As President and CEO of the BC Lottery Corporation Michael is responsible for providing the overall leadership and vision for the corporation. He also directs and supports his Executive Leadership Team in the development of the tactics and plans necessary to realize the objectives of the organization.
Michael joined BCLC in April 2008 and came to the Corporation with over 30 years of progressive marketing and general management experience.
After completing studies at the University of Western Ontario in 1976, Michael embarked on a career path that has provided his family the occasion to experience life in Toronto, Vancouver and New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. The journey also provided many opportunities to develop his skills in a number of industries, including beer sales and marketing with Carling O’Keefe; advertising with Vickers & Benson; chain restaurant management with The Keg; grocery retail at Sobeys; food manufacturing at J.D. Sweid; and furniture, appliance and consumer electronics retail with Mega Group Inc.
His talents and passion for growth and innovation led Mega to be welcomed into the prestigious “Platinum Club” reflecting seven consecutive years of being recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies. Mega Group also has been recognized as one of Canada’s TOP 20 Small to Medium sized employers in 2006 and 2007 and Furniture Manufactures’ Association Retailer of the Year in 2007.
Michael has developed his personal leadership style to one focused on innovation, creativity, strategic vision, profit generation and most importantly the development of human capital.
Taking advantage of the opportunity to expand his formal education, Michael attended Insead in Paris, France with studies focused on business management and leadership. He also attended the London School of Business in London, England studying business administration and strategic planning. And in 2005 Michael was invited to participate in the Ivey School of Business, Quantum Shift program that brought 40 of Canada’s top entrepreneurial CEOs together in an intensive business leadership development program.
Michael has extended his leadership and guidance role to the communities where he has resided. He had the pleasure to serve on the Board of Directors of Symphony Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Tattoo. Internationally, he was a Canadian representative on The Food Business Forum, an international grocery organization and “think tank.” He currently sits as the Vice Chairman of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
Other key staff:
Kevin Gass – Vice-President, Corporate Affairs
Lynette Hughes – Vice-President, Business Transformation
Jim Lightbody – Vice-President, Lottery Gaming
Scott Norman – Vice-President, Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
Darryl Schiewe – Vice-President, Casino and Community Gaming
Debbie Toole – Vice-President, Human Resources
Terry Towns – Vice-President, Corporate Security and Compliance
Marsha Walden – Vice-President, Corporate Strategy and Marketing
Tom Williamson – Vice-President, Finance
Joe Aiello – Director, Corporate Systems
Nigel Anderson – Director, Player First Lottery Business
Rod Bailey – Director, Operations
Sanam Bakhtiar – Director, Lottery Marketing
Kuldeep Bath – Director, Lottery Systems Group
Gord Biglow – Director, Enterprise Architecture
Monica Bohm – Director, Casion Marketing
Keith Bolen - Director, Corporate Procurement
Debbie Cobb – Director, Human Resources
Peter Charlton – Director, Talent Management
Pat Davis – Director, Program Management Office
Serge De Iure – Director, Sales
Susan Dolinski – Director, Communications and Public Affairs
Rhonda Garvey – Director, eBusiness
Doug Harcott – Director, Gaming Systems Group
Todd Heintz - Director, New Business Development
Elaine Hughston – Director, Strategic Projects
Don Lacey – Director, Integrated Technology Services
Constance Ladell – Director, Legal Services and Privacy
Will Parei – Director, Product Development
Luke Polacek - Director, Customer Strategy
Tom Powell – Director, Corporate Finance
Paul Smith – Director, Corporate Social Responsibility
Margaret Watson - Director, Corporate Marketing
Mike Wolfram – Director, Gaming Finance
Year established: 1985
Products offered:
Lotto 6/49 (6/49), Lotto Super 7 (7/47); BC/49 (6/49); Extra (spiel); Pacific Hold’em Poker; Keno (5-minute); SportsFunder (suite); Scratch & Win; Pull Tabs; Interactives; Sports Action (Oddset, Over/Under, Point Spread, Toto)
Total FY '09 Revenue: $ 2.6 billion
Total FY '09 Net Income to Goverment of BC: $1,082.0 milion
Total FY '09 Lottery Sales: $954.2 million
Total FY '09 Lottery Net income to Goverment of BC: $254.4 million
Total FY '08 Revenue: $2.6 billion
Total FY '08 Net Income to Government of BC: $1,080.4 million
Total FY '08 Lottery Sales: $976.9 million
Total FY '08 Lottery Net income to Government of BC: $262 million
Fiscal year ends: March 31
Beneficiaries: Consolidated Revenue for health care, education, social and community programs; charitable and community organizations; host local governments. Problem gambling programs are funded from Consolidated Revenue.
Board members:
Chair: John McLernon
Director: Trudi Brown
Director: David W. Gillespie
Director: Cindy Grauer
Director: Walter Gray
Director: Moray Keith
Director: D. Neil McDonnell
Director: Tazeem Nathoo
Director: Michael Riley
Director: Arthur Willms
