Bio

James has over 15 years experience investing and building companies. He started his business career as a senior executive at Newcourt Credit Group and helped build the second largest non-bank finance company in the world. As a member of Newcourt's Investment Committee, he helped accumulate a portfolio of debt and equity investments in excess of $28 billion and helped complete 26 acquisitions. James has extensive operational and financial restructuring experience and has served as Chairman, CEO and President of a number of public and private companies (including MDC Corporation and Farley Windows (now part of Gienow Windows and Doors)) and helped transform them from positions of financial distress to profitable companies. He was previously a Partner at EdgeStone Capital Partners, one of the most successful private equity firms in Canada, and was the co-founder of Ironbridge Equity Partners Inc. James serves as Chairman of Westridge Cabinets Ltd. and Construction Control Inc., and is on the Board of Directors of Gesco Industries Inc. He previously served as Chairman of Orbit Garant Drilling Inc., and was Vice Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors of both Newcourt Capital Inc., and Farley Windows and Doors Capital Ltd. He also served on the board of directors of Davis + Henderson Income Fund and Labstat International Inc. James holds an MBA - LLB degree from University of Windsor, where he previously received his Bachelor of Commerce degree. He is the founder of the Advanced Business Law Program at the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law.