ATB - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Human Resources Committee
- Member of the Board of Directors
Andrew (Andy) Fraser is the former CEO and Executive Chair of NCSG Crane and Heavy Haul and the previous CEO of Camex Equipment Sales and Rentals. During his 30 years of experience with Finning International, he held a variety of executive roles across the company's Canadian and International operations. Andy brings a wealth of executive management experience in sales, marketing, operations and customer relations. Over the past 15 years, Andy has also served as a director on various boards, both locally and internationally, in energy, manufacturing and distribution. He also completed the Directors Education Program at the Institute of Corporate Directors, University of Alberta/Rotman, where he received his ICD.D designation. Andy completed the Stanford Directors' College Program in 2021.
Andy received his BA in Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, majoring in International Trade Theory. He then attended Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC, where he received a Master's in Business Administration with a major in Project Research in Culture Change during Mergers and Acquisitions.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice - Chair of the Board
- Board Vice - Chair / Chair, Audit Committee
Barry James is Vice-Chair of the Board, chairs the Audit Committee and is a member of the Risk Committee. Barry has extensive and comprehensive financial acumen and literacy from his time as a partner at PwC, which included 10 years as managing partner of the Edmonton office. He actively serves on the fiduciary and advisory boards of public and private companies, foundations, Crown corporations and other organizations. He recently retired as the Chief Corporate Development Officer at Lloyd Sadd Navacord Insurance.
Barry received a BCom degree with distinction from the University of Alberta and a CPA designation from the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta and has an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Vice President, Office of the CEO
Camille Weleschuk is a purpose-driven, eternally optimistic and high-achieving member of ATB Financial's Strategic Leadership Team. She serves as the Chief of Staff to the President and CEO and leads the organization's government relations and service excellence teams.
Camille began her career in newsrooms across Alberta, taking complex information and translating it into compelling stories for television and radio. She later advised senior management and elected officials as a member of the Alberta Public Affairs Bureau, serving in the Emergency Operations Centre for the Slave Lake wildfire response and the High River flood response.
In her time at ATB, Camille has led the corporate communications, strategic coordination and economics and research teams, and served as the organization's first-ever Managing Director of Client Obsession. She has been a strategic communicator for nearly 25 years and is strongly committed to mentorship and lifelong learning.
Camille has a Master of Business Administration, is a certified sustainability (ESG) practitioner and is an official member of the Forbes Communications Council. She has served as an ATB Executive Sponsor for the United Way Campaign and was a member of the SingularityU Canada Summit Advisory Board. Camille is a two-time recipient of the Premier of Alberta's Award of Excellence and was a Gold Ribbon Award Finalist with the Canadian Association of Broadcasters.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Group Head, ATB Business & Wealth
As Group Head, ATB Business & Wealth, Chris Turchansky leads teams who support clients in business, corporate banking, capital markets and wealth. He understands the need to put the client at the centre of everything we do at ATB and that an exceptional client experience begins with exceptional team members who take the time to engage clients with intense curiosity, serve them with deep expertise, build trust and deliver value.
Chris' 25-year financial career has been fuelled by a passion for providing clients with advice and solutions fostered through a deep level of engagement. Prior to his current role, his journey at ATB has allowed him to connect with clients across several positions, from the President of ATB Wealth to the Chief Experience Officer.
Having grown up in a small Alberta town, Chris understands and appreciates the province's strong sense of community, and he draws on that life experience to help team members come together. Being Métis, he hopes to continue to promote and support public and private sector partnerships that will improve the economic circumstances and quality of life of Métis people.
Chris holds a Commerce degree from the University of Alberta, an MBA from Athabasca University, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF). He is also on the board of the Hockey Alberta Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
Curtis Stange was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of ATB Financial on June 30, 2018. With courage, disciplined thought and precise action, he leads a team of more than 5,000 team members who are dedicated to ATB's purpose-to make it possible for nearly 800,000 clients and business owners.
