Chairs

• 

  Jim Meloche

  Managing Director & Co-Chair



Jim Meloche


Managing Director & Co-Chair

Jim has over 25 years experience in investment and corporate banking including 20 years at Canadian and Global Investment banks.

Prior to joining Origin as a Principal, Jim was Managing Director and a member of the Board of Directors at Macquarie Capital in Canada. Previously, Jim was Managing Director in Investment Banking where he was responsible for managing several businesses including Credit Capital Markets, Derivatives Marketing and Private Equity.  Jim was also a member of the Senior Credit Committee, Investment Banking Operating Committee and Equity/Debt Capital Markets Committees.

Jim holds an Honours BBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Jim’s selected list of transactions:
• Advising Centric Health Corp. on 2 transactions
• ChildVentures’ strategic investment by Fusion Ventures
• Pivot Pharmaceuticals strategic investment
• Jaguar Mining – $28million recapitalization financing and credit advisor

• 

  Jim Osler

  Managing Director & Co-Chair



Jim Osler


Managing Director & Co-Chair

For over 25 years, Jim has been an advisor in both public and private markets, in domestic and cross-border transactions, and in industries as diverse as consumer products, utilities, and financial services.

Jim is a Co-founder of Origin Merchant Partners, where he has advised large corporate clients (KraftHeintz, Hydro One), entrepreneurial growth companies (Wyse, Yorkville), and public boards (CareRx, Teck Resources).

Jim was an initial partner in the formation of Genuity Capital Markets where he built and ran Canada’s leading independent M&A group. Following the acquisition of Genuity, Jim became Head of Canadian Mergers and Acquisitions at Canaccord Genuity until he left the firm in 2011. Previously, Jim was a Managing Director at CIBC World Markets, with 10 years of experience in the M&A and corporate finance groups.

Jim holds a B.A. (Honours) degree from Queen’s University and an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. Jim earned both a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Financial Analyst designation while employed by Ernst & Young in Toronto.

Managing Directors

• 

  Alain Miquelon

  Managing Director, Quebec Lead



Alain Miquelon


Managing Director, Quebec Lead

Alain has close to three decades of experience, principally in senior executive operating and financial roles in public companies in the financial services and technology industries. His career also includes roles in the private equity and investment banking industries. Prior to joining Origin, Alain was a Senior Partner at Novacap Inc, a leading Canadian private equity firm. Previous senior positions include roles as President and CEO of Bourse de Montréal Inc. and Group Head of Derivatives and fixed income markets, TMX Group, as well as CFO and COO roles at mdf Commerce, a TSX-listed company. Alain also has extensive experience in corporate governance, having served on numerous public and private company boards. Currently, he is Lead Director and board member of GURU Organic Energy Inc, a TSX-listed company with a $500M+ market capitalization.

Alain holds a Bachelor of Commerce from HEC Montréal and an MBA from INSEAD. He is also a CPA, having earned his CA designation. Alain’s select transaction list includes

• Co-lead partner in the $350M fund raise for Novacap Financial Services Fund 1; involved in close to $75M in deployments in the insurance sector
• Lead partner in the $30M acquisition of Marine Press of Canada by Champlain Financial Corporation
• CFO and key executive on the $1B combination of TSX Group and Montreal Exchange Inc
• Lead executive on Montreal Exchange Inc.’s $75M control investment in BOX Options Exchange LLC
• Chair of Special Committee on the sale of Fortsum Business Solutions (TSX-listed) to GFI Informatique

• 

  Andrew Muirhead

  Managing Director


Andrew Muirhead

Managing Director
Andrew has more than 20 years of experience as an advisor specializing in mergers and acquisitions in a broad range of industries.
Before Origin Merchant Partners, Andrew was Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy for Viterra, Canada’s largest integrated agri-business enterprise. Previously, Andrew was at CIBC World Markets for more than 13 years and TD Securities investment banking in Toronto, focusing on M&A.
Andrew holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, and earned his C.A. designation while working at Coopers & Lybrand.
Andrew’s select transaction list include:
• Advising ILTA Grain on its asset sales
• Avena on its sale to Ironbridge
• Rodair on its sale to Rhenus
• Kraft Heinz on its acquisition of Ethical Bean Coffee
• The Scoular Company on the acquisition of Legumex Walker’s Special Crops business
• 

  Artem Krylov

  Managing Director



Artem Krylov


Managing Director

With more than 15 years of capital markets experience, Artem joined Origin in 2024 with a focus on energy transition, automotive and financial services. Throughout his career, he has advised on over 40 transactions, including over $2 billion in capital raised in the last 4 years (cross-border and domestic) via private raises, structured notes, initial public offerings, and secondary issuances. Artem has advised major corporations, privately held companies and founder-owned businesses on over 20 closed M&A transactions representing over $10 billion in value.

Artem started his capital markets career in the KPMG Transaction Services group, followed by investment banking roles with TD Securities Mergers & Acquisitions and later Financial Institutions teams. After 8 years with TD Securities, he was recruited by National Bank to help expand their Toronto-based, Diversified Industrials team. After 3 years with National Bank, Artem, along with some of his colleagues, was recruited by Stifel Canada where he focused on growing Canadian franchise following Stifel’s acquisition of GMP FirstEnergy. At Stifel, Artem focused on domestic and cross-border capital raise transactions for energy transition companies across solar, industrial and transportation sectors. He also focused on covering financial services under Stifel owned brand, KBW. His most recent transactions before joining Origin included $175 million capital raise for Canadian solar panel manufacturer, Heliene, and numerous capital raises for the EV component manufacturer, Exro Technologies.

