DATA Communications Management Corp. Announces Acquisition of Zavy Limited, a SaaS Provider of Social Media Insights and Analytics

Taking an idea from concept to commercialization requires an innate ability to balance opportunity with risk while maintaining a bird’s-eye view of constantly evolving market trends. Jason’s ability to do that, and help clients leverage their potential, is second-to-none.

Greg provides well-rounded oversight of DCM, having led the company from 2016 to 2021 as President and CEO. He now serves as Vice Chairman of the company, bringing his experience in marketing services, communications, event management, and private equity investment to the company and its shareholders.

As an owner of Mariposa Communications earlier in his career, he helped build it into Canada’s largest event company by the time it was sold to Mosaic. Soon after, he became lead investor and director of Pareto Corporation, a marketing services start-up that he helped go public before its sale to a private equity firm. Greg continued his career at VRG Capital, where he served as lead investor and director in a number of public and private companies. In 2016, he joined DCM as an investor and director, becoming President and then CEO. He has held his current role of Vice Chairman since April 2021. Passionate about giving back to Canadian communities, Greg was recognized with Canada’s 125th Commemorative Anniversary medal for volunteerism. He has an MBA from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University.

Arriving with a fresh vision, an appetite for learning and growth, and more than 35 years of experience in general management, customer development and marketing communications, Richard Kellam is well set up to lead DCM into the future. His resume reads like a who’s-who of major brands. Before coming to DCM, Richard was Chief Executive Officer of Advantage Group International, a leading consulting and business development company serving major global enterprises.

Richard’s professional learning began as Brand Manager for Playtex Limited. He took his on-the-job education to higher levels with positions at Robin Hood Multifoods, Molson Breweries, Mars Inc., and The William Wrigley Company. By the time he became Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing at Goodyear, he had earned the leadership expertise and industry reputation to teach a master class. Richard’s formal education was taken at the University of Western Ontario.

 

The first woman in Canada to have led a schedule II bank, Merri brings over 40 years of deep experience in sales & marketing, finance, strategy, and human resources to DCM. Joining the board in 2018, Merri was previously a member of the company’s Advisory Committee. A highly accomplished senior executive, she holds an Institute of Corporate Directors Director (ICD.D) designation from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and currently sits on the board for Leith Wheeler. Since 2016, Merri has been a director of Sentry Investments Inc., where she is head of its HR & Compensation Committee. She previously held senior roles at Fiera Capital, GBC Asset Management, AGF Private Wealth Management, TAL Global Asset Management, and CIBC Trust.

With a rich career spanning 50 years in the commercial brokerage industry, James has always been passionate about helping people put their ideas into action. Currently a Principal and SVP of Lennard Commercial Realty Limited, he joined DCM’s board in June 2016. As SVP and Director of Business Development at Cushman & Wakefield Ltd. Brokerage, James led major assignments across Canada, including the Mississauga and Oakville campuses of Sheridan College, Movati Health Clubs, and the TPCL head office in Calgary. Prior to that, he was the Managing Director and a Partner at J.J. Barnicke. Named “Business Person of the Year” by the Mississauga Board of Trade in 2009, James has received the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee medals and, in 2015, the prestigious Order of Ontario.

James is a member of the Society of Industrial & Office Realtors and is President and Chair of the Hazel McCallion Foundation for Arts, Heritage and Culture. He has also served two six-year terms as a board member and vice chair of the Peel Regional Police Services Board, as well as a 12-year term on the board of governors at Credit Valley Hospital.

With his long and successful career in the newspaper publishing business, Mike brings extensive experience and expertise in print operations management to DCM, where he has served as a director since 2015, and was CEO until 2018. Previously, Mike was President and CEO of Sun Media, and before that, led the formation and eventual public offering of Osprey Media Group. Prior to forming Osprey, Mike was President of Hollinger Canadian Newspapers L.P. and President and CEO of family-owned Armadale Communications.

