular focus on specialized large-partner opportunities in the U.S. market.
- Gillian Selby has joined King Living as trade business manager in Calgary. King Living a family-owned, Australia-based furniture designer, manufacturer and retailer. Selby is working with designers, architects and developers in Alberta on their residential, hospitality and commercial projects.
- Sergio Terrazas has been appointed as director of western real estate at Loblaw. He will support all Loblaw-owned grocery chains on new store development. Based in Calgary, Terrazas moved to Loblaw from Opa! Souvlaki Franchise Group, where he served as director of franchise development and leasing.
- CGC raised more than $64,000 for the Safe Haven Foundation through the firm’s annual Cowboy Corral Calgary Stampede fundraiser. The Save Haven Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports girls and young women facing housing instability by providing sanctuary, stability and education pathways. The funds were raised through a silent auction. The effort brought CGC’s total amount raised for community organizations this year to more than $145,000. The event was held in partnership with the Home Depot Foundation.\
- Jonathan Turnbull has joined Woodbourne Capital as a partner after serving as head of Canada for Harrison Street Real Estate Capital for the past six years. He brings more than three decades of real estate industry experience to his new firm.
- AtkinsRéalis Group has appointed Amy Bunszel and Bill Ruh to its board of directors as part of the firm’s strategy to strengthen expertise in AI digital transformation and emerging technologies. The appointments, made following a selection process led by the board’s governance, ethics and sustainability committee, are intended to support the company’s long-term growth strategy and the integration of advanced technologies across its operations and services. Bunszel is executive vice-president of Autodesk‘s architecture, engineering and construction business, where she oversees global software platforms and has led AI and cloud-based technology initiatives, while Ruh is a veteran technology executive who previously served as CEO of Lendlease Digital and GE Digital, leading major industrial digital transformation and AI initiatives.
- Ankit Bhargarva has joined KPMG as a partner and Prairies region leader of infrastructure, capital projects and sustainability. He moved to KPMG from Deloitte, where he served as the leader of the firm’s infrastructure advisory business.
- Christie Love Thomas has been promoted to president at Jona Capital, the Love family’s investment arm, which has a controlling interest in Kingsett Capital, one of Canada’s largest institutional investment firms. Love moved up from her formper position of vice-president of strategy.
- Clarke has revamped its senior executive team and those of its subsidiaries Ravelin Properties REIT and Holloway Lodging Corporation amid a commercial real estate integration. The moves come after Clarke completed its $1.1 billion acquisition of Ravelin in May and assumed ownership of its commercial real estate portfolio under a plan of arrangement. Tom Casey has been promoted to president of Clarke from his former CFO position with the company, while George Armoyan has stepped down as president and will continue as chairman and CEO. Steve Cyr has been promoted to CFO from vice-president of accounting. Halifax-based Clarke already owned several commercial real estate assets at the time of the acquisition and has made a number of acquisitions in various parts of Canada, particularly Calgary, since then. At Ravelin, Casey and Steve Darrow have been appointed co-CEOs and will jointly oversee the REIT’s leadership, operations and strategic direction. At Holloway, Robert Sherman has been promoted to president while retaining his chief operating officer position as well. Clarke also appointed David Shahinian and Martin Pham as executive vice-presidents of U.S. real estate. They will oversee Clarke’s Chicago portfolio and lead future U.S. real estate investment activities.
- CoStar Group has appointed Mario Lefebvre as the company’s chief economist for Canada. He succeeds Carl Gomez, who joined EVP Research as its chief economist in January. Lefebvre has more than 30 years of experience in economics, real estate research and public policy. He most recently served as advisory partner at Aviseo Conseil and, since 2023, has been a lecturer in the MBA program at Université de Sherbrooke. Before joining Aviseo, he spent four years as regional director for Quebec at the Bank of Canada, where he supervised the central bank’s Business Outlook Survey across the province. He also spent four years with Ivanhoé Cambridge as the firm’s vice-president of global real estate market research.
- Power Corporation has appointed James O’Sullivan as president and CEO. He has extensive experience in the financial services industry, including the past six years as president and CEO of IGM Financial, a Power group company. Before then, he spent 29 years with Scotiabank, where he held senior leadership positions, including group head of Canadian Banking. He serves as a director and chair of certain of Power group companies, including Great-West Life and IGM Financial. Power Corporation’s holdings include GWL Realty Advisors and Sagard, a global multi-strategy alternative-asset management firm with interests in venture capital private equity, private credit and real estate.
