Boyden Recruits CEO for the Canadian Marketing Association
March 19, 2026 – Boyden has assisted in the recruitment of Esther Benzie as the new president and CEO of the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA). Ian Collyer led the assignment. Following Alison Simpson’s retirement announcement in September 2025, the CMA board of directors launched a comprehensive executive search to identify the association’s next leader. The search attracted strong interest from highly accomplished senior marketing leaders across Canada, reflecting the CMA’s growing reputation and strength within the marketing community.
“The CMA has built strong momentum in recent years, expanding its role as a national voice for marketers and strengthening the value it delivers to members,” said Alan Depencier, CMA board chair and SVP and CMO, commercial banking and insurance at RBC. “Esther brings the leadership and perspective needed to help the association continue that progress and support marketers as the profession evolves.”
Ms. Benzie brings more than 30 years of diverse marketing leadership experience spanning multinational organizations, Canadian enterprises, industry associations, vendor environments and entrepreneurship. Her career includes senior leadership roles at Procter & Gamble and CIBC, where she led the global relaunch of the CIBC brand and oversaw major marketing operations. She also served as senior advisor and acting president and CEO of the Association of Canadian Advertisers, bringing direct experience in member-based association leadership.
Most recently, Ms. Benzie worked as a consultant with Listenmore and co-founded ShiftUp Coaching, providing leadership and marketing coaching to senior professionals. She also holds an MBA and is a trained board director and executive coach, bringing a strong combination of professional, academic and governance experience to the role. Her expertise across brand strategy, marketing transformation, client services and leadership development closely aligns with the CMA’s mission to empower marketers through tools, education and thought leadership, advance the profession through shared standards and innovation and strengthen the association’s national relevance and value proposition.
“I am honored to join the CMA at such an important moment for our profession,” said Ms. Benzie. “Marketing continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, and the CMA plays a vital role in emboldening, educating and connecting marketers across Canada. I look forward to working closely with the board, the CMA team and our members to continue building a strong, future-proof marketing community.”
The Canadian Marketing Association is a national, not-for-profit industry organization that represents marketing professionals, brands, agencies, and related stakeholders across Canada. Founded in 1967, the CMA provides resources, research, professional development, and certification programs to support best practices in marketing. The organization also plays a role in advocacy and regulatory matters, promoting responsible marketing standards and helping members navigate evolving privacy, data, and consumer protection requirements.
Related: Six Steps to Sharpen Leadership Focus and Protect Performance in 2026
Boyden, headquartered in Purchase, NY, is a leadership and talent advisory firm with more than 70 offices in over 45 countries. Established in 1946, the firm continues to expand and add talent across several global regions. Boyden offers executive search, interim management and leadership consulting solutions. In the last three years, Boyden conducted over 1,000 searches in the financial officers space.
A search professional with nearly two decades of experience, Mr. Collyer is a key member of Boyden’s technology and industrial practice groups. Focusing on the highly competitive software, telecommunications, professional services, clean tech and manufacturing industries, he works with clients ranging from private equity and venture-backed start-ups to large multinational organizations.
Sonic Healthcare Limited Search
Boyden also recently placed Jim Newcombe as managing director and CEO of Sonic Healthcare Limited. Current CEO Colin Goldschmidt recently announced his retirement. “We are delighted that Dr. Jim Newcombe will succeed Dr. Colin Goldschmidt in leading Sonic Healthcare, preserving its unique medical leadership culture while embracing the transformational changes in healthcare which Sonic is leading in Australasia, Europe, the U.K. and the USA,” said Mark Compton, chairman. “After 32 years as Sonic’s CEO, Colin has decided it is the right time to retire, and the Board respects his decision.”
“Colin has led Sonic’s expansion from a single laboratory in Sydney onto the global stage to become the third largest pathology player in the world by developing and committing the company to the culture of medical leadership,” Mr. Compton said. “This leadership approach is now firmly embedded within Sonic Healthcare and incorporates an understanding of doctors and the medical profession, linking directly to operational and cultural attributes focused on care for staff and highest quality service to clinicians and patients. We thank him sincerely for his incredible vision and dedication over so many years. The board is excited by the passion and strategy Jim has for the company, and he, Evangelos Kotsopoulos (CEO of Sonic Healthcare Europe and Sonic Healthcare Germany) and the senior executive team will have our full support as they implement prudent change over time, whilst preserving Sonic’s unique culture and values.”
Related: Boyden Recruits Chancellor for the University of Technology Sydney
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
