Michael Vels has been picked as the chief financial officer of Empire Company Limited while Clinton Keay assumes role of executive vice president technology and lead of company’s transformation office.
The company said Michael Vels was most recently chief financial officer of Hydro One
Clinton Keay who served as interim CFO will assume role of executive vice president, technology and lead of transformation office.
Mr. Michael H. Vels, also known as Mike, has been Chief Financial Officer of Hydro One Limited since August 31, 2015. Mr. Vels has been Chief Financial Officer of Hydro One Inc. since July 17, 2015. He serves as an Executive Officer of Royal Bank of Canada. He served as the Chief Financial Officer of Maple Leaf Foods Inc. from March 25, 2004 to May 23, 2014 and served as its Chief Transition Officer. Mr. Vels served as the Chief Financial Officer of Canada Bread Company Limited, a subsidiary of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., since 1999.
He served as an Executive Vice President of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., and is responsible for the financial affairs and the integrity of financial systems. His responsibilities also includes financial reporting, budgeting, treasury, taxation, financial risk management, investor relations, acquisition integration and information systems. He served as Executive Vice President of Finance of Maple Leaf Foods Inc.
Mr. Vels joined Maple Leaf Foods in 1991 at the time of the merger between Maple Leaf Mills and Canada Packers, Maple Leaf Foods’ predecessor companies. He has held a number of Senior Finance positions and served as Executive Vice President of Finance since 1999. He then worked for several years in the United Kingdom, specializing in mergers and acquisitions. He joined Canada Bread Company Ltd., in 1991 during which time, he has held senior finance positions of increasing responsibility including Financial Controller since 1991, Vice-President and Corporate Controller from 1992 to 1993, Vice-President of Finance from 1993 to 1995, Senior Vice-President of Finance from 1995 to 1998 and Executive Vice President of Finance from 1999 to 2004.
He serves as Director of Canada’s National Ballet School. He served as a Director of Country Style Food Services Inc. since March 6, 2007 until 2009. He served as a Non-Independent Director of Canada Bread Company Ltd., since 2007 until 2014. He served as Member of Advisory Board of Ontario Securities Commission. Mr. Vels received his Chartered Accountant designation in South Africa in 1985. Mr. Vels holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.
