Clinton Keay will become the chief financial officer and secretary at Crombie REIT.

Following a series of appointments last fall, Crombie REIT (CRR-UN-T) has filled out its senior management positions, including the appointment of Clinton Keay as chief financial officer and secretary.

Keay is currently executive vice-president IT and transformation for Sobeys Inc. (EMP-A-T), where he oversees its business restructuring initiatives. He’ll move to Crombie in May. 

Keay is a CPA who joined Sobeys in 1989 and moved up through management ranks before being appointed senior vice-president and chief information officer in 2002, executive vice-president finance for Empire Company in 2014, and interim chief financial officer at Sobeys, before assuming his current role in 2017.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Clinton to Crombie,” said Crombie president and CEO Don Clow in a release. “Clinton knows our business well, has strong relationships with our strategic partner, Sobeys, possesses very strong leadership and collaboration skills and has a wealth of experience in finance and information technology.”

Keay fills the position currently held by Glenn Hynes, who was appointed executive vice-president and chief operating officer in November 2018.

Crombie also welcomed Arie Bitton and Kara Dort to the leadership team. Bitton joined Crombie as senior vice-president, leasing and operations. He has an extensive background in the real estate industry, most recently as vice-president real estate at Shoppers Drug Mart/Loblaw Companies.

Dort was appointed vice-president, accounting and financial reporting. A CPA, Dort spent over 10 years with Sobeys Inc. and was most recently vice-president, finance and strategy for Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation. She fills the vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of Ken Turple. 

Crombie is one of the country’s leading national retail property landlords, owning, operating and developing grocery- and drug store-anchored shopping centres, freestanding stores and mixed-use developments primarily in Canada’s top urban and suburban markets.

Brad Dykeman rejoins Cushman & Wakefield Toronto

Brad Dykeman is returning to Cushman & Wakefield as senior managing director of the Toronto suburban operations. Dykeman has more than 27 years of experience in commercial real estate, with deep roots in brokerage and investment as well as expertise in strategic business development and land development pursuits.

Prior to a stint at Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities, Dykeman had worked for Cushman & Wakefield. His roles focused on hotel and mid-market investment brokerage across the Greater Toronto Area.

“Cushman & Wakefield has been building steady momentum in the marketplace and has clearly established a reputation of putting its clients’ interests at the core of everything it does,” said Dykeman in a release. “I look forward to getting back to my roots both in brokerage and in my home market.”

At Parkbridge, Dykeman was director of sales, helping build its national portfolio through acquisitions, expansions, and greenfield development across Canada.

Three additions at JLL in Toronto

JLL Canada‘s tenant representation group in the GTA has hired David Fullerton as executive vice-president, Allen Brusilow as senior vice-president and Matthew McCusker as transaction manager.

“We are thrilled to welcome David, Allen and Matthew to JLL,” said Brett Elofson, managing director of national tenant representation at JLL Canada, in a release. “Their combined years of experience, extensive multi-market practice and envious client roster, added to our existing capabilities will help us further elevate our service offering in the GTA.”

Fullerton and Allen have consistently ranked as top producers nationally over the past decade. With 29 years of leasing experience, Fullerton has represented clients in more than 1,000 lease negotiations, yielding a transactional value of more than $2.2 billion. 

A skilled negotiator, Brusilow brings 12 years of experience representing corporate space users in the GTA – from Fortune 500 companies to home-grown tech start-ups.

Freedman joins Brookfield board

Brookfield BBP (Canada) LP (BBU-UN-T) has appointed Joe Freedman as a designated director of the company. Freedman is a senior vice-chair in Brookfield’s Private Equity Group, responsible for strategic initiatives and planning. 

Since joining Brookfield, Freedman has held a number of positions, including general counsel and the partner responsible for merger and acquisition transaction execution, fund formation and fund operations.

Prior to joining Brookfield, he was a lawyer in the corporate finance group at a Toronto law firm, specializing in private equity transactions and public company mergers and acquisitions.

Smith the new president of REBGV

Ashley Smith has taken on the role of president of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. She’ll serve a one-year term as head of the REBGV, the professional association of the more than 14,000 realtors and real estate brokers across Metro Vancouver. 

She is the president of Oakwyn Realty.

Smith became a realtor in 2008, and four years later became one of the youngest people ever elected to REBGV’s board of directors.

A self-described governance enthusiast, she has completed the Institute of Corporate Directors Not-For-Profit Governance Essentials program, WATSON’s Governing with Intention and Chair with Intention programs, and BoardSource’s Leadership Certificate for Not-For-Profit Board Chairs.

Other members of the 2019-2020 board are: Colette Gerber, president-elect, Sutton Group West Coast Realty; Taylor Biggar, vice-president, RE/MAX Westcoast; Phil Moore, past president, RE/MAX Central; Doug Dang, Amex Broadway West Realty; Brian Friedrich, appointed director; Bob Ingratta, appointed director; Daniel John, Sutton Group Seafair Realty; Leslie McDonnell, RE/MAX Select Properties; Michael Mitsiadis, Royal Pacific Realty Corp; Cybele Negris, appointed director; Jennifer Quart, RE/MAX Westcoast; Arnold Shuchat, Sutton Group West Coast Realty; and Deborah Spicer, Sutton Group West Coast Realty.

Hebert joins CMHC board

André Hébert is the newest member of the board of directors at the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corp. Hébert is head of loyalty technology at Air Canada.

He brings more than 35 years of hands-on experience in large transformation projects as well as information technology. Hébert is a graduate of École des Hautes Études Commerciales in Montréal and holds a bachelor’s in management and a masters in business administration.

CMHC’s mandate from the federal government is to contribute to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provide support for Canadians in housing need, and offer housing research and advice to governments, consumers and the housing industry.

Frontenac board mourns death of William Calvert

Frontenac MIC‘s board of directors is mourning the recent death of longtime member, and former chair, William “Bill” Calvert. He had been a board member at Frontenac, which is based in Eastern Ontario, since 2007.

“Bill served our board with great commitment,” said a release from Frontenac. “He leaves a legacy of incredible business acumen, strategy formulation skills, and passion for business excellence recognized by all of us, as fellow colleagues who came to know him for his inquisitive nature and logical thinking.

“He was both a colleague and a friend and he will be sorely missed.”

RELATED STORIES:

* Kenney CAPREIT’s new prez, roles shift at Crombie