Our Team

Howard is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Bedford—Canada’s largest independent executive search firm. For over 27 years, Howard has inspired leaders to choose his clients’ corporations for their careers. Howard’s particular areas of specialization include Life Sciences, Retail, Consumer Products, and Financial Services.

Based in our Toronto office – repeatedly named Global Office Of The Year by Transearch International based on client satisfaction, innovation and revenue growth – Howard has been an integral part of Bedford’s continued excellence.

Prior to founding Bedford, Howard served in a regional management capacity with a service corporation. Outside of work, Howard’s passions include his family, golf, and fitness training.

Steven is the co-founder and Managing Partner of The Bedford Consulting Group. For the past 25 years, Steven has managed executive search assignments for a broad range of Canadian and international clients from early stage companies to Global Fortune 1000s. Steven’s sectors of specialization include technology/media/telecommunications, retail, consumer hard goods/soft goods, financial services, and real estate.

In addition to his role with Bedford, Steven serves as Chairman of the Americas (13 offices) for Transearch International, a top ten global executive search organization operating worldwide. Steven is currently serving his third term on the Transearch board.

Based in our Toronto office, Steven is recognized as one of North America’s top Executive Recruiters (profiled in “The Career Makers”). In April 2008, Steven was profiled by Business Week as one of the “World’s Most Influential Head Hunters.” Steven’s knowledge of and influence within the changing search industry is key to Bedford’s continued success in disruptive business environments.

Frank is the Managing Partner of Bedford’s Resource practice. In the course of his career with Bedford, Frank has placed hundreds of executives, operating and financial managers, and board directors into many of Canada’s emerging and established organizations. Clients call upon Frank to offer advice in all areas of their talent management needs – from compensation, assessment and performance, to metrics and strategy. Frank is especially passionate in strengthening Canada’s competitive position on the world stage.

Before joining Bedford, Frank held CFO and CEO roles in some of Canada’s largest companies and brands, in addition to managing growing and emerging companies. Frank is a graduate of both the Universities of Toronto and Windsor, where he completed an MBA and a CPA. Outside of work, Frank enjoys music, fitness, running, as well as spending time with his wife and three daughters.

Frank can be reached regarding the following practice areas:

• Engineering
• Waste
• Energy/Utility
• Renewable and alternative energy
• Water/cleantech
• Infrastructure/Construction
• Mining, Minerals, Aggregates
• Oil & Gas
• Metals, Steel
• Not for Profit (i.e., Education, Government, Associations, Charities, Services, etc).
• Manufacturing
• Industrial
• Cannabis (recreational)
• Agriculture

Darren brings more than a decade of executive search and strategic consulting experience, where his work has been focused on clients in the specialty areas of Life Sciences, Consumer Products and Manufacturing/Distribution in Canada, the United States, Europe and Japan.

Prior to joining The Bedford Consulting Group/TRANSEARCH in 2008, Darren spent time with an international executive search firm and started his career with a boutique healthcare consulting firm, where he authored a variety of reports on emerging, minimally invasive, medical-device technologies and consulted for some of the world’s largest medical-device companies.

Today, Darren lives in Toronto with his family, where he is sought out as a thought leader in the field of executive leadership; his articles have been published in the Globe & Mail and he has been quoted in Fast Company magazine.

Darren is a graduate of the University of Ottawa, where he obtained an Honours Degree in Economics.

David MacPherson is the Partner for Bedford’s Energy and Industrial Technology Group, operating from our Ontario offices. He brings over 20 years of senior executive search experience, focusing on delivering top talent with efficiency and optimal fit.

David has completed the majority of his assignments in the global electricity sector, which is in the early stages of its most dramatic transformation in over a century. The rapid expansion of distributed energy, combined with the newfound availability of data and analytics for utilities, will reshape how the world generates, distributes and consumes power. The majority of David’s assignments have been global in nature, including senior technical/commercial roles for SME and Fortune 500 companies in Atlanta, Boston, Singapore, Leeds (UK) and Bangalore.

