PwC Canada appoints four external directors to join its board

31/05/21

The external directors bring invaluable perspectives that diversify PwC’s governing body.

Toronto, ON - May 31, 2021 - For the first time in PwC Canada’s history, the firm brings on external directors to join its Board. The new members bring a wealth of diverse experiences to the governing body at PwC. Effective July 1, 2021, Ian Austin, Bev Briscoe, Scott Patles-Richardson and Razor Suleman will become the first external board members to ever serve on PwC Canada’s Board of Directors.  

“The growth and evolution of PwC’s governance model supports our long-term viability and addresses our desire for increased transparency. This historical move helps position the Board to anticipate and plan in a constantly changing business environment,” said Mike Harris, Partner and outgoing PwC Canada Board Chair. “The breadth and diversity of experience of these new board members add external insights and independence that further strengthen the firm’s ability to fulfil our purpose of building trust in society and solving our clients' most important problems.”

The decision to add external voices to the Board comes from PwC’s ambition to continuously provide unparalleled levels of service and diverse viewpoints to its clients, stakeholders, people and communities. The primary role of PwC’s Board of Directors is to help oversee best in class governance and enable forward-thinking leadership. The Board acts as an advocate supporting management in the execution of future strategies to build a more sustainable, accountable and resilient organization.

“Searching for the right candidates to join our Board was a significant process, and we are pleased to have found four external directors that meet the highest credentials and caliber for the role,” said Nicolas Marcoux, Chief Executive Officer and Senior Partner, PwC Canada. “These four individuals, along with the nine partners elected by their peers, now makes our Board composed of diverse experience, geographies, genders, and ethnicities that will improve decision-making to better serve our stakeholders. These changes also continue to strengthen PwC’s dedication to inclusion and putting our purpose at the centre of all we do.”

With the addition of the four new directors, PwC’s Board reaches 14 members. Each individual brings unique experiences and perspectives to lead PwC in a challenging business climate while possessing the vision to recognize opportunities. They have a deep understanding of how organizations should function and will share relevant experiences on how to achieve an improved environment for our people, our clients and the communities we serve.

Click here to learn more about PwC Canada’s Board of Directors.

PwC welcomes Ian Austin, Bev Briscoe, Scott Patles-Richardson and Razor Suleman to the Board. 

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Dr. Ian Austin
Dean of the Centre for Business, George Brown College

"I'm an educator—and have been for over 25 years. This is my life and my passion. I believe that education is critical to the advancement of society. My ability to represent the expectations of both students and employers allows me to bring a unique lens to PwC Canada."

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Bev Briscoe, FCPA, F.ICD
Corporate Director

"My experience is as a business leader and I've served on many boards—public, private and not-for-profit. I love organizations that have a really strong sense of where their moral compass is, why they do what they do and a focus on how they can be the best at what they do. This is why I’m excited about PwC Canada."

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Scott Patles-Richardson
Founder & Senior Advisor, Indigenous Financial Solutions

"I’ve spent my career in financial services with extensive experience in M&A and restructuring. I’ve served as CEO in both startups and mature enterprises. I'm driven by a passion to support the prosperity of Indigenous communities, organizations and citizens across Canada, and I think that lens will bring a lot of power and strength to the mandate of PwC."

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Razor Suleman
Co-Founder & Co-Chair, Elevate

"I’m a serial entrepreneur with a passion for technology and innovation. Fifteen years ago, PwC took a chance on me as a young founder and CEO. Now as a board member, it’s my turn to help the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs build globally relevant tech companies right here in Canada."

About PwC Canada

At PwC Canada, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. More than 7,000 partners and staff in offices across the country are committed to delivering quality in assurance, tax, consulting and deals services. PwC refers to the Canadian member firm, and may sometimes refer to the PwC network. Each member firm is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structureOpens in a new window for further details. Find out more by visiting us at: http://www.pwc.com/caOpens in a new window

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