Leadership & governance
Leadership & governance
Our experienced management team includes accomplished executives in the financial industry.
President
and
Chief Executive Officer
Paul Leonard
Mr. Leonard is a financial services executive with over 30 years of specialized experience in launching and growing Canadian retail banks that challenge traditional banking models. As President and CEO of Wealth One Bank, he leads the strategic direction of one of Canada’s fastest-growing Schedule 1 banks. His proven track record includes serving as CFO of CFF Bank, a Canadian Schedule 1 bank with approximately $1.5 billion in loans under administration, providing direct experience with Canadian banking regulation and OSFI oversight.
Mr. Leonard was instrumental in building the Ally Bank brand in Canada across savings, automobile loans, and mortgage assets before its acquisition by Royal Bank of Canada. His foundational experience as Chief Financial Officer of ING DIRECT (now Tangerine Bank) demonstrates his ability to build innovative direct-to-consumer banking platforms within Canada’s regulatory framework. His expertise spans all aspects of building and scaling financial institutions in the Canadian market, from regulatory approval through operational excellence.
Mr. Leonard is a Certified Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto.
Chief Financial Officer
Michael Koshan
Mr. Koshan has over 25 years of experience as a financial services executive in roles across finance, treasury and capital markets within regulated financial institutions, alternative finance companies and fintech organizations. As Chief Financial Officer of Wealth One Bank, he oversees all financial operations, risk management, and strategic planning for the Schedule 1 bank. His expertise spans financial reporting, risk management, financial planning and analysis, and balance sheet management across both public and private markets.
Prior to joining Wealth One Bank, Mr. Koshan served as CFO at Nuula and as CFO and Treasurer at Dealnet Capital, where he helped execute the successful recapitalization and restructuring of the company leading to a value maximizing sale. He also spent 11 years at HSBC Treasury and Capital Markets, building out their Canadian securitization funding capabilities. His experience includes managing complex financial transactions, regulatory reporting, and capital optimization strategies across diverse financial services platforms.
Mr. Koshan is a Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Accountant and holds the Partner, Director & Senior Officer (PDO) designation from the Canadian Securities Institute, along with undergraduate degrees from both the University of Windsor (BComm) and Queen’s University (BA).
Chief Operating Officer
Barry Ferguson
Mr. Ferguson is a seasoned financial services executive with over 30 years of experience in senior leadership roles across Canada’s banking and wealth management sectors. As Chief Operating Officer of Wealth One Bank, he oversees strategy, operations, IT, and cybersecurity while also serving as the Bank’s Chief Marketing Officer with responsibility for brand, product, corporate partnerships, sales, and distribution. His diverse portfolio reflects his comprehensive understanding of all aspects of banking operations and customer experience.
Mr. Ferguson’s distinguished career includes serving as Senior Vice President at Qtrade Financial Group, VP at HomEquity Bank, VP at Computershare Trust, and Regional Head & Senior Director at CIBC Retail Banking, Wealth & Asset Management. His industry track record also encompasses working as a management consultant advising senior business leaders on strategy and execution across various financial services organizations.
Mr. Ferguson holds the Partner, Director & Senior Officer (PDO), Fellow, Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI) and Fellow, Institute of Canadian Bankers (FICB) designations from the Canadian Securities Institute. He has studied Leadership, Strategic Thinking and Business Transformation at some of the leading executive education institutions in the U.S. and Canada. Mr. Ferguson regularly serves on industry advisory boards and fundraising committees.
Chief Risk Officer
Paul Akey
Mr. Akey is a financial services executive with over 25 years of credit and risk management experience. As Chief Risk Officer at Wealth One Bank, he oversees all aspects of credit, treasury, and operational risk management for the Schedule 1 bank. His expertise spans the full suite of banking products, and he has effectively managed risk through multiple economic cycles.