Please contact David regarding the following Practice Areas:

• Energy/Utilities
• Industrial Technology
• Nuclear

Stephen Diotte is a Partner for Bedford, where he provides his expertise in Executive Compensation and Talent Solutions Talent Solutions for our clients across Canada and in the US.  He brings 35 years of corporate and consulting experience to Bedford.

Stephen has conducted executive compensation reviews, led the development of board and executive compensation programs, and established market-based peer groups for our clients. He has led the design and implementation of executive and board compensation programs, including short-term and both cash and stock-based long-term incentives. He has also assessed the impact of compensation in the context of broader-based talent strategy.

In addition to advising clients on compensation-based matters, Stephen was the CHRO of MEG Energy, a publicly traded upstream oil producer.  In this role, he developed and presented annual recommendations for the company’s executive compensation program to MEG’s Board.  He led the redesign of MEG’s Long-Term Incentive program for shareholder approval and was integral in the preparation of MEG’s Annual Management Information Circular and Compensation Discussion & Analysis (CD&A). He also advised the CEO and the Compensation Committee on MEG’s the applicability of guidelines on compensation disclosure from shareholder rights groups like the ISS and Glass, Lewis & Co.)

Stephen joined Bedford from McKinsey & Company where he was an Associate Partner where he advised client across North America on compensation-related matters. In his role at Bedford Stephen draws his experiences as a former Partner Mercer Canada and the Managing Partner of Deloitte Consulting in Calgary. Stephen has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business, a Master’s degree in Industrial Relations from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton University. He is a Certified Management Consultant.

Val Cambre brings 25 years of human resources experience to Bedford, having worked in some of the sector’s leading academic institutions including Appleby College, where she developed and led the Talent Strategy and HR Department, Governance Relations and the operations side of the school as Chief Operations Officer. Cambre successfully developed a faculty performance management program, a 360- feedback program, a mentorship program and a mutual respect program that contributed to the recognition as a Top 100 Employer in Canada in 2007 and 2008.

Val has her Human Resources management certification and business studies from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. She is a member of the Human Resources Professional Association and certified in Employee Opinion Surveys through Gallup, Thomas DISC Assessments, the Birkman method, SDI Behaviour and 360 Assessment tools.

Based in Toronto, Glenda brings extensive executive search experience through her role as a Principal with Bedford. Glenda’s specialty areas include technology, telco, communications, financial services, consumer packaged goods, retail, and distribution sectors across multiple functions. Well-versed in search on an international scale, Glenda has worked on projects extensively within Canada, the U.S., and Europe.

With an extensive history of success in an ever-changing search industry, Glenda possesses a 20-year professional background with prominent international and boutique executive search firms, both in Canada and the U.S.

Glenda is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, where she obtained her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree.

Laurie brings over 25 years of experience in the executive search industry working with leading boutique and international retained search firms. A generalist, she has conducted senior level searches across a broad range of industries including financial services, technology, retail, and consumer packaged goods across multiple functional areas and geographies including Canada, U.S. and Europe.

Laurie possesses an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Toronto, graduating in 1990 with Distinction.

Victoria Ritchie is a Senior Principal at the Bedford Consulting Group Transearch. With more than 12 years of global executive search experience in Canada, the United States and Europe, Victoria brings deep consulting and candidate assessment experience across a broad range of industries including Retail, Healthcare, Consumer Goods and Financial Services. With a highly professional, collaborative and engaging approach, Victoria is deeply committed to an outstanding client and candidate experience and outcome. Prior to her career in Executive Search, Victoria began her career in human resources and recruitment in the healthcare, higher education and retail industries, early experiences that shaped her commitment to diversity, collaboration and executive & team development. Victoria earned her honours undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto.

Jessica Pezim has recently joined Bedford as a Principal Consultant. Prior to joining Bedford, Jessica worked at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in Human Resources focusing on talent. She was most recently a Director in the Executive Talent Management Group where she supported Capital Markets, Commercial Banking and Wealth. In previous roles she lead Campus Recruitment and Student Programming for Capital Markets which grew to leading the Campus Recruiting efforts enterprise-wide for CIBC.

