Our Team

Partners

Ken Hugessen

Ken is a recognized expert in consulting to Compensation Committees, Boards and top management on executive compensation, performance and related corporate governance. Based in Toronto, he has over 30 years experience consulting in Canada, the US and the UK. Ken and his partners founded Hugessen Consulting in 2006 to meet the growing needs of boards and compensation committees for independent advice on executive compensation, performance, and related governance matters. He is at the leading edge of change in the governance of executive compensation, and has written and spoken extensively on the role of the Board, and the Compensation Committee and its Chair in executive compensation.

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Experience

Prior to founding Hugessen Consulting Inc. in June 2006, Ken was a worldwide partner with Mercer. He joined Mercer in 1974. In 1981, he was appointed leader of the firm’s Executive Compensation Practice in Canada and became a Managing Director of Mercer Inc. (New York) in October 1985. In the mid 1990s, Ken established Mercer's Executive Compensation practice in Chicago.

Education

Ken holds an Honours BSc from Sir George Williams University, a MA from Dalhousie University, and an MSc from the University of Chicago. He is a Killam and National Research Council Scholar, and is a fellow of the Society of Actuaries and of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries.


Georges Soaré

Georges is an accomplished executive and corporate director with 20 years of experience working with public and private companies in Canada and the US. He has extensive experience as a board member, including as a member and/or chairman of Compensation and Audit Committees. He is well versed in corporate strategy, governance, valuation, business performance measurement, and executive compensation. Georges is the lead partner for a range of Hugessen clients, both public and private, across a spectrum of industries.

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Experience

Georges has over 10 years of private equity investing experience, complemented by previous experience in corporate development, investment banking (M&A) and corporate/securities law. He joined Hugessen Consulting in 2006 as a founding partner. Georges was previously a Managing Director with BMO Capital Markets' Merchant Banking Group (part of Bank of Montreal), based in Toronto. He was involved with all aspects of the group's diversified private equity investments for over 10 years, which included close involvement with portfolio company leadership teams and Boards/Committees. Georges' prior corporate experience includes Vice-President, Corporate Development for Cott Corporation (1994-1995), and as an investment banker specializing in Mergers and Acquisitions for Burns Fry Limited, a predecessor firm to BMO Capital Markets (1988-1993). Georges is a lawyer by training and articled at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg.

Education

Georges holds a BA from University of Toronto, an MBA from Schulich School of Business and a LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School. He is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada. He remains active with several not-for-profit organizations.


Scott Munn

Scott is a senior advisor to Compensation Committees and top management of publicly-traded, privately held and public sector organizations on compensation strategy, design, and governance issues. Based in Calgary, he has experience consulting in a wide range of industries - notably energy - as well as income trusts, financial services and technology. Scott is a frequent speaker and contributor of intellectual capital on a broad range of topics around governance, compensation program design, pay and performance linkage and performance measurement.

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Experience

Significant experience consulting to Compensation Committees and top management of large and mid-cap issuers. Prior to joining Hugessen Consulting as a Partner in October 2008, Scott was a National Partner and Principal with Mercer. From 2001 to 2008, Scott lead Mercer's Human Capital business in Calgary. Scott acted as Mercer's lead advisor to the Canadian energy sector and was a leader in the energy sector for Mercer's global Human Capital business. Scott was involved in all aspects of the Canadian business including intellectual capital development, training, mentoring, marketing, and client management. Prior to completing his MBA, Scott managed commercial sales territories for a high tech firm in Toronto for four years.

Education

Scott is a CFA charterholder and a member of the Calgary CFA Society. Scott graduated with distinction from the Schulich School at York University with an MBA. He also holds a BA in economics from the University of Western Ontario.


Associate Partners

Paul Hooper

Paul is a senior advisor to Board clients. He is an expert with respect to the issues facing public and private Boards today including establishing and managing executive and director compensation arrangements including short and long incentive plan, pay for performance, employment agreements and all governance related issues. Paul is an active participant in the advancement in the profession and currently chairs the Advisory Board of the GTA Rewards Association.

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Experience

Prior to joining Hugessen in 2009 as an Associate Partner, Paul was a Principal in Mercer’s Human Capital business advising clients in various sectors including technology, financial services, media, pharmaceuticals and real estate. Prior to his twelve years at Mercer, Paul worked for the General Electric Company for seven years, in both Canada and the United States in a series of progressively more responsible finance, audit and business unit roles.

Education

Paul holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and an Honours BBA (with distinction) from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Principals

Ian Mason

Ian is a consultant with over ten years of experience working with both public and private companies across a wide range of industries and disciplines. He advises boards on executive compensation and related governance issues, offering a holistic perspective that draws on his experience in corporate strategy, business transformation, and performance measurement, and speaks regularly on compensation and governance matters at industry conferences and panels.

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Experience

Ian joined Hugessen Consulting in early 2007 as a principal. He was previously a manager at SECOR Consulting, Canada's largest independent strategy consulting firm, where he helped clients define and develop multi-year value-creation strategies and business plans. Ian's prior experience includes six years (1998-2004) as a process and technology consultant and executive at Accenture, working with clients in the telecommunications, broadcasting, and retailing industries, and four years (1994-1998) as founding publisher of a Canadian general interest magazine.

