Our people

Howard Lichtman, LLB, MBA

Chief Marketing Officer

Howard Lichtman serves as Bedford’s Virtual Chief Marketing Officer through his organization, The Lightning Group. Prior to founding The Lightning Group, Howard was Executive Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Cineplex Odeon for much of his career. His numerous responsibilities at this publicly traded North American movie chain included marketing, promotions, sponsorships, internal and external communications, public relations, and investor and media relations.

Howard has also served on a number of Boards and advisory councils including: The Ontario Science Centre, as Vice-Chairman of the Board; The Toronto International Film Festival Marketing Committee; and the Schulich Business School Alumni Advisory Group.

In addition to his corporate successes, Howard’s educational background includes an MBA in Marketing (Schulich Business School) and a law degree (Osgoode Hall).

Bernard Cormier, MBA

Partner

Bernard brings to our clients deep global experience and a track record of building exceptional organizational capability and leadership teams. As a partner, he plays a key leadership role in building our core Executive Search practice and providing new complementary talent development offerings.

Bernard was most recently with The Home Depot, where he was Vice President of Human Resources for the Canada and China divisions. Previously, he was with GE, Bombardier, and Molson, holding senior positions in Human Resources and Operations in Canada as well as Asia.

Bernard graduated with a BBA from Université de Moncton, an MBA from the University of Western Ontario, as well as Executive Program Certificates from IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Bernard is active on the board of directors for several secondary and post-secondary institutions and professional HR associations.

Lisa Heidman, LLB

Senior Client Partner and North American Director, Bedford Legal

Lisa brings over 15 years of legal, business, board and executive search experience dealing with senior executives and best-in-class talent within a wide range of industries including financial, legal and professional services and associations, BtoB and BtoC consulting, media and entertainment, healthcare, technology, real estate and the not-for-profit sector.

Prior to joining Bedford as Client Partner, Lisa was a Principal with Ray & Berndtson and a Senior Consultant with Knightsbridge in Toronto. Before launching her career in Executive Search, Lisa practiced law in both Canada and the United States as a senior corporate attorney specializing in mergers and acquisitions. Lisa also served as President of an entrepreneurial media company and as an Executive Board Member and Legal Counsel to a prominent international business association.

Lisa graduated with distinction from the McGill Faculty of Law, qualified for the Dean’s List while studying at Harvard University and graduated with First Class Bachelor of Arts Honours from Queen’s University. Lisa is admitted to both the Ontario and Massachusetts Bars and successfully passed the New York State Bar. Lisa’s extensive legal, business, negotiation, and client-relationship skills add value to our Executive Search practice.

Frank Galati, CMA, MBA

Partner

Frank joined Bedford’s Resources, Energy and Infrastructure practice following a 20-year- career with major Canadian organizations, including their US affiliates, in C-level financial and corporate-development roles. He led a management buyout of a major subsidiary of one of Canada’s leading consumer firms. Under his leadership as CEO, this company was named one of The Financial Post’s, “Fifty Best-managed Companies in Canada in 2002, 2003.” Frank is a CMA and has an MBA from The University of Western Ontario

Hart Hillman, MBA

Partner

With more than 25 years experience in Consumer Technology, Electronics. Publishing/Media and Executive Search, Hart has held a number of presidential and senior sales and marketing roles in Fortune 500 companies. Hart’s experience includes executive search for key senior positions throughout North America and Europe.

Before choosing Bedford, Hart was Managing Partner at Kinley Connelly Executive Search and prior to that ran the Canadian Technology practice for Heidrick & Struggles. Before his decade in Executive Search, Hart was President for divisions of two Publishing/media companies, Prentice Hall/Simon & Schuster and IDG/Macmillan Books. Hart also spent more than a dozen years in senior sales and marketing roles for Compaq and Apple Computer. As well, Hart was General Manager for a national retail chain of consumer electronic outlets and cut his teeth as an owner and retail operator.

Hart serves on the Board of Directors for the University of Toronto Press and holds a Honours B.A. from York University in Psychology and English and graduated Dean’s List from the Rotman School/University of Toronto EMBA program.

Hart brings passion, energy and extensive experience as both a leader and recruiter of leaders to our team at Bedford. These attributes, combined with his keen focus on delivering distinctive value will give existing and new Bedford clients exceptional results.

Erik Buckland

Principal

Erik joined us in 2004 and focuses on clients involved in mining and metals. Raised in Falconbridge in Northern Ontario, Erik is a graduate of Sheridan College. He has developed extensive understanding of the issues having an impact on mining and resource clients. Eric coordinates global searches with various TRANSEARCH partners.

