Our people

Howard Lichtman, LLB, MBA

Chief Marketing Officer

The Lightning Group provides “Virtual CMO” services to companies that require executive level strategic and marketing skills but don’t need a full time chief marketing officer. Howard’s extensive experience working at and with senior levels in blue chip companies across North America gives him the ability to bring three unique advantages to his clients: (1) He can quickly identify the true source of his clients’ problems, rather than the perceived ones, and design imaginative business solutions that achieve quantifiable results; (2) When required, he can bring together and lead a team of experts from virtually any fields to implement business solutions; (3) He has one of the most valuable rolodex’s in Canada, enabling him to find a solution to almost any business problem a company can experience.

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 designed a number of innovative, enduring business building programs that have become industry standards, including: creating and managing an in-house advertising agency on behalf of both Cineplex and a number of the major Hollywood studios; on-screen advertising; in-theatre sampling; Cinevision and Cinekiosks.

While at Cineplex, Howard developed and sold the largest live theatre sponsorship program in the history of Canada to Pepsi, American Express and Labatts. As part of that sponsorship, he proposed the creation of the American Express “Front Of The Line” program, which is still a foundational Amex loyalty marketing and sales program. He also created the Pepsi Phantom Educational Program, which has been experienced by hundreds of thousands of students. Howard was both a corporate and industry spokesperson to almost every leading media outlet in North America, including The Wall Street Journal, The L.A. Times, The Washington Post, The Globe and Mail, Ad Age, Marketing Magazine, CNN and Entertainment Tonight.

Howard has 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; The One Of A Kind Craft Show; Schulich Business School Alumni Advisory Group; The Motion Picture Theatre Association of Canada; The Motion Picture Foundation of Canada; The National Association of Theatre Owners; The United Jewish Appeal/Federation; Canadian Friends of Tel Aviv University; Canadian Friends of Weizmann; The Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto (CHAT); ORT; Harold Greene Jewish Theatre and Co-Chair, Connect 2006 Business Program, Schulich Business School.

In addition to his corporate successes, Howard’s educational background includes an MBA in Marketing (Schulich Business School) and a law degree (Osgoode Hall).He is a graduate of The Wexner Heritage Program and he teaches a course in “How To Launch An E-Business” at Ryerson University.

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

Client Partner

Lisa brings over 12 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 The Bedford Group 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 The Bedford Group’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

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 The Bedford Group 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 The Bedford Group. 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 The Bedford Group 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 the Bedford Group 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, from Peru, is fluently bilingual in English and Spanish. Raised in La Oroya and in Lima, she holds a Law degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. She joined us in 2007 from Xstrata’s Human Resources organization. She is a member of the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario (HRPAO), holds a CHRP designation and Masters in Human Resources Management from York University. Rosario works with clients involved in major oil and gas developments and with mining clients with a focus on Latin America.

Robert Davis

Principal

Robert’s focuses on clients involved in engineering and construction services, mining, and energy in Canada and internationally. He has over 10 years experience in technical and engineering recruitment. Prior to joining our team he worked with some of Canada’s leading technical recruitment agencies.

Elizabeth Hughes, BA

Consultant

Elizabeth has some 15 years of experience in executive search. She specializes in clients involved in engineering and construction and international projects and heavy manufacturing. Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of Guelph.

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 the Bedford Consulting Group, 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 The Bedford Consulting Group 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.