With more than 35 years of experience in financial services in Canada, Curtis has led teams across diverse geographic markets and through various economic cycles-always with an inquisitive nature and a desire to get to know the people and places around him. Under his tenure, ATB Financial has grown to become the eighth largest financial institution in the country by assets, providing expert advice and capital to businesses to grow and prosper, with strong expertise and market share in energy, agriculture and real estate. Curtis has helped to shape ATB's client-focused culture-to become a financial partner that's proactive, collaborative and excited to share expertise and explore new ways to bring possibilities to life. Through this dedication, ATB is consistently named as one of the best workplaces in Canada and one of the top financial institutions in the country when it comes to differentiating on client experience through our people.
Before becoming CEO, Curtis held a number of senior leadership roles at ATB Financial, as well as at one of Canada's big five banks. He successfully led large-scale retail, wealth management and commercial banking throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario; headed up a complex and massive conversion of a core banking system; created a new line of business focused on entrepreneurs and served as a Chief Client Officer. If there's one thing that his career has taught him, it's that people are at the heart of everything. Curtis is highly respected for his banking expertise, but more importantly, he is known as a great listener, communicator and committed advocate for team members and clients. In 2023, Curtis was awarded as Canada's Most Admired CEO TM by Waterstone Human Capital.
Curtis is a Stanford alumnus and member of the Alberta Business Council and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Western Executive Council. He also chairs ATB Capital Markets and ATB Investor Services boards, serves on advisory boards for the Edmonton International Airport, Visa Canada and Advancing Women Executives in Western Canada and co-chairs the STARS Air Ambulance board. As a strong advocate for mental health, Curtis is a driving force behind reducing stigma, building peer support and creating psychologically safe and healthy workplaces. He believes deeply in raising the collective well-being of society, both to strengthen our social fabric as well as improve our economic future.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Accountant
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Chief Financial and Strategy Officer
- Financial Service Executive and Corporate Officer
Dan Hugo is an accomplished financial service executive and corporate officer with expertise in financial and commercial business operations, financial planning and reporting, forecasting, expense management, corporate development and strategy.
He was drawn to ATB by our balanced approach to social responsibility and profitability and to our relentless focus on purpose. He believes that ATB's "why" aligns with his own desire to genuinely affect positive change in the lives of Albertans.
Originally from South Africa, Dan is a Chartered Accountant and a Certified Public Accountant who has spent significant time in senior leadership at companies that include Bank of America, Capital One and Ernst & Young. He is actively involved with the fintech community and was a part of eBay at the height of the internet revolution.
Dan earned his reputation as a sage business advisor over 30 years of weighing stakeholder needs against those of the business. He has demonstrated an aptitude for growing businesses and for finding innovative solutions to modern-day business challenges.
He currently sits on the Board of Governors for NorQuest College and is a member of Edmonton's Downtown Recovery Coalition Steering Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Director
- President and CEO of the Alberta Motor Association
Don Smitten worked for 20 years as President and CEO of the Alberta Motor Association and also served as CEO and board member for two AMA subsidiaries: Alberta Motor Association Insurance Company and Bridgewater Bank. He brings a wealth of experience in risk management, strategic planning, organizational culture, growth and purpose from the various executive positions he held during his tenure at AMA.
Don previously served on the board of the Canadian Automobile Association; Travel Systems Technology, LLC and various not-for-profit organizations. He is currently a board member of Excel Society and sits on its Governance Committee.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Governance & Conduct Committee
Rob Logan gained comprehensive experience in all aspects of the finance industry while serving as an executive at both Canadian and US multinational banks. He is the retired CEO of Osprey Informatics, a Calgary-based AI company. Rob brings a unique combination of experience to the Board, having been CEO of two Alberta-based technology companies, an advisor to a small- and medium-sized enterprise acquisition fund and a member of several public and private boards. During his career, Rob's leadership assisted three successful corporate turnarounds, two world-class business builds and the adoption of game-changing AI technologies at Osprey.