- Park Property Management has promoted Lutz Loegters to president from his former managing director role, which he took upon joining the company in 2024. Loegters is credited with playing an integral role in advancing the organization’s strategic priorities. He has considerable experience in real estate and infrastructure investments across Canada, the United States, and Europe, with expertise spanning asset management, acquisitions, and project development. He succeeded Gerd Wengler, who retired June 30.
- NAIOP has changed its name to the Commercial Real Estate Development Association. The group said the new name builds on the association’s longstanding industry leadership while positioning it for the future. In addition, the CREDA label “more clearly communicates the breadth of its members’ work and the full scope of commercial real estate development they represent. Today’s members are creating a wide range of property types that support businesses, communities and critical infrastructure, including multifamily housing, retail destinations, logistics and fulfillment facilities, office buildings, mixed-use developments, data centers and other projects that shape how people live, work, shop, connect, innovate and thrive.”
- Forthlane Capital Partners has appointed Connor Kitchen as the head of its new office in Calgary. The office opening marked Toronto-based Forthlane’s expansion into Western Canada. Kitchen will lead the firm’s growth and client relationships across Alberta and the broader Western Canadian market. Kitchen will work in the Calgary office alongside Senior Fund Accountant Cornelia Geib.
- Full-service brand operator SIR Corp., has named Steven Pelton as the company’s new president and chief operating officer, effective July 13. He is succeeding Paul Bognar, who is entering retirement. Pelton was formerly president and CEO of Aegis Brands, which owns and operates the St. Louis Bar & Grill chain and holds the master franchise for the Sweet Jesus ice cream locations in Canada. Before then, he was a senior vice-president at Recipe Unlimited Corporation (2015-2019) and co-founder and CEO of the Landing Group of Restaurants.
- Joanne McNamara will leave Oxford Properties to become CEO of British Land. McNamara serves as Toronto-based Oxford’s executive vice-president for Europe. She joined Oxford in 2010 and has more than 20 years of real estate industry experience. Due to a maximum six-month notice period, McNamara is expected to join British Land by November 30 at the latest. Prior to joining Oxford, she worked at Hammerson and DTZ.
- Breno Lima has joined CBRE Investments as a director and client solutions officer, based in Toronto. Lima has about 16 years of experience across institutional and private wealth markets in Canada. Most recently, he served as vice-president at Slate Asset Management in Montreal.
- Valan‘s board and executive team have been revamped following the valve manufacturing company’s sale to private-equity investment firm Birch Hill. Ivan Velan, Peter Velan, Rob Velan and Tom Velan. Patrick Duncan, a partner at Birch Hill, has been appointed chair of the board. Joshua Lundy, Jim Mannebach and Shauna Gamble joined the board as Birch Hill nominees, while Daniel Desjardins, Edward Kernaghan and Suzanne Blanchet remain independent directors. Desjardins has been named lead director. Mannebach retired as CEO and stepped down as board chair but will remain a director and assist with the transition.
- The OIM Group has appointed Damon Knights as a vice-president and head of residential lending. He moved to OIM from a leading Canadian financial institution, where he served as vice-president of sales and distribution in its personal banking segment. Knights has more than two decades of experience in banking, lending and financial services.
- Activate has appointed Scott Shultz as chief technology officer. Shultz is a seasoned technology executive and AI strategist with more than 30 years of experience leading tech innovation and growth for some of North America’s leading organizations, including Exeter Finance, Topgolf, and Main Event Entertainment. Winnipeg-based Activate ranks as the world’s leading active gaming company, says the firm. Activate has more than 75 locations across Canada, the U.S., Denmark, France, Finland, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, the U.K., and the U.A.E.
- Allied Properties REIT has named Craig MacIntyre as its new CFO, effective July 29. MacIntyre has nearly two decades of experience in capital markets, corporate finance, strategic transactions, investor relations, and portfolio management. Most recently, he served as vice-president of investments amd corporate development at Choice Properties REIT, where he headed acquisitions, dispositions, capital allocation, and strategic initiatives.
- Capital Power has appointed Kevin Macintosh as vice-president of finance and CFO. Macintosh has more than 30 years of financial experience. He now leads the company’s treasury, financial reporting, financial planning and analysis, tax and investor relations. He is also responsible for Capital’s enterprise risk management processes. Prior to joining Capital, he served as vice-president and controller for Suncor.
- Cameron Stephens Mortgage Capital has appointed Steve Cameron as president and CEO. Scott Cameron, a company co-founder, has transitioned to the role of executive chairman, remaining actively engaged in credit oversight, investment committee leadership, and the firm’s most important investor relationships. Scott Cameron co-founded the company with George Frankfort in 2004 and helped grow assets under management to $12 billion from $50 million. Steve Cameron joined the firm in 2011 as is credited with becoming the “operational and strategic force behind its most significant growth period.”
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