Artem holds a BBA from Wilfrid Laurier University. Artem also holds a CA, CPA designation from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and he is a CFA charter holder.

Artem has been a Vice Chair of the Board of the East Scarborough Boys and Girls Club, Chair of Taxation committee for TD Securities Charity Auction and is an active participant in numerous cycling fundraisers for cancer research.

• 

  Bruce Durkee

  Managing Director



Bruce Durkee


Managing Director

Bruce has over 30 years experience in investment banking with a focus on M&A advisory and equity growth capital solutions to middle market companies in diversified industry sectors. Prior to taking his current managing director position with InterOcean Advisors (now part of Origin Merchant Partners), Bruce held senior positions with high-profile investment banking firms in the U.S., including Wunderlich Securities, The Robinson-Humphrey Company, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, and Wheat First/First Union Securities. Previously, Bruce spent 13 years in corporate banking with Wachovia, part of which included serving as head of the London office. Bruce is an active participant in and holds leadership with multiple non-profit organizations in the Atlanta area. His recent transaction experience includes TechPrecision, Titus Plus and Graham Corporation.

Bruce holds a B.S. from the McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia (Finance).

He is based in Atlanta and currently holds the Series 7, 24, and 63 Registrations.

Bruce is a Registered Representative of, and securities transactions are conducted through, StillPoint Capital, LLC, Member FINRA/SiPC, Tampa, FL. Origin and StillPoint Capital, LLC are not affiliated entities. For more information on Registered Representatives and Broker Dealers visit BrokerCheck.

• 

  Cathy Steiner

  Managing Director



Cathy Steiner


Managing Director

Cathy has over 20 years of experience as an investment banker, capital markets advisor, and CFO, working closely with healthcare and growth companies on successful financings and strategic transactions.

Prior to joining Origin, Cathy was CFO for technology companies through capital raising and M&A transactions. For over a decade prior to that, Cathy was Managing Director for Nucleus GC, a boutique healthcare advisory firm working with numerous clients on financings and strategic transactions, as well as product development, commercialization, positioning and launch. For nearly ten years prior to that, Cathy led Healthcare Investment Banking for CIBC World Markets and Yorkton Securities. She has significant experience with public and private healthcare clients at all stages of development, and across all subsectors including pharmaceutical, medical device, healthcare information technology, drug development and healthcare services.

Cathy holds a MBA (Schulich School of Business at York University), MSc (Immunology) (McMaster University) and earned her CPA, CA designation while working at Deloitte. She has contributed to her field as a volunteer advisor for the healthcare practice at MaRS Discovery District and as an occasional lecturer for the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.

Cathy’s recent transaction list includes:

• CareRx’s Acquisition of Medical Pharmacies

• Sale of Dapasoft to Calian

• Sale of Centric Health’s surgical division to Kensington Capital for $35 million

• Recapitalization financing for Centric Health of $35 million by investors led by Yorkville Asset Management

• 

  Charles Pennock

  Managing Director



Charles Pennock


Managing Director

Charlie has over 25 years of investment banking experience at both Canadian and international investment banks.

Charlie has extensive industry experience in investment banking, debt & equity capital markets and bond sales with Blackmont Capital, Midland Walwyn/Merrill Lynch, TD Securities and Richardson Greenshields. Charlie’s investment banking activities have included public and private debt & equity financings, M&A and advisory services across industrial products, financial services, real estate, mining and energy.

Charlie graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Queens University.

• 

  Darren Williams

  Managing Director



Darren Williams


Managing Director

With more than 25 years of investment banking experience, Darren focuses on Industrials at Origin and has advised major corporations, privately held companies and founder-owned businesses on domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, management buyouts and capital raises.

Darren’s investment banking experience encompasses leadership roles at premier M&A focused boutiques, a major Canadian bank and a national accounting firm where he focused on advising companies on growth opportunities, strategy analysis and shareholder succession strategies.

Darren started his investment banking career at one of Canada’s first M&A boutiques, Orenda Corporate Finance.  Upon the sale of Orenda to Ernst & Young, he left to start and lead another independent boutique, Solaris Capital Advisors which he led until he was recruited by Scotiabank to start-up and build their Canadian mid-market M&A team.  Prior to joining Origin, Darren was a Partner and Senior Managing Director in Deloitte’s Corporate Finance practice, focused on advising privately held companies on growth opportunities and business succession strategies.

Darren holds a BBA from Wilfred Laurier University, a MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and a Corporate Finance designation from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.

He is actively involved in supporting the special needs community and has been a board member at Geneva Centre for Autism since 2015.

• 

  Devin Kennealy

  Managing Director



Devin Kennealy


Managing Director

Devin is a seasoned investment banking professional with over 17 years of experience in corporate finance, M&A and capital advisory. Throughout his career, Devin has advised on more than 40 transactions totaling +$4.0 billion in aggregate value.