Prior to joining Wealth One Bank, Mr. Akey spent over 20 years with Scotiabank in leadership roles across three business lines including mortgages, credit cards, and indirect automotive lending. His experience encompassed risk management, finance, sales and service, with over 10 years specifically focused on risk management for Canadian consumer and small business lending. Mr. Akey also serves as Treasurer of the Credit Scoring and Risk Strategy Association, a not-for-profit organization devoted to the advancement of consumer and small business lending with focus on credit risk management processes, governance, predictive modeling, and fraud management.
Mr. Akey holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Guelph and an MBA from Dalhousie University. He is active in his community and serves on several advisory boards.
Chief Credit Officer
Caterina Vlahos
Ms. Vlahos is a financial services executive with close to 20 years of experience, specializing in real estate and secured lending, underwriting, mortgage processing, risk management, business development and retail/digital banking. As Chief Credit Officer at Wealth One Bank, she oversees all credit adjudication, underwriting standards, and credit risk management for the bank’s lending portfolio. Her multi-functional expertise enables her to drive strategic credit initiatives while maintaining rigorous risk management standards.
Prior to her role at Wealth One Bank, Ms. Vlahos served as Vice President, Credit Risk Management at Atrium Mortgage Investment Corporation, where she was responsible for portfolio risk oversight and credit policy development. She also worked at Scotiabank in various senior capacities, including Director, ACE Credit Adjudication and Director, Risk at Scotia Mortgage Authority Risk Management. Her expertise encompasses both traditional and alternative lending solutions, with particular strength in real estate financing and secured lending products.
Ms. Vlahos holds an MBA in Digital Transformation from McMaster University DeGroote School of Business.
Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Privacy Officer, and Chief Anti-Money Laundering Officer
Dan Ruch
VP, Technology & Cybersecurity
Hossein Fasihi
Mr. Fasihi is an Information Technology and financial services operations executive with over 25 years of progressive experience leading enterprise and solutions architecture, data risk management, and cybersecurity teams. As VP, Technology & Cybersecurity at Wealth One Bank, he oversees all technology infrastructure, cybersecurity protocols, and digital transformation initiatives that support the bank’s operational excellence and regulatory compliance.
Prior to joining Wealth One Bank, Mr. Fasihi served as VP of IT and Operations at Oxford Properties, one of the world’s largest real estate investment companies, where he managed complex technology systems and operational processes. He previously held senior IT roles at Scotiabank spanning over two decades, including Director, Enterprise Operations and Technology, where he was responsible for critical banking systems, operational risk management, and technology strategy implementation.
Mr. Fasihi holds a Bachelor of Computer Hardware Engineering and numerous industry accreditations, including Microsoft Certified Professional and Certified Application Developer. He will be ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) in 2025.
Director, Marketing
Amy He
Ms. He is a seasoned marketing professional with over 13 years of experience in strategic marketing, brand development, and digital communications across finance, technology, and consumer goods industries. Since January 2024, she has served as Marketing Director ad Wealth One Bank, where she leads strategic marketing initiatives to elevate brand visibility and support business growth for one of Canada’s fastest-growing banks. Her expertise encompasses creating innovative marketing strategies, fostering client engagement, and enhancing overall customer experience through compelling narratives and data-driven insights.
Ms. He has been with Wealth One Bank since November 2018, progressing through roles as Senior Marketing Specialist and Marketing Manager before her current appointment. In her previous role as Marketing Manager, she oversaw comprehensive marketing planning and budgeting, specializing in multi-channel marketing strategies to enhance brand awareness and drive lead generation. Prior to joining Wealth One Bank, Ms. He worked at leading global consulting agencies Ketchum and Hill+Knowlton Strategies, where she managed high-impact campaigns for international clients.
Ms. He holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Director, Banking Operations
James Page
Mr. Page is a seasoned financial professional with over 40 years of experience in the banking industry, specializing in operational efficiency, risk management, and business effectiveness. Since March 2022, he has served as Director of Operations at Wealth One Bank of Canada, where he is responsible for overseeing all operational functions of the bank.
