BDC welcomes four new members to its Board of Directors

(MONTREAL) – January 29, 2024 – The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) today welcomed the appointment of four new members to its Board of Directors, effective January 26, 2024.

The appointees are:

• Lena Bullock, of Burnaby, B.C. is the Chief Financial Officer at Frind Properties Ltd. Ms. Bullock brings over 32 years of senior-level experience in corporate financial planning and analysis.
• Michael Ladha, of St. John’s Newfoundland, is the Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. He has over 14 years’ experience as an executive and corporate director with expertise in legal, governance, supply chain and procurement matters.
• Konata Lake, of Toronto, ON, is a Partner at Torys LLP. Mr. Lake is the head of the firm’s Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Group, as well as the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions Group. He brings over 15 years of experience representing businesses on all aspects of corporate transactional matters.
• Melanie Nadeau, of Dartmouth, NS, is the Chief Executive Officer at COVE, an industry-led commercialization centre and global tech hub. Ms. Nadeau brings over 20 years of experience in business development initiatives that drive high-tech innovation and entrepreneurship.

“I am particularly pleased to welcome Lena, Michael, Konata, and Melanie to BDC’s Board of Directors. Not only do they share our determination to do more and better for Canadian entrepreneurs, but their deep commercial knowledge and valuable experience will help guide our team towards meaningfully increasing our reach and impact. I look forward to benefiting from their fresh perspective and expect them to challenge us to always deliver the best for our clients,” said Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO, BDC.

Small businesses are a crucial contributor to Canada’s economy. They are responsible for 88% of private sector jobs and generate over 50% of the country’s GDP. BDC is Canada’s only bank dedicated exclusively to entrepreneurs, helping their businesses grow and succeed.

The appointments were announced earlier today by the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Small Business, and were made under the Government of Canada’s open, transparent and merit-based section process, each with a term of four years.

About BDC 

As Canada’s bank for entrepreneurs, BDC is a partner of choice for all entrepreneurs looking to access the financing and advice they need to build their businesses and tackle the big challenges of our time. Our investment arm, BDC Capital, offers a wide range of risk capital solutions to help grow the country’s most innovative firms. We are one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers and Canada’s Best Diversity Employers. For more information on BDC’s products and services and to consult free tools, templates and articles, visit bdc.ca or join BDC on social media. 

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