Prior to joining Origin, Devin helped lead the Canadian M&A Investment Banking practice at Kroll (formerly Duff & Phelps), managing a high-performing team to originate and execute sell-side M&A and capital advisory transactions across various key sectors including Consumer Products & Services, Food & Beverage and Diversified Industrials. As part of a leading global M&A firm focused on the middle-market, Devin has successfully completed numerous cross-border mandates with clients that included private business owners, entrepreneurs, private equity sponsors and institutional investors. Before joining Kroll, he honed his investment banking expertise at Eight Capital, advising publicly listed companies and privately held businesses on equity issuances and M&A strategies.

Devin’s early career includes pivotal roles at Dundee Corporation, where he managed M&A and Corporate Development for the company’s Food & Agriculture portfolio; and at Macquarie Group, where he worked in Equity Research to cover public companies in the Consumer, Retail, Agriculture, and Industrials spaces.

Devin holds a Master’s Degree in Economics from the University of Ottawa and an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from Queen’s University. He is FINRA Series 79 licensed, bilingual in English and French, and is known for his client-focused, success-driven approach. Outside of his professional pursuits, Devin also volunteers and coaches with the North Toronto Hockey Association.

• 

  Glenn Shyba

  Managing Director



Glenn Shyba


Managing Director

Glenn brings unparalleled experience in real estate to Origin Merchant Partners, including acquiring and repositioning assets to unlock their full potential, concluding significant financings, and negotiating all aspects of supporting legal documentation.

Before Origin Merchant Partners, Glenn was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Osmington Inc., a privately held real estate investment and development company. While at Osmington, Glenn personally executed transactions on properties exceeding $2 billion, and concluded financings in excess of $1 billion. Previously, Glenn was Vice President, Development, at Bramalea Inc. for eight years, after participating in the development of Canada’s first property valuation software program for commercial real estate.

Glenn holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia with a double major in Finance and Urban Land Economics.

• 

  Greg Martin

  Managing Director


Greg Martin

Managing Director
Greg has 15 years of experience in M&A and company strategy working with leading Canadian companies across Canada and the United States. His experience spans many industries with a focus on food, technology and insurance.
Greg has industry experience as a founder and operator of a restaurant, catering and food e-commerce business. In addition, he hosts a regular podcast called Lifetime at Work, where he interviews individuals of all backgrounds about their chosen career paths in the world of work. Greg began his career at Genuity and then Canaccord Genuity before joining Origin when it began in 2011. He graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.
Greg’s selected list of transactions:
• Advising special committee of ICPEI (Insurance Company of PEI) on its sale to Desjardins
• Kraft Heinz on its acquisition of Ethical Bean Coffee
• Advising Economical Insurance on its demutualization
• Advising on the merger and creation of Aviso Wealth
• Advising special committee on the reorganization of Mood Media
• Organic Meadow on its investment by Avrio
• Yorkshire Valley Farms on its acquisition of Farm Fresh Poultry
• Royal Canadian Mint on its sale of MintChip
• 

  Horacio Facca

  Managing Director



Horacio Facca


Managing Director

Horacio has over 20 years of success in leadership roles within the financial services and high-tech industries and a track record of over three-dozen deals, ranging from capital formation to M&A transactions. Prior to joining Origin, Horacio was Managing Director at Capstone Partners (previously Headwaters MB, and now Huntington Bancshares – NASDAQ: HBAN). Previously, he was also the Founding Managing Partner at Venture Marketeers, a well-known Silicon Valley advisory practice.  Before that, he served as Managing Director with Axiom Capital, a distinguished NYC-based asset manager, and boutique investment bank.

Horacio possesses a global perspective, having been to every continent and to 50+ countries. He is fluent in English, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian and has intermediate proficiency in French. Horacio holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a BS in Economics from Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul – where he was Valedictorian – and a BS in Electrical Engineering & Electronics from the Pontifícia Católica do Rio Grande do Sul – where he was also Valedictorian.

He is based in Boston and currently holds the Series 7 (General Securities Representative), 24 (General Securities Principal), 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State Law), and 79 (Investment Banking) Registrations.

Horacio is a Registered Representative of, and securities transactions are conducted through, StillPoint Capital, LLC, Member FINRA/SiPC, Tampa, FL. Origin and StillPoint Capital, LLC are not affiliated entities. For more information on Registered Representatives and Broker Dealers visit BrokerCheck.

• 

  Lawrence Rhee

  Managing Director



Lawrence Rhee


Managing Director

Lawrence Rhee, founder of RHEETHINK Inc., has been actively involved in the Canadian technology and healthcare industry for over 20 years. Lawrence has advised many technology and healthcare companies in Canada providing financing and corporate development services for both private and publicly-traded companies. Lawrence has held senior positions in both investment banking and equity research at several firms including Haywood Securities, GMP Securities and Genuity Capital. Lawrence’s experience providing in-depth research analysis related to the technology and healthcare sector has consistently generated investment ideas that were well-received by investors. He received a Top 3 equity research ranking in each of the annual 2006, 2007 and 2009 StarMine surveys in the Canadian Software and IT Sector. Lawrence graduated with an MBA from the University of Toronto and previously earned investment analysis and accounting designations.

• 

  Lindsay Adam Weiss

  Managing Director



Lindsay Adam Weiss


Managing Director

Lindsay joined Origin as a Principal in 2019 bringing over 25 years of experience providing strategic and transaction advice to a diverse group of clients. Throughout his career, he has advised on more than 65 closed M&A transactions representing over $83 billion of value along with numerous strategic advisory and corporate development mandates.

