Canada Board and Executive Search Expertise

 

Vell Executive Search has decades of experience recruiting executives and board members for Canadian companies.

Our principal Dora Vell is a dual Canadian and U.S. citizen. She and her team have been successfully finding top talent for Canadian and U.S./Canadian mixed searches of every type for more than 22 years.

Deep Canadian Understanding 

We bring a great network of Canadian talent, both residents and expats, a data-driven approach and a deep understanding of Canadian cultural and regional differences to every search. You can count on us to find executives and board members who are a good fit and equipped for long-term success within your organization.

We uncover every stone, look for every Canadian (including expats), utilize algorithms to figure out location affinity, and reach out in very innovative ways to get you the best possible candidate.

  • Canadian companies strive to fill their executive and board teams with world-class talent. This often results in a hybrid search of Canadian resident talent and expatriates as well as executives from other countries, most often in the U.S. Assessing the size of the Canadian pool is critical, as it informs whether to look elsewhere. When a hybrid strategy is employed, the key factors we consider: fit to the role, fit to the culture, compensation requirements, tenure and relocation (or willingness to visit “often” or attend board meetings in person).
  • Canadian growth companies also seek executives to reside abroad, typically starting with the United States. For example, an EVP or SVP Sales or business development to reside closer to their customers. Similar factors as stated above are considered. Often, the “ease” to fly in and out of the headquarters location, both ways, become critical factors.

Parent Companies from the U.S. or Overseas looking for executives in Canadian divisions:

  • These can be country managers, sales executives in charge of the region, technology executives for a software development team in Canada, etc. The main question is around the locally available talent for the role and the fit with both the parent’s organizational culture and the local team’s culture. It is key to consider all decision makers, especially as they are in different countries and often believe they have the final say. 

Often times, companies headquartered in Canada can have a mix of investors or board members and it is important to show that any and all Canadians have been considered as well as ensuring that the talent is world-class.

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We work throughout Canada to find top talent in both big cities and more remote areas. Here are just some examples of our search activity in major Canadian markets:

Toronto 

Greater Toronto Area (GTA)

As an alumna of the University of Toronto, Dora Vell lived and worked in Toronto for more than 15 years. The Vell team provides Toronto executive search and board search services to our technology clients.

Ottawa

Ottawa, ON

The consultants at Vell are backed by years of experience, providing Kanata and Ottawa executive recruitment services to public and private tech companies. Dora Vell is an alum of Carleton University and Lycée Claudel.

Alberta

Calgary, Alberta

Vell has recruited board members and executives that have helped shape Alberta’s digital future.

KW area 

Kitchener-Waterloo

As an alumna of the University of Waterloo, Dora Vell has built irrefutable connections and has recruited numerous C-suite executives and board members for leading KW technology companies.

Halifax

Halifax, NS and Atlantic Provinces

Based in Boston and with deep Canadian roots, Vell Executive Search serves the highly innovative sector in Atlantic Canada with executive and board search.

Saskatchewan

Saskatoon, SK and
Regina, SK

Vell has collaborated with Saskatchewan’s leading software/SaaS companies to deliver outstanding leadership talent that enables them to successfully compete on a global basis.

Vancouver

Vancouver, BC and Victoria, BC

Vell has a longstanding commitment providing executive and board recruitment to Vancouver and Victoria, BC markets. Through our network & experience, we have established deep roots in British Columbia.

Quebec

Montreal, PQ and
Quebec City, PQ

Our industry veterans work as true partners and advisors throughout the search process and beyond. We are here to help find the right leadership to supercharge your goals.

 Manitoba

Winnipeg, MB

Vell has helped leading tech companies in Winnipeg achieve hypergrowth through the recruitment of world-class executives and board members.

Executive Search Firm Canada Experience  

We provide CEO, Board of Directors, Technology Officer and C-suite recruitment services to public and private companies across Canada including: Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Québec City, Halifax, Vancouver and other cities.
See specific pages for specific roles. For more board search experience, see Vell Board Search

Our History Canada Executive Search

Our History
Canada Executive Search

Dora Vell started her practice in the Toronto office of Heidrick & Struggles in 1998 and has been executing searches on both sides of the border since. This is not an offshoot of our U.S. practice. Dora Vell, our principal, is a dual Canadian and U.S. citizen. Her Canada-specific expertise includes:

  • Deep cultural understanding, living, attending school and working in Canada for 25 years, in Ottawa, Waterloo and Toronto
  • Canadian education:
    • a Baccalaureate Francaise from Lycee Claudel
    • a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Carleton University
    • a master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo
    • an MBA from the University of Toronto
  • Canadian tech industry experience:
    • Bell Northern Research (now Nortel) in Kanata, as a student
    • A 15-year career at IBM Canada in roles of increasing responsibility, including: software engineer, software development manager of 100 people, head of software sales of IBM Canada
  • Canadian executive search consulting experience:
    • Nearly five years in the Heidrick & Struggles Toronto office as a lead partner for the technology practice
    • More than 16 years finding exceptional talent for Canadian companies as the founder and CEO of Vell Executive Search
  • Canadian nonprofit board experience:
    • Served as a board member of Goodwill Toronto and the Mary Centre
Our History Canada Executive Search

Our History
Canada Executive Search

Dora Vell started her practice in the Toronto office of Heidrick & Struggles in 1998 and has been executing searches on both sides of the border since. This is not an offshoot of our U.S. practice. Dora Vell, our principal, is a dual Canadian and U.S. citizen. Her Canada-specific expertise includes:

  • Deep cultural understanding, living, attending school and working in Canada for 25 years, in Ottawa, Waterloo and Toronto
  • Canadian education:
    • a Baccalaureate Francaise from Lycee Claudel
    • a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Carleton University
    • a master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo
    • an MBA from the University of Toronto
  • Canadian tech industry experience:
    • Bell Northern Research (now Nortel) in Kanata, as a student
    • A 15-year career at IBM Canada in roles of increasing responsibility, including: software engineer, software development manager of 100 people, head of software sales of IBM Canada
  • Canadian executive search consulting experience:
    • Nearly five years in the Heidrick & Struggles Toronto office as a lead partner for the technology practice
    • More than 16 years finding exceptional talent for Canadian companies as the founder and CEO of Vell Executive Search
  • Canadian nonprofit board experience:
    • Served as a board member of Goodwill Toronto and the Mary Centre
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Contact Vell Executive Search

We speak “Canadian” and excel at optimizing your executive or board recruitment in all sorts of scenarios.

Whether you need Canadian, expatriate or U.S. executives or board members, we can identify the best candidates for your organization.

Email us at dora@vell.com for a free consultation.

Contact Us
 

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