Glenda Hirvela

Principal

Glenda has over 15 years of experience in executive search in Canada and the USA, where she worked with international and boutique search firms. At Bedford, she manages search and client/candidate relationships in these sectors: technology, telecommunications and media. Glenda holds an Honours BA from The University of Western Ontario.

Deborah Magidson

Principal

Deborah brings a unique blend of entrepreneur and artist to the clients of Bedford. She was Principal of her own retained executive search practice, Magidson Search, before joining us in 2005. There, she focused on mid- to senior-level mandates in sales, marketing (consumer and B2B), operations, communications, human resources and finance across a range of industries: communications, media, health sciences and retail. Before she embarked on her second career—executive search—Deborah was an international-award-winning documentary filmmaker. She wrote, produced and directed over 30 television documentaries. Deborah has an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from York University and completed an advanced filmmaking program at New York University.

Laurie Scott

Principal

Laurie rejoined Bedford to support our upper-middle- and senior-management searches. She has conducted senior-executive searches for 17 years in the retail, consumer products, advanced technology, high tech, manufacturing, pulp and paper and industrial sectors. Laurie holds an Honours degree, with Distinction, in History and Psychology from the University of Toronto.

Theresa Wilson

Principal

Theresa Wilson has 13 years of executive search experience gained both in national boutique firms and global consulting and executive search organizations. Theresa joined Bedford in 2001.

Theresa manages senior level searches across a broad spectrum of industries with expertise in health sciences, consumer goods, retail and B2B services. She brings deep functional expertise in human resources, communications and public affairs, finance, as well as clinical, medical and regulatory affairs within the life sciences space. She is adept at managing senior client relationships and working with senior executives across a broad range of businesses.

Theresa graduated with an Honours Business Administration Degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario and has an undergraduate degree in Political Science.

Her extensive industry knowledge and business acumen add value to our Executive Search practice.

Rosario Maria Astuvilca
MHRM, LL.B, CHRP

Principal

Rosario Maria is fluent in English and Spanish, and holds a Bachelor of Laws from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP) and a Masters in Human Resources Management from York University, Canada. She specializes in Mining & Metals—Latin America and has successfully recruited senior leaders in these industries globally. Her recent experience includes senior search assignments in Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Perú, and the U.S.

Originally from La Oroya, Perú’s largest metallurgical complex, Rosario grew up in several mining sites and has in-depth understanding of Latin American legal and socio-economic issues. Prior to joining Bedford, she was part of the Human Resources Corporate team for Falconbridge Ltd. in Toronto (now Xstrata), and she started her career with Empresa Minera del Centro del Perú—Centromin Perú.

She belongs to several industry associations including the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM); the Prospector & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC); and Women in Mining (WIM).

Mary Mckenzie, BAH, BAA

Principal

With a degree in Economic Geography from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and a degree in Urban Planning from Ryerson University in Toronto, Mary supports all of our research and information gathering on talent. She also undertakes specific search assignments for special situations, including projects for international research organizations and clients involved in mining and resource development.

Gillian Tessis, LLB

Principal

Gillian brings over 7 years of executive search experience across a broad spectrum of industries including: consumer packaged goods, retail, manufacturing, and technology. She has completed extensive search work at the senior executive, Vice President, and C-levels in both Canada and the United States.

Prior to joining Bedford, Gillian practiced law at one of Canada’s leading law firms. She received her LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School and holds a BA from The University of Western Ontario. Gillian was called to the Ontario Bar and is a member of The Law Society of Upper Canada.

Joanna Winter, LLB

Principal

Joanna joined Bedford to provide generalist executive search capability. She has conducted strategic and senior level searches in a variety of industries including consumer goods and retail, health sciences, technology, manufacturing and financial services. Before joining Bedford, Joanna practiced business law at one of Canada’s leading law firms. Joanna received her LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School and holds a BA from the University of Western Ontario. She was called to the Ontario Bar and is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Victoria Zylberberg

Principal

Victoria joined Bedford as a Principal in 2009. Victoria offers Bedford clients deep understanding and experience at the Director, Vice President and Senior Executive level, across the technology, telecommunications, media and retail industries in both Canada and the United States. Prior to joining Bedford, Victoria worked for Kinley & Connelly Executive Search and gained frontline corporate recruitment and human resources experience in the education and healthcare sectors.

Victoria graduated with a BA (Hons) from the University of Toronto and is a Certified Human Resources Professional.