Lindsay started his career in the CIBC Mergers & Acquisitions group where he worked closely with many of Origin’s Principals for the better part of a decade. After 11 years at CIBC, Lindsay started a risk arbitrage sales and trading business at Dundee Capital Markets and then led its M&A Group and Agriculture practice. He then founded his own M&A and corporate development advisory business, PivotalPoint Advisory Group, and for five years provided M&A and corporate development advice to a diverse set of entrepreneurial private and public clients across multiple sectors. His most recent transaction before joining Origin was independent strategic advisor to Morneau Shepell in its $438 million acquisition of LifeWorks.

Lindsay holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University (Honours).

• 

  Mario Di Pietro

  Managing Director


Mario Di Pietro

Managing Director
Mario has over 20 years of advisory and capital raising experience in the technology sector working with numerous public and private technology clients across North America in domestic and cross border transactions.Prior to joining Origin as a Principal, Mario was Director of Technology Investment Banking at BMO Capital Markets, responsible for coverage of technology clients across North America. Previously, Mario was Executive Director of Technology, Media and Telecom Investment Banking at CIBC World Markets. Mario has extensive experience across several technology sectors, having completed transactions in the software, hardware, communications, IT services, Internet and digital media sectors.
Mario holds a MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Science with Honours from the University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering.
Mario’s select transaction list includes:
• $27.5 million private placement financing for Mobile Klinik
• Sale of Yellow Pages’ Comfree/DuProprio online real estate business to Purplebricks PLC (PURP:LON)
• Acquisition of OnCorp by Dye & Durham Corporation
• Sale of Dealnet Capital’s Impact Mobile business to IMIMobile PLC (IMO:LON)
• Sale of Orderit.ca to Just Eat PLC (JE:LON)
• Acquisition of ESC Corporate Services Ltd. by Information Services Corporation (ISV:TSX)
• 

  Mark Ernst

  Managing Director



Mark Ernst


Managing Director

Mark has over 20 years of capital markets experience at Canadian and Global investment banks. Mark has  completed equity and debt financings for a broad range of public and private Canadian companies.

Prior to joining Origin as a Principal, Mark was Managing Director and Head of Institutional Equity Sales at CIBC World Markets where he managed equity sales teams in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, New York and Hong Kong and was part of the Equity Capital Markets Operating Committee. Previously, Mark was Head of Equity Sales and member of the Board of Directors at UBS Securities Canada. Mark was also an investment advisor at Midland Walwyn in Vancouver and worked for the Deputy Prime Minister in Ottawa.

Larger transaction experience includes both public and private financings including Franco Nevada, Fairfax, Brookfield Asset Management, PrairieSky Royalty, Hudson’s Bay, Mitel, Cott, Algonquin Power & Utilities, Transalta, Cardinal Energy and Freehold Royalties.

Mark holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and a BA (Economics) from Carleton University.

• 

  Nick Newlin

  Managing Director



Nick Newlin


Managing Director

Nick has over 25 years of experience, with a focus on advising middle market industrial companies in M&A transactions. During his career Nick has developed particular expertise with Aerospace & Defense, Construction Materials & Services, Industrial Technology and Metals & Manufacturing companies. Nick joined Origin in 2022 in connection with the acquisition of InterOcean Advisors LLC, an industrials-focused M&A advisory firm headquartered in Chicago. Prior to joining InterOcean, Nick was a Managing Director and Co-head of Mergers and Acquisitions with the investment banking firm Crowe Capital Markets LLC. He began his career as a credit analyst for Corus Bank, a Chicago-based commercial bank.

Nick previously served on the board of directors of J.R. Short Snack Products, a leading snack pellet and intermediate food products company, and Hinsdale Inferno, a youth travel basketball organization, as well as on the executive committee for the Terra Alliance, an international consortium of M&A advisory firms. In addition, Nick served on the advisory board of EQUUM Medical, an acute-care telemedicine provider.

Nick holds a B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign (Psychology/Economics) and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University (Finance/Accounting).

He is based in Origin’s Chicago office and currently holds the Series 7, 24, 63, and 79 Registrations.

Nick is a Registered Representative of, and securities transactions are conducted through, StillPoint Capital, LLC, Member FINRA/SiPC, Tampa, FL. Origin and StillPoint Capital, LLC are not affiliated entities. For more information on Registered Representatives and Broker Dealers visit BrokerCheck.

• 

  Rob Penteliuk

  Managing Director



Rob Penteliuk


Managing Director

Rob has over 20 years of investment banking experience at both bank-owned and independent Canadian investment dealers, most recently as Head of Diversified Industries at Cormark Securities, and previously as a Principal at Genuity Capital Markets and Managing Director at CIBC World Markets. Rob has extensive experience managing financings and M&A transactions across multiple sectors including some of the most significant Canadian wealth management transactions.