Education

Ian holds a degree in Economics from Queen's University, and is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors. In addition to his consulting work, Ian has written on topics in business and economics for leading publications in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.

Catherine McCall

Catherine is a lawyer with extensive experience working in the area of corporate governance, in particular as it relates to executive compensation. She has advised both institutional shareholders and issuers on various aspects of executive compensation and other issues.

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Experience

Catherine joined Hugessen Consulting Inc. in July 2007 as a principal. Prior to that she was a Vice-President and director of ISS Canada Corp, Canada's leading corporate governance and proxy advisory firm, where she worked for 15 years, and a partner with Fairvest Corporation, its predecessor firm. Over the years she has written and spoken on many corporate governance topics, including executive compensation disclosure, the role of compensation committees, shareholder proposals, the fiduciary obligations of pension funds and shareholders rights plans and was the editor of the Corporate Governance Review, a bimonthly journal, for three years.

Education

Catherine has an Honours BA in Philosophy from the University of Toronto and an LL.B from Osgoode Hall Law School. She is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada. She is a member of the board of non-profit organization Addus.


Damian Yu

Damian is a seasoned executive compensation professional with over nine years of experience in the field. He has advised clients in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Asia on a wide range of executive compensation and governance issues. With a strong quantitative background, Damian is an expert in the financial implications of compensation and specializes in incentive plan design and performance benchmarking.

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Experience

Damian joined Hugessen Consulting in 2007 as a Principal. Previously, Damian was a Consultant with the executive compensation practice of Mercer Human Resource Consulting as a member of the firm's Toronto, London, and Hong Kong offices. Most recently, Damian was a principal at a leading independent executive compensation consulting firm based in Toronto.

Education

Damian is a CFA charterholder and graduated with distinction from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University with a Master of Business Administration degree. He also holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (First Class Honours) from Queen's University.


Alistair Toward

Alistair is a seasoned advisor with over 15 years experience providing analysis and insight to institutional investors, boards of directors and management teams. Specific areas of expertise include business performance measurement, valuation, corporate strategy and corporate governance. Alistair has served a variety of industries but has spent much of the last decade specializing in Canada’s energy sector.

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Experience

Prior to joining Hugessen Consulting, Alistair was a Calgary-based sell-side investment Analyst, advising institutional portfolio managers on large and small companies in the energy sector. Alistair has also served as a consultant to a number of western Canadian upstream producers, providing valuation analysis and capital markets advice pertaining to M&A, business development and equity funding initiatives. Prior to this, Alistair was a Montreal-based Investment Banking Associate, where he focused on the telecommunication, forestry, technology, biotech and financial services segments.

Education

Alistair is a CFA Charterholder and obtained his Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Real Estate from McGill University.


Associates

Steve Chan

Steve has considerable experience in advising Boards and senior executives on a wide range of executive compensation, performance, and related governance issues. He has specific experience on advising on incentive plan design, executive employment contracts, directors’ compensation plans, and compensation issues related to CEO succession.

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Experience

Prior to joining Hugessen, Steve was an economist at the TD Securities, where he provided Canadian and U.S. economic analysis and advised on fixed income, currency, and money market strategy. Steve was regularly featured by the media, including the Business News Network Television (BNN), CBC News, the Globe and Mail, and the Financial Post.

Education

Steve holds a BA from McMaster University and a Master of Business Economics from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Krista McBeth

Krista specializes in the design of innovative compensation programs that align the strategic direction of an organization with executive performance and incentive awards. Krista has considerable experience with clients in the real estate and financial services sectors.

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Experience

Krista has extensive advisory experience, to boards and senior management in matters of executive and board compensation, performance, governance and enterprise risk management. Prior to joining Hugessen Consulting Inc., Krista was a Consultant at Mercer Oliver Wyman in their Corporate Risk Consulting group, and Mercer Human Resources in their Executive Compensation practice. Krista is knowledgeable on board and committee governance and evaluation processes through her volunteer position on the board of directors of the Whitby Mental Health Centre.

Education

Krista graduated with first class honours from Queen's University with an Honours degree in Applied Economics. She has completed the Canadian Securities course, and is a CFA charterholder.


Guillaume Poulin

Guillaume has extensive experience in advising Boards and senior executives in Canada, the U.S. and Europe on mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and financings, both as a banker and a lawyer. He has specific experience in valuing companies, measuring performance and establishing peer groups as well reviewing and drafting legal documents.

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Experience

Prior to joining Hugessen, Guillaume worked for two years as an associate investment banker for Citigroup in the UK, where he provided M&A and IPO advice to banks, insurance companies and asset managers. Guillaume also practiced corporate law for four years in Montreal, specializing in M&A and financing.

Education

Guillaume holds a LLB from Sherbrooke University and an MBA from INSEAD.


Caroline Manchot

Caroline has extensive consulting experience on a wide variety of compensation and governance issues, including incentive plan design, performance measurement, and shareholder voting guidelines. Based in Calgary, she has advised organizations across a range of industries including energy, utilities, financial services, and retail.