Prior to joining Wealth One Bank, Mr. Page served as Director of Member Experience and Financial Services at OPPA Credit Union, where he led the oversight and growth of sales and service functions while managing a team of Financial Advisors and Associates. He spent 36 years at CIBC in progressively senior roles, including Regional Director for Business Effectiveness, where he was a member of the Regional Senior Leadership team overseeing risk and operations for 115 Banking Centres in the GTA market. As National Director Risk Management for Imperial Service, Retail and Wealth Management, he led strategic business programs across over 200 Imperial Service Centres nationwide.
Mr. Page’s extensive career provides him with comprehensive knowledge of retail banking operations, compliance requirements, and strategic implementation.
Board Chair
John Webster
John Webster has served in senior leadership roles at Bank of Nova Scotia and Maple Trust Company. His leadership in the Canadian regulated financial services industry spans over 37 years, including roles as President and CEO of Scotia Mortgage Authority and from 1989 at Maple Trust (previously London Trust), where he successfully navigated its acquisition by Scotiabank and integration with their mortgage operations in 2006.
Mr. Webster’s industry and governance expertise includes directorships at Manulife Bank of Canada, Manulife Trust Company, Scotia Mortgage Authority, and Maple TrustCo, as well as Cargojet Inc. and Dundee Financial Corp. As a founding member of the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals (CAAMP) and member of the Law Society of Ontario, Mr. Webster has made significant contributions to shaping Canadian financial services standards.
Mr. Webster holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) from Wilfrid Laurier University, and both Bachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L.) and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degrees from McGill University.
Board Member
Daniel Burns
Daniel Burns serves as director and principal of several private software companies and is Chair of CubicFarm Systems Corp. His extensive experience in Canadian financial services includes leadership roles as former Board Chair of Central 1, Credit Union Central of Canada (CUCC), and the World Body for Credit Unions and financial cooperatives (WOCCU).
His financial services board experience includes Coast Capital Savings, the Cooperators Insurance Group, and Addenda Capital Inc., along with advisory roles at the Desjardins Group. This experience encompasses regulatory compliance, risk management, and strategic oversight across diverse financial services sectors. He is a former director of the Nature Conservancy of Canada and current director of the Conservation Angler (US).
Mr. Burns is both a lawyer (Law Society of British Columbia) and accountant (CPA, Ontario), with specialized governance training through the ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program (ICD.D), the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ International Company Directors Program, and the Audit Committee Certified Designation (A.C.C.) from Directors College.
Board Member
Jason Cave
Jason Cave is Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for Mr. Cooper Group, where he leads strategic engagement on legislative, regulatory, and policy priorities. Mr. Cave brings 30 years of regulatory and financial services expertise to the Board, having served in senior leadership roles at the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
As an architect of the post-financial crisis reform agenda, he led critical operations and contributed to international regulatory frameworks through the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and Financial Stability Oversight Council initiatives.
His specialized experience includes managing the Conservatorships of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, providing deep expertise in financial institution oversight, crisis management, and regulatory compliance that translates directly to Canadian banking oversight.
Mr. Cave holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Bryant University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder.
Chair, Governance, Conduct Review and Human Resources Committee
Member, Risk Committee
Tuula Jalasjaa
Tuula Jalasjaa joined the Wealth One Board in 2021 and provides leadership for core Board Committee responsibilities. She has 25 years of Canadian and international banking experience, including senior executive roles at Scotiabank and HollisWealth/HollisBank, honing a deep understanding of Canadian financial services regulation and operations. Her entrepreneurial experience includes founding The Women’s Collection, a female focused, comprehensive financial literacy and investment program designed to empower and engage women who want financial freedom and independence.
Ms. Jalasjaa’s governance experience spans multiple boards, bringing expertise in financial services oversight and regulatory compliance. Her academic credentials include an International MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario. She holds both the CFA designation and the ICD.D. from the ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program.
