Leo Desrochers
Chairman
Prior to joining the Sempa board, Leo had an extensive career in the airline and tourism industry in which he held a number of executive positions. He was the COO of Skyservice Airlines, President and CEO of the North American Leisure Group, President and CEO of Sunquest Vacations, and COO at Air Canada. He has led negotiations for the acquisition and financing of several companies in the airline and tour operator industries. Currently, Leo is providing strategic planning advice to clients in the hotel and business jet sectors.
Richard Black
Richard Black is a General Partner of The Walsingham Fund and is a seasoned venture capitalist with 17 years of experience in senior roles with two of Canada's largest VC firms: Helix Investments and RBC Capital Partners. He has an outstanding track record in the Canadian venture capital industry having led investments in such success stories as: Open Text, Architel Systems, LogicVision, CRS Robotics, ESI Entertainment, and Syndesis. He has been actively involved in a full range of growth and liquidity issues for investee companies including building management teams, arranging syndicates for first round and follow-on investments, building Boards, initiating issuer bids, and completing public issues and divestitures. Mr. Black joined Helix Investments, Canada's oldest venture capital firm, in 1991. Over the course of the next five years, Richard played a key role in growing Helix into the largest and most successful private VC firm in Canada (Architel Systems, Corel, Data Mirror, The Enfield Corporation, Geac Computer, Hummingbird Communications, Mitel, Open Text, and Veritas). In 2001, Richard joined RBC Capital Partners and he was responsible for the management of the Technology Venture Fund, a venture capital fund with $ 210 million in committed capital. Richard founded The Walsingham Fund in 2004.
Ron Dizy
Sempa is led by Ron Dizy. A veteran of high-growth technology companies, Mr. Dizy most recently served as a partner at Celtic House Venture Partners, one of Canada's leading venture capital firms. Prior to joining Celtic House, Mr. Dizy served as a portfolio manager in the venture capital group at the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and co-founded Altera Systems, a consulting firm focused on business applications of artificial intelligence.
Malcolm Metcalfe
Malcolm Metcalfe is a Professional Engineer with over 30 years experience. Malcolm attended UBC between 1963 and 1970. He received Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Electrical Engineering, the latter specializing in Power Systems. After a short stint in Toronto, Malcolm returned to live in Vancouver and work with BC Hydro.
In 1981, Malcolm left BC Hydro to join Shell Canada in Toronto. Working for Shell he was appointed Executive Director of the Governor Generalís First Canadian Study Conference, a legacy project that was initiated by the Rt Hon Ed Schreyer, when he was Governor General of Canada. Following the conference, he returned to Shell, working as a Strategy Manager area for one of the chemical business units.
In 1984, Mr. Metcalfe returned to Vancouver, this time, employed by CP Air. For much of his time at the airline, he was responsible for starting and managing a new Environment department.
In 1999, Malcolm left the airline planning to retire and consult. That same year, he was recognized by Queen Elizabeth, who made him a Lieutenant of the Victorian Order (LVO). This was in recognition of some charitable work.
In 2003, Malcolm and two colleagues started Sempa Power Systems. That company focused on saving money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, rather than saving energy. This has resulted in some interesting projects. His company now has several patents pending and annual sales of more than $4M.