Jessica holds a Juris Doctorate from Osgoode Hall Law School, an MBA from the Schulich School of Business and a Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies from Western University. She is called to the Ontario Bar Association and is a member of the Law Society of Ontario.

Mauricio Montano is a Senior Consultant for Bedford Resources, leading the firm’s Latin American practice. He is fully bilingual in English and Spanish. Mauricio has over nine years of experience in full-cycle recruitment across all industries, including mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, logistics, warehousing and automotive (amongst others). Mauricio’s experience spans Canada, the United States, Mexico, Latin America and Europe. He has deep expertise and interest in the mining sector, and he is active in industry events.

Prior to joining Bedford, Mauricio specialized in recruitment for technical and contract roles in large mining organizations. In this capacity, Mauricio managed client accounts of up to 50 contractors, leading all recruitment activities and serving as the main contact for all contractor and client interactions. This experience equipped Mauricio with an in depth understanding of the unique requirements of the mining and resources sectors, instilling a passion for the utilizing the value of talent in organizational growth and operational success.

Mauricio attended Humber College, where he studied Business Management. Outside of work, he loves all things sports-related, including soccer, golf, tennis, hiking, snowboarding and swimming.

Ask me about: Latin America, Northern Ontario, Full-Cycle Recruitment, PDAC, Exploration, Operations, Mining, Oil & Gas

Based in Oakville, Samantha recently joined The Bedford Consulting Group as Principal after a successful career in Finance, previously working at one of Canada’s top real estate companies. Samantha’s specialty areas include not-for-profit and natural resources. Since joining Bedford, she has taken part in several Senior and C-suite level search assignments for clients in higher education, not-for-profit, resources and consumer packaged goods. Samantha is a graduate of Western University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies and also holds her Chartered Professional Accountant designation.

Elizabeth is an award winning executive recruiting professional with over 11 years of experience leading retained executive search mandates. Having worked at Amrop Knightsbridge and Odgers Berndtson, 2 global firms, prior to working with The Bedford Group, Elizabeth has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience across a spectrum of industry sectors and functional areas.

Elizabeth was recognized by The Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC) winning the award for Excellence and Professionalism in Research.

Prior to joining the executive search industry, Elizabeth spent three years with a global events company directing sales campaigns for executive attendance acquisition at business strategy summits and conferences for Fortune 500 companies across North America.

Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Arts, Honours degree from Trent University and a Diploma, Honours in Journalism from Durham College.

Cierra is an Associate Principal at the Bedford Consulting Group based out of the Toronto office responsible for recruitment, research and business development across a broad range of practice areas.

Cierra brings an enthusiastic and diligent approach throughout the search process with a keen understanding of client requirements and assessing candidate capabilities. Drawing on her background in research, Cierra takes pride in identifying the right leader for the right role to deliver top quality client and candidate experience from start to finish.

Cierra is a graduate of Western University, where she holds a Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies degree with a specialization in Human Resources. Cierra is a member of the Human Resources Professional Association and has received her CHRP designation.

Arwa Nasrallah is a Research Consultant at The Bedford Consulting Group, with primary focus on the not-for-profit and natural resources practices. Arwa’s role at Bedford spans the entire recruitment process, including needs assessment, research and interviews, as well as business development activities for the firm.

Arwa joined Bedford in 2018 with nearly five years of experience in executive search consulting and research, including her most recent roles as Executive Search Consultant with Optimum Talent and Senior Researcher for AMROP. She has taken part in several senior and C-suite level search assignments for international clients in government, pharmaceuticals, retail, finance, higher education, and industrial manufacturing industries. Arwa prides herself on her ability to build instant rapport with clients and candidates to ensure optimal fit and maximal satisfaction from all parties.

Arwa holds a Master of Arts from The University of Warwick (UK), and a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) from The University of Essex (UK). She is fluent in Arabic with working proficiency in French.

Angelika Misiewicz is an Associate Researcher at The Bedford Consulting Group, supporting the firm’s natural resources and not-for-profit practices. She provides thorough research support to the Managing Partners and Principal Consultants, while also ensuring outstanding client and candidate experiences.

