ABOUT US
| Diane Armstrong | Robert Millward |
| Lee Davidson | Sandy Somers |
| Gary McCracken |
Diane Armstrong
416.363.8900 x226
diane@mccracken-partners.com
A veteran of the search industry since 1995, Diane has been a key member of the McCracken & Partners team for many years and a Partner since 2009.
In her capacity as Partner in charge of Research and Execution, Diane leads the research, candidate identification and candidate development phases of each assignment, ensuring the balance between thorough, but timely, assignment execution is maximized at all times. She has extensive experience across virtually all executive and senior management positions in a wide range of settings and industries, in particular financial organizations including investment management firms, banks, insurance companies and pension plans. For a number of years, Diane was a Senior Team Leader with a major Bank's internal search and recruitment arm.
Diane's first career – and first love – was Healthcare, having trained as an RN at Toronto’s highly regarded Wellesley School of Nursing, where she received the Bruce Pin for highest achievement. Diane practiced for eight years in intensive care and emergency units in a number of teaching hospitals, principally as a Charge Nurse in the Medical and Coronary ICU at Wellesley Hospital in downtown Toronto.
In her spare time, Diane is one of Toronto's most experienced fitness instructors. For over a decade, she has taught 7:00 AM fitness classes and, more recently, duathalon training and other specialty programs at well-known fitness clubs throughout downtown Toronto. As if all of this is not enough, Diane is also an avid runner, has completed an extensive 400-hour, Yoga Teacher Training program and is in the process of completing an equally impressive Pilates Teacher Training certification. Make no mistake about it, Diane is extremely organized, highly disciplined and very, very fit.
Gary McCracken
416.363.8900 x222
gary@mccracken-partners.com
A broadly experienced search consultant, Gary has successfully led and executed numerous search assignments for CEO's, CFO's and virtually all other "C" level executive positions - as well as their direct reports - across a broad range of industries and organizations, both large and small. In particular, he has extensive experience in financial services, having successfully executed search assignments for senior professionals in merchant & investment banking firms, pension funds and investment management firms. He has recruited entire Boards of Directors and inaugural CEO's for newly created entities and enjoyed success recruiting senior executives in both private sector organizations, as well as senior public sector roles.
Prior to entering the search industry in 1995, Gary's career was in banking, first with Royal Bank of Canada, followed by Barclays Bank of Canada. In his last role as Executive Vice President, Gary ran Barclays’ principal Canadian business, mid-market focused wholesale banking and related services, operating in eleven (11) offices in major cities across Canada.
Beyond his search and other business-related activities, Gary is active in community service. He currently serves on the Board of the Alzheimer Society of Toronto, where he is also a member of the Executive Committee, Chair of the Nominating & Governance Committee and Secretary of the Society itself. Gary is also a past Director of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Toronto and long-standing member and supporter of the Down Syndrome Association of Toronto.
Gary holds an MBA from the Ivey School of Business, as well as a Bachelors degree in Economics and Business from The University of Western Ontario.
Gary lives with his wife and son in mid-town Toronto, where he indulges a range of interests including music, political & public affairs, and pretty much everything related to Formula 1.
Robert Millward
416.363.8900 x300
robert@mccracken-partners.com
As an Associate Partner, Bob keeps us abreast of planning, development and urban design related activities and issues, as well as advising on related search assignments and initiatives. He is also the founder and principal of R. E. Millward & Associates, a respected consulting firm providing development and planning services to investors, developers, businesses, municipal governments and community groups.
Prior to founding R. E. Millward & Associates in 1997, Bob was Commissioner of Planning and Development for the City of Toronto from 1987 to 1996, in which capacity he was actively involved in all aspects of policy formulation, project management and economic development in Toronto. During his term as Commissioner, Bob was Toronto’s chief staff negotiator and strategist, successfully dealing with zoning by-law issues at the conceptual, administrative, political and technical levels in conjunction with major development projects such as BCE Place, the CBC Centre, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and the Air Canada Centre.
Bob also served as Director of the Central Core and Waterfront Division of the former Toronto Planning and Development Department, Director of Planning for the Toronto Housing Department, Director of Planning for Staten Island, New York City, and other positions within the New York City Department of Planning and Development.
A long-time member of the Canadian Institute of Planners, in 2007 Bob was elevated to Fellow status (FCIP) - the highest honour that can be bestowed by the Institute - in recognition of his outstanding career which, in the words of the Institute, has seen achievements with “professional implications Canada-wide and beyond.” Bob is also a Full Member of the Washington, DC based Urban Land Institute (ULI) and an active contributor to the Toronto Board of Trade where he is a member of the Infrastructure Committee and a past Chair of the Planning and Development Committee.
Bob holds a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from New York University and a BA from the University of Rochester, N. Y.
One of the busiest consultants in Toronto, it only seems like Bob is everywhere at once. He does, in fact, have a personal life which he spends with his wife and family, both in and around Toronto and on their varied travels as accomplished and enthusiastic urban explorers.
Sandy Somers
416.363.8900 x227
sandy@mccracken-partners.com
A Partner since 2008, Sandy possesses a strong personal background in Sales, Marketing and General Management. An executive search generalist, Sandy's search focus is to help CEO's, other "C" level executives and their direct reports recruit the best available talent to their results-focused executive teams.
Prior to the executive search industry, Sandy was a successful and broadly experienced executive in the packaged goods industry. His last corporate position, as a divisional President of Canada's largest producer and marketer of wine and related products, capped a 25-year career of progressively senior roles with such well-known and highly regarded organizations as Campbell Soup Company Limited, Canada Bread Company Limited, Parmalat Canada and Vincor International Inc. Within each of these organizations, Sandy led business turnarounds and managed corporate and divisional mergers, integrations and restructurings, all the while building strong management teams committed to achieving outstanding results.
Sandy's considerable operating experience and tactical insight provide a unique perspective on the challenges involved in building winning teams, including identifying the necessary ingredients for goal attainment and business success.
Over the course of his career, Sandy has served on a number of committees within various industry associations. He now serves on the Economic Development Committee of the Toronto Board of Trade and is a Director (and former Vice Chair) of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Toronto, having been continuously active in the organization since 1996. Sandy holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario.
Sandy lives with his wife and their two very special daughters only blocks from his childhood home in North Toronto. In his spare time, Sandy can often be found pursuing his love of the outdoors on the ski hills of Collingwood, the bicycle trails of Toronto, or the green grass of the Toronto Golf Club.
Lee Davidson
416.363.8900 x221
lee@mccracken-partners.com
With a B. A. in English, French and Education, followed by a Masters degree in English - not to mention two years of law school - Lee’s strong written and oral communication skills are valued assets to the firm. In addition to her role as our resident grammarian and copy editor, Lee maintains the firm’s 20,000+ person database, coordinates schedules, choreographs interviews and manages a myriad of administrative matters integral to the smooth operation of the office.
Prior to joining McCracken & Partners in 2005, Lee contributed her office administration skills to a wide variety of industries, including publishing, law, computer hardware, software development and management consulting.
Beyond her role as office 'chatelaine', Lee is an avid walker, a determined solver of crossword puzzles and a long-time, enthusiastic fan of live traditional jazz.