Hello!

“When people aren’t having any fun, they seldom produce good work”

This quote from David Ogilvy has always struck a cord with me. Through deliberate planning and some chance, I’ve had the privilege of working for some great brands such as Puma, Coleman, Gola, Virgin, Corel and Hexo. I’ve designed products that have delighted consumers, and shared the challenges and joys of building these businesses alongside talented colleagues.  There’s no question in my mind that when we’re having fun, we produce our best work!

I’m driven by a passion for business through entrepreneurship, and a desire to make an impact on the world, finding ways to improve our lives at work and at home, by combining design, technology and best business practices. My journey from product management, through marketing, sales, procurement and general management, in startups and in established companies, across European, North & South American and Asian markets, has provided a rich practical experience across several industries.  

Today, I leverage this background to advise companies on product & market strategies, go to market plans and business optimization, to drive top and bottom lines.

I’m a big picture thinker, with a growth mindset, crafting pragmatic strategies that deliver superior customer products and experiences, with the drive to execute and make them real.  I adopt a clear focus on the needs of end users, and I balance creativity and data analysis to build effective solutions and campaigns.

As a leader, I strive to create an environment in which team members can thrive, acting as orchestrator, coach and player, providing guidance and support, fostering collaboration, rolling my sleeves-up to get things done, celebrating successes and, you guessed it, having fun along the way!

I’m inquisitive, energetic, competitive, resilient, results-driven and a life-long learner. Having lived in 6 countries, worked on 5 continents, and traveled to over 45 countries, I thrive in international environments. I’m bilingual in English and French, near fluent in German and do reasonably well in Italian!  Interesting fact: I hold 3 passports: Canadian, UK and French!

I hold an undergraduate degree in business and obtained my MBA from INSEAD.  I have given life to several entrepreneurial ventures, including founding Gola Sports Apparel, developing zazuhom as part of the Founder Institute’s incubator program (a mobile app that allows homeowners to capture, store and easily find their home product warrantees, receipts and user manuals), and my current hustle called The Kool Bag Co. is an e-commerce store selling innovative products designed in-house.

I share my life with my smart, thoughtful, caring and beautiful wife, Cath. I have a broad set of interests (check out my photos!), try to maintain a healthy body and mind, and enjoy meeting people from all around the world.

I’m thirsty for knowledge and good wines, hungry for success and great food, keep fit to balance out the nosh, admire great design and craftsmanship, wish I could sketch better, enjoy travelling and photography, follow Six Nations Rugby, tennis, soccer and Formula 1, and someday hope to sail on one of the beautiful America’s Cup J Class boats!