Rob holds an Honours BBA from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Rob’s select transaction list includes:

• Sale of Integrated Asset Management to Fiera Capital
• Advising Economical Insurance on its Demutualization
• Investment by ONCAP in Wyse Meter Solutions
• Advising on the merger and creation of Aviso Wealth
• WideWaters Hotel Development Financing
• The Scoular Company Acquisition of the Special Crops Division of Legumex Walker
• Hydrogenics Corporation Note Offering
• Sale of Blumont Capital to Arrow Capital
• Acquisition of Renewable Energy Developers by Capstone Power
• Sale of Thompsons to The Andersons and Lansing Trade Group
• Sale of BPR Engineering to Tetra Tech
• Sale of Acuity Investment Management to AGF
• Acquisition of certain assets of Dundee REIT by GE Real Estate
• Sale of UE Waterheater to Alinda Infrastructure
• Sale of Mackenzie Financial to Investors Group
• Acquisition of John Hancock by Manulife
• Sale of Assante Capital to CI Financial
• Acquisition of Trimark Financial by Invesco (Amvescap)

• 

  Robert Fedrock

  Managing Director



Robert Fedrock


Managing Director

Robert has over 18 years of investment banking advisory and private equity investing experience at both bank-owned and independent Canadian investment dealers. Most recently, Robert was an investing professional at Catalyst Capital Group Inc., a Canadian-based distressed debt private equity fund managing $4.5B of capital, for over 3 years before leaving in 2019. Previously, Robert had extensive experience as a mergers & acquisitions advisor at CIBC World Markets, Genuity Capital Markets, and Canaccord Genuity.

Robert has broad experience working with companies across industries on M&A advisory and restructuring assignments.

Robert holds an Honours BBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, and is a CFA charterholder.

• 

  Scott Sims

  Managing Director



Scott Sims


Managing Director

Scott has 15 years of investment banking and private equity experience primarily focused in industrials, with a specific focus and relationships in the HVACR and oil and gas industry. Scott previously held investment banking at Dresner Partners, Brown Gibbons Lang & Company, Allegiance Capital Corporation, and Esposito Securities. Additionally, Scott served as Vice President at Valesco Industries, a private equity firm targeting investments in US-based companies.

Scott holds a Bachelor of Arts from St. John’s University and a Master of Arts in International Affairs from Washington University, in St. Louis.

Scott is based in Origin’s Chicago office and currently holds the Series 7, 24, 63 and 79 Registrations.

Scott is a Registered Representative of, and securities transactions are conducted through, StillPoint Capital, LLC, Member FINRA/SiPC, Tampa, FL. Origin and StillPoint Capital, LLC are not affiliated entities. For more information on Registered Representatives and Broker Dealers visit BrokerCheck.

• 

  Shaun Quennell

  Managing Director


Shaun Quennell

Managing Director
Shaun is a seasoned investment banker with 15 years of advisory experience at both bank-owned and independent platforms. He has been part of the Origin team for over 10 years, covering a variety of industries, with a focus on education, training and services businesses, among others.
Prior to joining Origin, Shaun started his investment banking career at Bank of Montreal, where he was a member of the M&A team. Shaun has advised on dozens of transactions throughout his career, representing several billion dollars of aggregate value and spanning North American and international clients & counterparties.
He holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business.
Some of Shaun’s notable transactions include:
• Raising growth capital for International Business University
• Advising the Special Committee of Northview Fund in its conversion to a REIT structure and a related property portfolio acquisition
• The sale of Yorkville Education to Birch Hill Equity Partners
• The sale of Dealnet Capital Corp. to Simply Group Capital Corp.
• The sale of Dapasoft Inc. to Calian Group Ltd.
• Multiple engagements with CHS Inc., a leading global agribusiness

Advisory Board

• 

  Bill Ainley

  Senior Advisor



Bill Ainley


Senior Advisor

Bill has over 30 years experience as a senior lawyer focused on capital markets & securities, mergers & acquisitions, corporate governance and energy and mining. Bill practised with Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP where he was a senior partner, the head of M&A for many years and acted for a variety of industrial and commercial companies and financial institutions, both public and private, domestic and foreign.

Bill has been recognized by Chambers Global and Chambers Canada as one of the Worlds Leading Lawyers for Business, by The Legal 500 Canada Corporate and M&A as a Leading Lawyer and recognized in multiple reports by Lexpert including as one of the 100 Most Creative Lawyers in Canada and Canada’s Leading Corporate Lawyers.

Bill holds a BA and LLB from University of Cambridge and a BCL and LLB from McGill University.

• 

  Bill Doepke

  Senior Advisor



Bill Doepke


Senior Advisor

Bill has over 30 years experience as a financial advisor, advising on divestitures, acquisitions, mergers, strategic alternative reviews, fairness opinions and both debt and equity capital raises. For the past fifteen years, his clients have primarily included mid and small-cap public and privately owned businesses. Bill began his professional career with The Northern Trust Company, ultimately managing a commercial lending division before moving to Lehman Brothers. During his thirteen year tenure, Bill worked as a managing director in its capital markets and investment banking divisions, focusing primarily on Fortune 500 and large-cap clients. Following Lehman Brothers, Bill held managing director positions with the investment banking groups of Price Waterhouse LLP, Ernst & Young Corporate Finance and Guiliani Capital Advisors. He was actively involved with establishing and growing the automotive and aerospace and defense practices within those firms. In 2006 Bill co-founded InterOcean Advisors LLC to exclusively focus on the manufacturing and industrial sectors. In 2022 InterOcean merged with Origin Merchant Partners.

Bill holds a B.A. from DePauw University (Finance) and an M.B.A. from DePaul University (Finance). He also served three years in the U.S. Navy as a line officer.