Angelika joined Bedford from Oakdale Golf and Country Club, where she championed management of the human resources function for the golf department for over two years. This role provided her significant experience in full-cycle recruitment, as she held primary responsibility for recruitment, training and employee relations. Angelika’s passion for human resources and talent management allows her to provide exceptional client care on all engagements.

Angelika graduated from York University with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Human Resources Management. She is fully bilingual in English and Polish.

Steve Litwin is a senior information technology executive with over 28 years experience. He helps our clients manage their technology challenges and provides a high level of expertise that allows organizations to achieve their technology-enabled business goals.
Prior to founding Litcom Information Services in 2003, Steve led the Canadian I.T. practice for Cap Gemini Canada (formerly Ernst & Young Management Consultants). His early background includes work with a number of leading I.T. Solution providers including Deloitte & Touche Consulting, SHL Systemhouse, and Synerlogic (a division of Accenture).

Steve is a Certified Management Consultant and holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto, as well as a Diploma in Computer Programming from Control Data Institute. Steve has returned on numerous occasions to his Alma Mater, University of Toronto, to lecture on I.T. related subjects.

John has extensive international experience as a senior executive. As a consultant he has worked in more than 40 countries. His extensive consulting around organization culture encompasses, literally, some of the world’s largest organizations. His coaching work, meanwhile, embraces a number of international CEOs.

John has a doctorate in management development and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. He has taught on MBA and executive programs, at business schools, on both sides of the Atlantic; on more than one occasion receiving teaching excellence awards. He also was the recipient of “coach of the year” in Scandinavia. 

He has published twelve best-selling books on leadership and organization culture. His Talent Trilogy was completed in 2016. The first in the series, Attract, Select, Develop & Retain TALENT, was published in 2013. The second book, TEAM: Align, Build, Connect and Develop, came out in early 2015. The Empty Suit, 2016. The A-Z of Organization Culture came out in 2017. Tomorrow Will Be Different – Will You? was published in Spring 2019. 

His books, articles and assessment tools are embraced by executives on five continents. His company, Orxestra Inc., enjoys a strategic partnership with TRANSEARCH INTERNATIONAL, a global executive search firm. He is also the leadership advisor to The Bedford Consulting Group.

John has a number of books available for download. Go to any of the major, online bookstores. Access using author’s name: John O. Burdett.

Based out of the Toronto office, Fiona provides Executive Assistant services to Howard Pezim, Managing Director at the Bedford Group, and Project Coordinator support to the Principals and Consultants. Fiona holds additional responsibility as event planner and hostess for Executive Roundtables, Seminars and Client/Employee events.

Fiona brings a wealth of experience gained over the past 25+ years working in advancing administrative roles for some of North America’s best-known retailers, telecommunications and food services companies. Fiona has supported Vice Presidents in sales, finance, human resources, legal and customer relations management sectors.

Zachary Wan is the Project Coordinator to Steven Pezim, Managing Director at the Toronto office.  He provides oversight to administrative and reception areas with a dedicated focus to clients in the technology, financial services and CPG sectors.  In the past, Zachary provided administrative support at one of Canada’s leading health and wellness providers.

Zachary holds an Honors Bachelor of Arts in History and Sociology from Western University.

Based in Bedford’s Oakville office, Tina holds responsibility for the management of day-to-day operations while providing administrative support to Frank Galati, Bedford Resources’ Managing Partner, as well as overseeing project coordination and other tasks for Frank and the Principals.

Tina has 25+ years administrative experience working with presidents, general managers, and vice presidents for some of North America’s best-known CPG, pharmaceutical and construction companies. Tina’s professionalism and passion for her career is only surpassed by her desire to provide superior customer care, affording Tina many advancement opportunities throughout her progressive career.

Since 1997, Flori has been providing accounting support to the management and staff of Bedford. Prior to joining the company, Flori held key senior accounting positions with several real estate developers, construction managers and property managers well known in their industries in the Toronto area. She brings a solid accounting knowledge and professional dedication given her 35 years of business experience.

Flori graduated from St. Paul University Manila, Philippines, where she holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accountancy.