Most recently, Mike has served as a Managing Director at Beringer Capital, a private equity firm based in Toronto that focuses on the marketing, specialty-media and advertising industries in North America. In addition to Mike’s work at DCM, he is a past Director of Yellow Pages Limited and is involved in a number of not-for-profit organizations, including serving as the former Chairman of the Board of Governors for St. Andrews College in Aurora, Ontario. Mike holds a B. Comm (Honours) from Queen’s University.

Derek joined DCM’s board in 2016, bringing with him a wealth of global experience. Over the past six years, he was consultant and management committee member on the redevelopment of Buttonville Airport land, as well as consultant on a joint venture involving a major shopping centre in Budapest. A lawyer by trade, Derek has extensive executive experience in the real estate industry in Ontario and abroad. Currently a director of Timbercreek Financial Corp., he also served in London, England as Executive Vice President of Canary Wharf plc and Executive Director of TrizecHahn plc.

Derek joined the law firm Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP as a solicitor in 1968, becoming partner two years later. Until 2004, he was a senior advisor to the Paul Reichmann family in Toronto, a capacity in which he served on a seconded basis as Executive Director of Olympia & York Canary Wharf plc. Derek was previously a director of Patheon Inc.

With more than 20 years of experience as a finance professional in capital markets, James knows a thing or two about aligning business and finance strategy. As CFO, James plays a key role in guiding the long-term direction of DCM, providing the proper financial planning, analysis tools, and leadership to the organization. Previously an investment banker, private equity fund advisor, and a senior member of an executive search firm, James is all about collaborating with people to develop and implement capital markets and M&A strategies.

James’ extensive career as an investment banker began at Midland Walwyn Capital (now Bank of America Merrill Lynch), leading small- and mid-cap, high-growth companies. He later co-founded Clarus Securities, a leading Canadian institutional-focused investment dealer, where he served as head of investment banking and as a member of the executive committee. Before joining DCM in 2015, he held a senior role with Ludwig Wessel & Associates, a boutique executive search firm specializing in the capital markets. He also advised a private equity fund and its portfolio companies on debt & equity financings and mergers & acquisitions. James holds an MBA from the Ivey Business School at Western University.

With her keen eye for budding opportunities, Shelly guides market strategy and oversight for DCM’s enterprise business solutions in her role as SVP, North America, Retail & Emerging Markets. Leveraging her strong background in retail, healthcare and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), she is especially active in positioning DCM as a leader in the cannabis space and nurturing partnerships with over a dozen of Canada’s leading cannabis producers. Recently, Shelly’s expertise helped DCM develop a full solution to meet Health Canada’s regulatory labelling requirements.

Arriving with a fresh vision, an appetite for learning and growth, and more than 35 years of experience in general management, customer development and marketing communications, Richard Kellam is well set up to lead DCM into the future. His resume reads like a who’s-who of major brands. Before coming to DCM, Richard was Chief Executive Officer of Advantage Group International, a leading consulting and business development company serving major global enterprises.

With more than 20 years of experience as a finance professional in capital markets, James knows a thing or two about aligning business and finance strategy. As CFO, James plays a key role in guiding the long-term direction of DCM, providing the proper financial planning, analysis tools, and leadership to the organization. Previously an investment banker, private equity fund advisor, and a senior member of an executive search firm, James is all about collaborating with people to develop and implement capital markets and M&A strategies

It takes insight and foresight to assess big-picture challenges and turn them into meaningful opportunities, supported by the right solutions. Sharad is a master of interpreting complex client requirements and market trends, and responding with ideas ground in both evidence and aspiration.

A seasoned IT executive with extensive experience in change management, Patrick knows how to rally a team around a new path forward. As VP, IT Operations since 2009, Patrick is responsible for planning, implementing, upgrading, and maintaining the infrastructure, applications, and cyber-security at DCM. Under Patrick’s leadership, his groups consistently deliver great internal and external customer experiences—ensuring maximum uptime, stability, and security in the company’s computer systems and networks.