He is based in Origin’s Chicago office and currently holds the Series 7, 24, 63 and 79 Registrations with FINRA.

Bill Doepke is a Registered Representative of, and securities transactions are conducted through, StillPoint Capital, LLC, Member FINRA/SiPC, Tampa, FL. Origin and StillPoint Capital, LLC are not affiliated entities. For more information on Registered Representatives and Broker Dealers visit BrokerCheck.

• 

  Bob Wujtowicz

  Senior Advisor



Bob Wujtowicz


Senior Advisor

Bob has over 30 years experience in M&A, corporate finance, corporate development and public finance. Prior to InterOcean, Bob was with the investment banking firm Giuliani Capital Advisors LLC and Ernst & Young’s corporate finance group, where he led those firms’ metals and building products teams. He previously served as a corporate finance officer for Continental Bank (Bank of America) in Chicago and held corporate development and public finance positions with two Chicago-based corporations. In 2006, Bob co-founded InterOcean Advisors LLC , an investment bank focused exclusively on the industrial manufacturing sector. In 2022, InterOcean merged with Origin Merchant Partners.

He has authored articles in several publications including Mergers & Acquisitions, Profit Line, Modern Metals, and manufacturing.net. He formerly served on the Editorial Board of Metal Service Center Institute’s Forward magazine, a publication serving the metals industry.

Bob holds a B.A. from Regis University (Psychology), an M.A. from the University of Chicago (Public Policy), and an M.B.A. from Loyola University (Finance). Bob also completed a Manufacturing Strategic Operations program at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

Bob is based in Origin’s Chicago office and currently holds the Series 7, 24, 63 and 79 Registrations.

Bob is a Registered Representative of, and securities transactions are conducted through, StillPoint Capital, LLC, Member FINRA/SiPC, Tampa, FL. Origin and StillPoint Capital, LLC are not affiliated entities. For more information on Registered Representatives and Broker Dealers visit BrokerCheck.

• 

  Catherine David Nolan

  Senior Advisor



Catherine David Nolan


Senior Advisor

Catherine David Nolan has over 30 years of experience in senior financial roles. Most recently, Catherine was Chief Financial Officer of Reliance Home Comfort, a position she held for 14 years. During Catherine’s tenure as CFO of Reliance, she was involved in multiple transactions and equity and debt financings including the $1.7 billion privatization and sale in 2007 and the recent sale of Reliance to CK Asset Holdings in 2017 for a total enterprise value of $4.6 billion.

Prior to joining Reliance, Catherine was Provincial Vice-President, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer for Cancer Care Ontario; Vice-President, Finance at Centrica North America and Senior Vice-President, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer at Toronto Hydro Corporation. In addition, Catherine held a number of senior financial positions in the mining sector, including Vice President & Treasurer at Goldcorp Inc. and Treasurer of Lac Minerals. Catherine got her start at KPMG in the Audit group.

Catherine has extensive experience in arranging debt financing during difficult economic cycles through both public and private markets, both investment grade and high-yield, as well as complex banking syndicates.

Catherine holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Windsor, a Bachelor of Arts from King’s University College and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Accountant (CA).

• 

  Gordon Bogden

  Senior Advisor,
  Advisory Board Chair



Gordon Bogden


Senior Advisor,
Advisory Board Chair

Gordon has 30+ years of experience in mining development, finance and M&A, first as a geophysicist, then as a senior investment banker with CIBC, N.M. Rothschild Canada, Newcrest Capital, and National Bank Financial, and Gryphon Partners Canada, where he was a Co-Founder and Managing Partner. He was also the CEO of Alloycorp Mining Inc., and has served as director of a number of public mining companies including IAMGold, Royal Gold and NexGen Energy.

Currently, Gordon is the Chairman of the Canada Mining Innovation Council (CMIC), and the Chairman of Black Loon Group, a private mining investment, and financial and strategic advisory business, which he founded in 2015.

In 2013, Gordon was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his work with Right To Play. He is also a recipient of the Robert Elver Mineral Economics Award by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.

Gordon has a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Applied Science (Geology) from Queen’s University, is a Professional Engineer Ontario (P.Eng), and holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

• 

  Mathieu Gauvin

  Senior Advisor



Mathieu Gauvin


Senior Advisor

Mathieu has 35+ years of experience in Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Development and Strategic Planning. Over the course of his career, he has been involved in all aspects of private equity transactions, and has a strong track record of supporting growth to create value for stakeholders. His previous positions include:

• Senior Vice-President, Private Equity – Quebec, CAISSE DE DÉPOT ET PLACEMENT DU QUÉBEC
• Senior Vice-President & Partner, RICHTER ADVISORY GROUP INC
• Partner, SCHRODERS & ASSOCIATES CANADA

 

Mathieu also brings extensive experience as a board member of both private and public companies, including:

• Member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Audit Committee (2022 to present) of Le Groupe Master Inc.
• Member of the Board of Directors (2021 to present) of Patrick Morin Inc.
• Member of the Board of Directors (1993 to 2021) and Chairman of the Audit Committee (2005 to 2021) of Richelieu Hardware Limited (TSX: RCH)
• Member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Audit Committee of HNZ Group Inc. (TSX: HNZ) from 2007 to 2018. Chairman of the Special Committee of the Board during the sale process of the Company
• Member of the of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Audit Committee (2011 to 2018) of Supremex Inc. (TSX: SXP);
• Member of the Board of directors of Fondation Yvon Lamarre (2019 to present).