Chair, Audit Committee
and Member, Risk,
And Credit Review Committees
Alfred Lau
Alfred Lau joined the Wealth One Board in 2019 and is the founder and co-leader of a private equity firm with operations spanning Vancouver, Hong Kong, and Beijing, bringing expertise in building and scaling financial services businesses across international markets. His 35-year career as a partner at KPMG included senior leadership roles across global markets, with specialized experience as co-leader of the audit practice in Beijing and co-leader of the China Practice in Canada. As Audit Engagement Partner for multinational Fortune 500 companies, TSX-listed companies, and Chinese enterprises, Mr. Lau has developed extensive expertise in financial services regulation, risk management, and compliance across multiple jurisdictions. His fluency in Mandarin and Cantonese, combined with deep understanding of Canadian and Chinese business environments, provides valuable perspective for international banking operations and regulatory requirements.
Board Member
Simon Lockie
Simon Lockie is a corporate M&A lawyer, in-house counsel, entrepreneur, investor and business operator. He has been with the Globalive group of companies since 2005, primarily as Chief Legal Officer, a role he took on after practising at a leading Canadian transactional law firm.
He was integral in helping Globalive become a leading Canadian telecommunications company, including founding and launching WIND Mobile, where he was the Chief Regulatory Officer responsible for the overall direction of their regulatory strategies, government affairs, antitrust matters and carrier relations. He was Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association’s International Corporate Counsel Committee from 2011 to 2013, and for three consecutive years was recognized by the Canadian General Counsel Association as one of Canada’s top five young in-house counsel.
Mr. Lockie holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) from University of Toronto and obtained his LL.B. from McGill University.
Board Member
Matthew McGrath
Matthew McGrath serves as President and CEO of Optimize Financial Group, where he has successfully founded and scaled a national financial services business since 2009. With over 25 years of experience in the Canadian financial services industry, he brings expertise in wealth management, asset management, and strategic financial planning, with deep understanding of regulatory requirements and business development in the Canadian market.
Prior to founding Optimize, Mr. McGrath held senior leadership roles at RBC Dominion Securities, including Executive Council Vice President, where he gained extensive experience in financial services operations, compliance, and client relationship management. His track record demonstrates proven ability to build and scale financial services operations within Canada's regulatory framework.
Mr. McGrath holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from Queen’s University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder.
Board Member
Gary Selke
Gary Selke serves as President of Cypress Hill Capital, an investment banking advisory services firm, and was co-founder and CEO of Front Street Capital for over 20 years, demonstrating extensive experience in building and operating financial services businesses. His expertise in investment management and strategic advisory services provides deep understanding of capital markets and financial institution operations.
His governance and regulatory oversight experience includes serving on the board of Northern Trust Company of Canada from 2012-2019, where he served as Audit and Risk Committee Chair, providing direct experience with Canadian financial institution oversight, regulatory compliance, and risk management. His board service spans numerous charitable, foundation, and for-profit organizations, demonstrating his commitment to governance excellence.
Mr. Selke holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with specialized expertise in corporate restructuring.
President
and
Chief Executive Officer
Paul Leonard
Mr. Leonard is a financial services executive with over 30 years of specialized experience in launching and growing Canadian retail banks that challenge traditional banking models. His proven track record includes serving as CFO of CFF Bank, a Canadian Schedule 1 bank with approximately $1.5 billion in loans under administration, providing direct experience with Canadian banking regulation and OSFI oversight.
Mr. Leonard was instrumental in building the Ally Bank brand in Canada across savings, automobile loans, and mortgage assets before its acquisition by Royal Bank of Canada. His foundational experience as Chief Financial Officer of ING DIRECT (now Tangerine Bank) demonstrates his ability to build innovative direct-to-consumer banking platforms within Canada’s regulatory framework. His expertise spans all aspects of building and scaling financial institutions in the Canadian market, from regulatory approval through operational excellence.
Mr. Leonard is a Certified Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto.
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