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Experience

Prior to joining Hugessen Consulting, Caroline was an Associate with Mercer’s Human Capital practice in Calgary with a primary focus on executive compensation. She assisted clients in the development of compensation programs that are competitively aligned with the marketplace and link compensation to business results. She is a sessional instructor at the University of Calgary for the business case competition, Excalibur.

Education

Caroline holds an MBA from the University of Calgary where she received funding for her thesis on motivation. Prior to her MBA, she graduated with distinction with a Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Human Resources. As an undergraduate, she received funding for her research in public policy and co-authored a textbook chapter. She is a Level 1 Candidate in the CFA Program.


Analysts

Allison Lockett

Allison has consulted on executive compensation issues for public and crown corporations in a range of industries, including pension funds, financial services, and retail. She is knowledgeable about compensation benchmarking, performance measurement, and corporate governance.

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Experience

Allison joined Hugessen Consulting in 2008 as an analyst. Her prior experience includes financial, human resource, and operations consulting projects through the Richard Ivey School of Business, as well as conducting research on executive compensation issues and trends in Canada and the United States as a summer analyst at Hugessen.

Education

Allison holds an Honours Business Administration degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business where she specialized in finance and accounting. She was also the gold medalist in her graduating class at the University of Western Ontario where she completed a BA in Music.


Bo Wang

Bo has experience consulting on executive compensation issues for public and private companies in a range of industries, including financial services, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, retail, and resources. He is knowledgeable about risk management, compensation benchmarking, and performance measurement and analysis.

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Experience

Bo joined Hugessen Consulting in January 2008 as an Analyst. Prior to joining HCI, Bo was an analyst at Merrill Lynch Canada, where he acquired and allocated funding capital, working closely with both leading financial institutions and Merrill Lynch's debt and equity trading desks. He also worked as a research analyst at the Advantage Group, one of North America's leading market research companies, in providing performance benchmarking programs to clients in the grocery and pharmaceutical industries.

Education

Bo graduated with distinction from the University of Toronto with a BBA (Hon.), specializing in Finance and with an additional major in Economics. He is a Level II candidate in the CFA program.


Michael Spencer

Michael has consulted on executive and director compensation issues for public and private corporations in a range of industries, including asset management, financial services, real estate and retail. He is knowledgeable about compensation benchmarking, performance measurement and analysis, and corporate governance. Michael has specific experience in conducting financial modeling and incentive plan design for asset managers.

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Experience

Michael joined Hugessen Consulting in 2009 as an analyst. Previously, Michael participated in the development of a start up venture that produced consumer packaged goods that are now distributed across North America. As well, he has experience in conducting research and analysis on executive compensation issues in Canada and the United States as a summer analyst at Hugessen.

Education

Michael graduated with distinction from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario with an Honours Business Administration degree, specializing in finance and accounting.


Jenna Stal

Jenna has consulted on executive compensation issues for public and private corporations, with experience in the retail, logistics, and wealth management industries. She is knowledgeable about compensation benchmarking, performance measurement and analysis, financial modeling, and corporate governance.

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Experience

Jenna joined Hugessen Consulting in 2009 as an analyst. Her prior experience includes operations and human resources consulting as well as business strategy consulting through projects at the Richard Ivey School of Business. Additionally, she has experience in research and analysis on executive compensation issues and trends as a summer analyst at Hugessen.

Education

Jenna graduated with distinction from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario with an Honours Business Administration degree. As well, she spent a semester abroad at the University of Economics in Prague.


Amy Childs

Amy has consulted on executive and director compensation issues for public and private corporations in a range of industries, including financial services and telecommunications. She is knowledgeable about compensation benchmarking, corporate governance, and performance measurement and analysis.

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Experience

Amy joined Hugessen Consulting in 2009 as an analyst. Her prior experience includes financial, human resource, and business strategy consulting projects through the Richard Ivey School of Business, as well as conducting research and analysis on many Canadian companies for Interbrand Toronto (branding consultancy) as a summer intern.

Education

Amy graduated with distinction from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario with an Honours Business Administration degree. Amy also spent a semester abroad in Milan, Italy at Bocconi University.


Lisa Tan

Lisa has experience in public affairs, marketing and logistics through work terms, projects and studies at the Haskayne School of Business. She is knowledgeable about the energy sector and corporate governance.

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Experience

Lisa joined Hugessen Consulting in 2009 as an Analyst. Prior to joining Hugessen, Lisa interned at the Embassy of Canada in Washington D.C, where she analyzed quantitative and demographic data for use in Canadian diplomatic advocacy efforts and researched environmental issues related to the Alberta oil sands.

She currently sits on the board of directors for the Centre for Newcomers in Calgary.

Education

Lisa graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Commerce degree specializing in Finance, and a Bachelor of Arts degree specializing in Political Science. She was a gold medalist at the 2009 Inter-Collegiate Business Competition, Canada's premier undergraduate business case competition. Lisa also spent a summer in a French language program at the University of Montreal.