 

Mathieu holds Charter Professional Accountant (CPA), Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designations, as well as a BCom and Graduate Diploma in Public Accountancy from McGill University.

• 

  Paul Bradley

  Senior Advisor



Paul Bradley


Senior Advisor

Mr. Bradley has over 35 years experience in the power, utilities and infrastructure sectors. He has worked in these sectors as a corporate executive officer, investment banker, investor, advisor and public sector procurement officer in Canada, the USA and Asia.

Paul recently retired as the Chief Financial Officer at Northland Power where he has served for over 9 years during a period of immense growth and transformation. Northland Power is a global developer, owner and operator of sustainable infrastructure assets currently operating in over 10 countries worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Northland was founded in 1987 and has been publicly traded since 1997 on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NPI).

Prior to joining Northland, Paul was Managing Director and Head of Power and Utilities (Corporate Finance) at Macquarie Canada. Earlier positions include Vice President at the Ontario Power Authority with responsibility for generation procurement, administration and information technology; Executive Director at CIBC’s global power and utilities group; and development and finance roles at Duke Energy Corporation (USA). Paul has also served on the boards of directors of several renewable energy and clean technology companies.

Paul is a graduate of Boston College, a CPA (inactive) and certified as a board director by the Canadian Institute of Corporate Directors.

• 

  Paul Spafford

  Senior Advisor



Paul Spafford


Senior Advisor

Paul Spafford brings over 40 years of M&A advisory experience to Origin’s team. Most recently, he was the Vice Chairman of Investment Banking at CIBC World Markets, a position he held from 1994 to 2021. Previously, Paul held progressively more senior positions at Wood Gundy prior to its acquisition by CIBC, including Head of Mergers & Acquisitions.

Paul has been a lead financial advisor on many of Canada’s largest M&A transactions including the take-over defense of Falconbridge, Placer Dome, Equinox Gold and Makenzie Financial, as well as the mergers of Randgold with Barrick, Agrium with Potash Corp., and Suncor with Petro-Canada. He has been involved with numerous capital markets financings, acquisitions and divestitures, and has been the financial advisor to several Boards of Directors, including Bell Canada, Manitoba Tel, and Teck, to name a few.

Paul has a BASc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, where he also formerly served as Governor, and an MBA from IVEY Business School. Paul is also a Director and Vice Chair of the Canadian Opera Company and a Governor of Crescent School.”

• 

  Perry Caicco

  Senior Advisor



Perry Caicco


Senior Advisor

Perry has over 30 years of senior retail experience. He followed his 14-year career in senior retail management with a 19-year career as a top-ranked Retail and Consumer analyst. Perry has held various management positions at Loblaw Companies, Coca-Cola and Consumers Distributing including VP-Marketing; VP-Merchandising; President and CEO. After moving to Bay Street, Perry was the number-one ranked Retail and Consumer analyst in Canada for 15 consecutive years. He was most recently Managing Director, Equity Research with CIBC World Markets.

Perry is now an independent investor, business owner and advisor. Perry is a regular speaker, commentator and writer on North American consumer topics, with a special interest in supermarkets and food systems. He has served on the Advisory Committee, Canadian Agricultural Policy Institute; the Board of Directors, Dare Foods Canada, and on the Advisory Board, Grocery Business Media.

Perry holds an MBA from Western University and a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Toronto.

• 

  Peter Farrell

  Senior Advisor



Peter Farrell


Senior Advisor

Peter has over 30 years of senior management expertise, most recently as CEO of Citron Hygiene LP, a Birch Hill portfolio company, which he co-founded in 1996. At Citron he oversaw growth inside Canada and into the US and UK through 20 acquisitions. Peter has extensive experience creating value and strong cultures in businesses and accelerating their growth.

As Origin’s Entrepreneur in Residence, Peter brings a unique experience to clients, helping business owners manage the transition process.

Peter is a graduate of the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University in London, Ontario, where he also lectured in its Undergraduate Program.

• 

  Richard Falconer

  Senior Advisor



Richard Falconer


Senior Advisor

Richard (Dick) is currently a Member, CDIC Advisory Panel on Resolution.  Former corporate directorships include Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chorus Aviation Inc.; Director, Resolute Forest Products Inc.; and Chairman of the Board, Jaguar Mining Inc.  Dick retired from CIBC, in 2011, after 40 years with the bank.  At the time of his retirement Dick was a Vice Chairman and Managing Director, CIBC World Markets Inc.  Former positions include Senior Advisor, Lazard Canada Inc., and Senior Partner, Verus Partners & Co.

Dick has extensive corporate finance and M&A experience in numerous industries including agriculture; energy; financial; forest products; media and telecom; mining; retail; technology; and transportation.  He is a Director, The Dorothy Ley Hospice; a Member of the Advisory Council for the Children’s Aid Foundation; a Member of The Brain Campaign Cabinet, for the University Health Network, Krembil Neuroscience Centre; a Member of the LOFT Campaign Cabinet; and a Member of the Board of Governors for The Shaw Festival Theatre Endowment Foundation.

Mr. Falconer is a Chartered Financial Analyst; MBA, York University; BA (Honours) University of Toronto.

