DARREN KRISSIE

CEO & Founder

Darren is a senior level executive with over 30+ years’ experience in corporate strategy, operations management, corporate finance, M&A business development, and sales / marketing. He has a diverse background in industries including his current role as President and General Manager of GT Metal Products. Prior to this position, he was Co-founder / Executive Vice-President and CFO of Planet Organic Health Corporation.

Darren is born and raised in Alberta, and is acclimatized to our economic shifts throughout his tenure. His experience working in our economy over the years has strengthened his resiliency and success in setting and achieving revenue, profit and market growth objectives. 

Furthermore, Darren is results focused, with proven ability to effectively contribute to strategic initiatives, promote the internal control framework and provide financial advice.

Major Accomplishments:

Planet Organic:

• Co-founded Planet Organic Health Corporation (POHC) operating at Planet Organic Markets, acting as Executive Vice-President and CFO.

• Led POHC through its “Initial Public Offering (IPO)” on the TSX as a “Venture” company in 2000 and in 2005 becoming one of the top 50 publicly traded companies on the TSX-V in Canada.

• Grew company from one location doing $1.6M/year revenue to one of the top 10 natural market companies in North America with five divisions (Planet Organic Market, Mrs. Green’s, Health’s, Sangster’s, Trophic), with annual revenue in excess of $120M and $6.0M of EBITDA. 

• Led and negotiated all acquisitions including our cross border (U.S.) acquisition of Mrs. Green’s. This included all contact with vendors, legal discussions/negotiations, financial review and cross border tax implications with PWC’s tax team.

• Left Planet Organic in 2012 after successfully bringing in a private equity firm Catalyst Capital.

GT Metal Products Ltd. :

• Acquired GT Metal Products in May 2012.

Dave LeMoine

VP Business Development & Integration

Dave is a senior executive, business owner, with 30+ years experience and a proven track record of successfully leading, transforming, integrating and restructuring regional businesses.

He is an expert in recruiting, developing and motivating top professional sales talent to overachieve plan.

Major Accomplishments:

• He’s worked in organizations with annual revenues ranging from $10M to $250M, with EBITBA up to $30M.

• Dave has extensive sales and executive leadership experience with manufacturing and distribution companies.

• He has created energized cross-functional teams by mentoring and empowering people that drive results.

JENNIFER fernets

Human Resources & Business Manager

With 20+ years’ experience in office and organizational management, Jennifer has experience in diverse industries such as oil and gas, professional services, and television/media. Jennifer’s experience ranges from office and operations management, executive support, change management and human resources. She has worked in small to large corporations, and has strong leadership skills in organizational change management.

Major Accomplishments:

• Leading teams and employees through acquisitions, including integration of new systems and software’s, processes and organizational development;

• Worked with a number of C-Level Executives in the change management of operational and organizational changes in large corporations;

• Managed and was accountable for all employee transactions, facilities management and contract negotiations in transitions and business mergers.

KEVIN GRAINGER

Advisor/Qualitative Solutions

Throughout his career Kevin has had the unique privilege of working with some of the top business researchers, practitioners, and thought leaders in North America in helping even the most ordinary of companies achieve extraordinary results. Clients have found his custom solutions to be not only insightful, but highly practical as well having worked across the globe in all types and sizes of organizations. His most recent work has been alongside elite special forces members and capturing their knowledge and experience to improve corporate teams. He is passionate about bringing new competitive advantages to companies that have an overwhelming desire to succeed.

Major Accomplishments:

• Helped a new and underfunded medical services company enter a highly-competitive and well-capitalized field of competitors and take lead position in under 7 months.

• Successfully merged two 125-employee, bitter-rival companies in 1/3 the time that was quoted by larger, more established M&A firms. 

• Helped a large financial services company with annual revenue of $300M achieve a 40% increase in sales growth and over 80% reduction in staff turnover in under two years.

DR. GORDON MACLEoD

Advisor/Operational Strategy

Dr. MacLeod is an accomplished and published researcher, who has worked in various countries around the world. He holds a Ph.D. in Astrophysics and an MBA which launched his career in managing, conceptualizing and consulting on various projects in Latin America and Southern Africa. Dr. MacLeod’s biggest assets to SKYWARD is his unwavering research abilities, experience in managing and resuscitating troubled businesses and full absorption cost accounting.

Major Accomplishments:

• BSc in Physics with honours / PhD Astronomy / MBA

• Chief Technical Officer developing a business model and financing for a 100MW PV (photovoltaic) Solar Park in addition to costing models for PV farms from 100kW to 300MW including technology comparison analysis.

• Technical Advisor and concept development on the Kilimanjaro Telescope project.

• Operations & project management and two facilities overseas including re-tooling and improving production.