When our clients want to get their brand or message out into the marketplace—and when we at DCM want to share our own stories and successes—Barb provides the direction and oversight that ensure the right strategy and resources are in place. Passionate about the power of marketing and communication to inform and incent, Barb makes sure that from first spark to final execution, initiatives progress smoothly, according to plan, with the right DCM technology supporting them.

As VP, People & Culture, Geneviève supports DCM in all aspects of Human Resources, mentoring and motivating team members to grow and flourish personally as much as professionally. With her strategic vision, Geneviève leads her team to proactively align HR goals with the goals of the business, providing consulting expertise on HR issues, recruitment, policies, and procedures. Fueled by empowering positive change, Geneviève continues to hone her communication expertise with the latest HR courses and skill-building programs.

Technology is a tremendous enabler, but only when it truly fits the client’s needs. Karen makes certain DCM’s solutions are fully aligned with those needs, and that, from implementation to ongoing support, our clients are well looked-after.

Balancing the complex supply chains that support a multi-national company like DCM requires deep knowledge and broad oversight. Asem brings plenty of both to the role, building on more than 15 years of experience leading all facets of supply chains, from planning to procurement, to contracts, to inventory management, and logistics. Always looking to increase value for DCM and for our clients, he brings to his role a wealth in business planning, process automation, system integration, and driving efficiency across the organization.

As the person who ultimately ensures the work we do for clients comes to life in the way we’ve promised it will, Christine serves as the bridge connecting Sales and Operations—the person who guides the execution and oversees the quality of complex, national campaigns and programs for some of North America’s biggest brands.

With more than 25 years’ experience in direct marketing and business communications, Christine is, in her words, “extremely solution-oriented”. Her wealth of experience comes from extensive expertise in direct marketing: rolling out innovative client implementations across multiple channels; and integrating advanced digital workflow automation.

As the person who ultimately ensures the work we do for clients comes to life in the way we’ve promised it will, Christine serves as the bridge connecting Sales and Operations—the person who guides the execution and oversees the quality of complex, national campaigns and programs for some of North America’s biggest brands.

With more than 25 years’ experience in direct marketing and business communications, Christine is, in her words, “extremely solution-oriented”. Her wealth of experience comes from extensive expertise in direct marketing: rolling out innovative client implementations across multiple channels; and integrating advanced digital workflow automation.

An award-winning marketer with an exceptional record in business and marketing strategy, Alison is renowned for helping companies differentiate their brands in ways that inspire associates, excite customers, and grow the business. Currently CMO for Key, an innovative Toronto-based technology real estate company, she has held similar roles at Holt Renfrew, TMX Group, and Rogers Communications, as well as building a consultancy specializing in start-ups. She brings to DCM a proven knack for quickly measuring business potential against consumer needs, and driving powerful results.

When our clients are looking for real-world guidance on how technology can improve their businesses, Steve leads the way. An award-winning sales leader with an exceptional track record in enterprise account management and digital transformation, he helps organizations use digital solutions to simplify and modernize complex workflows.

With over 30 years of experience as an investor in, and director of, private equity and public company investments, Kingsley provides incomparable guidance to DCM. He became director of the company in 2014 and Chairman in 2016. Kingsley began his career in 1991 at Vimy Ridge Group Ltd., later serving as President of VRG Capital. He co-founded and was director of Globalive Technology Partners, an AI and blockchain technology company, and also founded IPEC (now Flint Energy Services). Later, he founded Pareto Corp., a marketing services company, and served as Director of PLM Group, a commercial printing and direct marketing company. Now Managing Partner of VRG Capital Corp., he is also Chairman on a number of boards across a wide range of industries including finance, communications, and pharma.

Passionate about giving back to Canadian communities, Kingsley has worked with Polo for Heart, a Heart & Stroke Foundation charity event, for 25 years. He is a co-chair of the Capitalize for Kids board, an investor conference in support of SickKids Hospital, and is a past director of the Special Olympics Canada Foundation. Actively involved in YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization) since 1999, Kingsley has held a number of positions, including chairman of the Ontario chapter and Canadian regional educational officer.