• 

  Steve Bromley

  Senior Advisor



Steve Bromley


Senior Advisor

Mr. Bromley has over 30 years of food, beverage and general leadership experience in private and public companies at both management and board levels. Most recently he served as the CEO of SunOpta Inc. (NASDAQ:STKL;TSX:SOY), a leading integrated global natural, organic and specialty foods company, where he spent approximately 15 years in a variety of roles including CFO, COO and ultimately CEO for his last 8 years.

Steve both advises, and sits on the board of a number of companies in the natural and organic foods space. Prior to SunOpta he worked for over 13 years in the Canadian dairy industry in a wide range of financial and operational roles at both Natrel Inc. and Ault Foods Limited. He served as a member of the board of directors at Natrel Inc. from 1997-1999, the board of SunOpta Inc. from 2007 to 2015, the board of Opta Minerals Inc. from 2004 to 2016 and was a member of the Rabobank North American Agribusiness Advisory Board from 2010 to 2015.

Steve is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Certified General Accountant (CGA).

Directors and VPs

• 

  Adam Smith

  Vice President



Adam Smith


Vice President

Adam has over 8 years of investment banking experience with a focus on industrial sell-side M&A. Previously, Adam held various roles in consulting and real estate. Adam’s recent transaction experience includes the sale of Modineer Co. Inc., a diversified metal component manufacturer and Elite Manufacturing Technologies, a manufacturer of cabinets, consoles and electro-mechanical assemblies for the electronic gaming industry.

Adam holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from Bryant University and a Masters of Business Administration from University of Illinois.

• 

  Andrei Rojine

  Vice President



Andrei Rojine


Vice President

Andrei joined Origin in May 2022. Prior to joining Origin, Andrei was an associate in the Mergers & Acquistions group at National Bank Financial.

Andrei graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University, with distinction.

• 

  Christopher Solda

  Director



Christopher Solda


Director

Chris has over 10 years of transaction experience spanning a number of industry verticals, including: Agriculture, Food and Beverage, TMT and Healthcare.

Notable recent experience spans purchase and sale assignments, restructuring, valuation and special committee engagements. Select transaction list includes:

• Advising Buhler Industries on its sale to Asko Holding
• Advising Centricity Research on its sale to Trinity Hunt Partners
• Advising G3 on the divestiture of its shortline railway assets to Regional Rail
• Advising Velocity Trade on its significant investment from Wedbush Financial Services
• Advising Zen-Noh Grain on the divestiture of 10 US grain handling facilities to Viserion Grain
• Advising LifeSpeak on its $42 million equity investment
• Advising Economical Insurance on its demutualization
• Advising Gardiner Dam Terminal on its sale to Viterra
• Advising Kraft Heinz on its acquisition of Ethical Bean Coffee
• Advising River Cree Resort and Casino on the refinancing and restructuring of its capital structure

 

Prior to joining Origin in March 2017, Chris was a Vice President within the M&A team at Deloitte Corporate Finance where he executed mid-market M&A transactions. Chris holds a CPA, CA designation and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Queen’s University.

• 

  Katie Balson

  Director



Katie Balson


Director

Katie has over 15 years of experience within middle-market investment banking. Previously, Katie has worked at E&Y Corporate Finance, where she advised numerous industrial product companies serving a range of end markets. Her recent transaction experience includes the sale of a sheet metal fabricator and the cross-border sale of an HVAC controls manufacturer.

Katie holds a Bachelors from John Hopkins University and a Masters of Management from Northwestern University.

Katie is a Registered Representative of, and securities transactions are conducted through, StillPoint Capital, LLC, Member FINRA/SiPC, Tampa, FL. Origin and StillPoint Capital, LLC are not affiliated entities. For more information on Registered Representatives and Broker Dealers visit BrokerCheck.

• 

  Tedi Gjoleka

  Director



Tedi Gjoleka


Director

Tedi joined Origin Merchant Partners in September 2015. Prior to joining Origin, Tedi completed co-op roles in private equity valuations at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, and in consulting at Mercer.

Tedi holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University.

• 

  Umer Randhawa

  Vice President



Umer Randhawa


Vice President

Umer joined Origin Merchant Partners in May 2021. Prior to joining Origin, he was an Associate at Macquarie Capital in the Diversified group and with Deloitte Corporate Finance in the M&A group.

He has experience advising clients in a broad range of industries including manufacturing, construction, agriculture, real estate and transportation.

Umer holds a CPA, CA designation and a Bachelor of Commerce (High Distinction) from the University of Toronto.

Senior Operations

• 

  Kelly Wells

  Chief Financial Officer



Kelly Wells


Chief Financial Officer

Kelly has over 20 years of experience in the accounting profession. Kelly has been providing accounting and taxation services to a variety of small businesses and individuals since 2005. Prior to that, Kelly spent nine years with Ernst and Young in the assurance practice.

Kelly holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University and earned her CA and CPA designation while working at Ernst & Young.

• 

  Tracey Lamping

  Senior Operations Lead



Tracey Lamping


Senior Operations Lead

Tracey joined Origin Merchant Partners in 2012 with extensive experience in office administration and operations. Key areas include mergers and acquisitions, investment banking, equity research, private placement financings and sales and trading. Prior to joining Origin, Tracey was at Canaccord Genuity, Genuity Capital Markets, CIBC World Markets and National Bank Financial.

Directeurs Généraux