Spokespeople - Mark McQueen
Mr. McQueen has worked in the financial services industry since 1993. He led the growth of venture debt specialist Wellington Financial from its inception as a $7 million fund in 2000 through to its $900 million investment program via Wellington Financial Fund V. Wellington opened its first U.S. office in Santa Monica in 2009; the firm has also maintained offices in New York City and on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, California.
Upon the firm’s acquisition by CIBC in January 2018, Mr. McQueen was appointed to lead the bank’s expanded Innovation Banking initiative. CIBC Innovation Banking has grown quickly in the months that followed, and now has offices in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Denver, Menlo Park, Montreal, Reston, Toronto and Vancouver.
Prior to its acquisition, Wellington was one of Canada’s largest and most active institutionally-backed venture funds, leading over $800 million of transactions. In 2009, Profit Magazine named the firm the 17th fastest growing company in Canada; its 2nd consecutive year on the list.
From 1991-93, he was an Executive Assistant and advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada and served as a Special Assistant to two Cabinet Ministers (1988-91). Granted a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) by The University of Western Ontario (1988).
In 2007 he was appointed by the Canadian government via an Order-in-Council to the Board of Directors of the Toronto Port Authority; he was elected Chairman of the Board in March 2008. Mr. McQueen initiated and led the process that resulted in the 2012 construction of an underwater pedestrian tunnel linking the airport to the mainland via a successful Public-Private-Partnership procurement process. Following the opening of the tunnel, he stepped down as Chairman in August 2015.
In 2014, he was appointed by the Canadian government via an Order-in-Council to be the inaugural Chairman of the Board of Directors of the newly established Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (a Federal Crown Corporation). During his time as Chairman, the WDBA grew from a staff of one individual to ~50, launched the PPP procurement process, and began construction of the Canadian Point-of-Entry.
At the present time he serves as a Director of Algoma Central Corporation (ALC:TSX) and is a member of the Governing Council of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, one of Canada’s largest hospitals. He was also Deputy Chair (Student Awards) for the $800 million Campaign for Western. In 2012, upon the recommendation of the Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, he was appointed as the Honourary Captain of the RCN by the Minister of National Defence. Awards and decorations include a 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for community service, and a Meritorious Service Medal in 2019 for stimulating Innovation in the RCN.
