Caldwell Appoints CEO; Makes Other Senior Management Changes

September 3, 2024 – Toronto-based Caldwell has appointed Chris Beck as president and CEO. He will succeed John Wallace, who will assume the role of executive chair. Additionally, the independent directors of the board have selected John Young as lead independent director. “The board and I have tremendous confidence in Chris, and we know that his combination of experience, skills and vision uniquely prepares him to lead Caldwell,” said Mr. Wallace. “He has had a tremendous impact as president and CFO, helping us navigate the unprecedented challenges of the past few years while positioning the company for long-term success. We have the right leadership team, strategy, and financial foundation in place to ensure a bright future for Caldwell and IQTalent. It has been a privilege to serve this great firm as CEO, and I look forward to working alongside Chris and the Caldwell board of directors to continue to deliver on our mission to connect our clients with transformational talent.”
Mr. Beck is a veteran of Caldwell and has served in multiple leadership roles over the last 11 years at the firm. He joined Caldwell as chief financial officer in 2013, responsible for leading and managing financial, accounting, investor relations and technology operations. In 2017, Mr. Beck was elevated to the role of chief operating and financial officer, adding day-to-day leadership and management across the firm. In 2021, he was appointed president and CFO of Caldwell. His key areas of focus in this expanded role were the firm’s growth strategies, processes, and fostering a success-oriented environment inside the firm.
“The Caldwell board recognizes that CEO succession planning is one of our most important responsibilities,” said Mr. Young. “We have been prudent, thoughtful, and objective in our process to ensure the right plan was in place for a potential successor. It is a testament to the strength and depth of Caldwell’s management team that we have the ideal internal candidate in Chris to assume the CEO position. John Wallace has guided the company through a significant chapter of transformation, growth, and value creation, and we are grateful for his leadership. The board has the highest confidence in Chris as the leader for the next phase of the company’s journey and is pleased that John will continue serving as a trusted partner to him.”
“I am honored to step into the CEO role at Caldwell and build on John’s legacy,” said Mr. Beck. “I would like to thank the board for expressing its confidence in me, and I look forward to collaborating with our employees to drive the next phase of Caldwell’s growth. We have an experienced management team and a deep bench of talent across Caldwell and IQTalent whom I am proud to work alongside. I would like to thank John for his stewardship for the past 16 years – he has been a tremendous leader for our firm and mentor to me personally, and I am grateful he will continue to contribute to Caldwell as executive chairperson. Our mission to enable clients to thrive and succeed by helping them identify, recruit, and retain the best talent has never been more critical, and the opportunities before us are exciting.”
Senior Management Changes
Shreya Lathia was recently appointed VP and CFO, responsible for leading and managing financial, reporting and accounting operations. She joined Caldwell in 2023 as vice president, accounting and reporting. Previously, Ms. Lathia was the senior director of shareholder reporting and consolidations at CIBC, responsible for quarterly and annual financial and MD&A statements. She was promoted into this role from director of accounting policy and advisory. Prior to joining CIBC, she was a manager in the financial services group at Ernst & Young in Toronto.
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Pamela Cioffi has been appointed vice president, people operations, responsible for overseeing the full spectrum of HR functions, including talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, benefits administration, DEIB initiatives implementation, and research and knowledge management. She joined Caldwell in 2017 from GroupM, where she recruited senior digital media executives for the world’s largest advertising agency. She previously managed HR and talent acquisition for Canon’s business process services group.
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Caroline Lomot has been appointed vice president, marketing & communications, responsible for leading the firm’s marketing and communications initiatives, including brand strategy, practice level programs, thought leadership development, digital marketing. She will also manage Caldwell’s internal and external communication channels with the objective of increasing client and stakeholder engagement and fostering a positive culture of mutually supportive collaboration. Ms. Lomot joined Caldwell in 2010 from Heidrick & Struggles, where she was responsible for marketing, communications and public relations in North America, and had a strong hand in the firm’s global internal communications. She joined Heidrick in 2006 through the acquisition of Highland Partners, where she ran marketing and communications.
All three executives, along with Michael Falagario, VP of technology, business and legal operations, will report directly to Mr. Beck.
“I am thrilled to announce the well-deserved promotions of these three outstanding leaders,” said Mr. Beck. “I am incredibly proud of the senior leadership team we have built at Caldwell. Shreya, Pam, Caroline and Mike have been instrumental in Caldwell’s growth and success, demonstrating strategic vision, operational excellence, and professional integrity in their respective roles. They embody the values of our firm and the high standards we set for ourselves and our clients, and I have confidence in their ability to drive our strategy forward to help us achieve our ambitious goals for the future.”
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media