Currently, Rob is active as a mentor and investor at Galatea Technologies and in the Alberta technology community. He holds a Jt. Hons. B.Sc. degree from the University of Waterloo, an MBA from the University of Western Ontario and an ICD.D designation.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice President, Administration
- Board of Director
- Chairman of the Alberta Safety Codes Council
Jill Matthew is the Vice President, Administration and Chief Financial Officer at NorQuest College and is its former Chief Customer Experience Officer. She brings comprehensive financial acumen and literacy and a deep understanding of client experience to the Board, which she gained during her 30 years in the private and public sectors.
She has expert knowledge of strategic planning, performance management, risk management, corporate development, customer service and retail energy operations, having served for over 9 years with NorQuest College and 13 years with EPCOR, in various executive roles.
Jill is the Chair of the Alberta Safety Codes Council. She was previously the Chair for the Bissell Centre, the Audit Committee Chair for Athabasca University, and in 2013 she was inducted into the university. She is a CPA, CA, Certified Management Consultant and holds an Institute of Corporate Directors designation.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Jim Davidson cofounded FirstEnergy Capital Corp.-Canada's leading energy-focused investment bank-in 1993 and retired from the organization in 2018. In 2022, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee Award in Alberta. In 2016, he was inducted into the Investment Industry Association of Canada Hall of Fame and was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the Oil & Gas Council. Jim is also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal awarded by the Governor General of Canada.
Under Jim's leadership, FirstEnergy won numerous awards for business leadership and community service. FirstEnergy was recognized as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies and the Best Workplace for Volunteerism and Community Involvement. In 2014, FirstEnergy was awarded the Generosity of Spirit Corporate Philanthropist award during National Philanthropy Week. Jim's stewardship includes tenure as governor of the former Alberta Stock Exchange and sat on the board of trustees of The Fraser Institute.
Joan Hertz chairs ATB Financial's Board of Directors. She previously served as a director at ATB from 2008 to 2018 and as Chair of the Governance and Conduct Review Committee. Joan was previously Interim President and CEO of NorQuest College, and she is currently a corporate commercial lawyer and strategic consultant. She serves as Board Chair for the Edmonton International Airport.
Joan sits as a public member on the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada Board. She also serves on the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute Board, leading research and development of AI, as well as numerous other private company boards.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Senior Executive
- Chief Client Experience and Technology Officer
John Tarnowski is a high-performing senior executive with a talent for growing businesses. Throughout his career, he has led digital transformations, executed complex strategic programs and disrupted conventional thinking to deliver results.
John has spent the last 25 years in the financial services industry. Prior to creating the combined Client Experience and Technology group, John led Everyday Financial Services, where he spent five years streamlining and focusing the business to achieve profitability. He has spent his career transforming digital, payment and financial service experiences by placing the client at the centre of everything he and his team does. He leads change by leveraging creative problem solving and disruptive technologies to help organizations compete and thrive.
As technology evolves to enable new and empowering client experiences, John believes it is important to prepare team members for the future, so they are able to adapt to client needs and expectations, both in-person and digitally. To that end, John is committed to the continuous development of the more than 1,500 team members who are part of the team he leads. As a former competitive ski racing coach, John leads with a strong coaching philosophy, investing in the development of his teams to help them grow as leaders and high-performing collaborators to achieve results.
John has an educational background in investments and economics and currently sits on the Mastercard Canada Advisory Board. Whether he's dealing with high-performance athletes or his teammates at ATB, John takes every opportunity to motivate, inspire and bring out peak performance in everyone he deals with.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Appointed Group Head of Everyday Financial Services
- Group Head, Everyday Financial Services
Lisa McDonald leads the Everyday Financial Services (EFS) team at ATB Financial, leading the more than 1,800 team members who serve ATB's retail and small business clients. Her portfolio is the largest gateway between Albertans and all that ATB has to offer and includes the oversight of over 280 locations and ATB's Client Care team. Lisa's passion for people ensures that clients and team members are at the centre of every decision made in EFS, resulting in a highly engaged workforce and exceptional client experiences.
Prior to being appointed Group Head of Everyday Financial Services, Lisa held the position of Chief Risk Officer (CRO) for ATB, supporting the company's performance through the strategic oversight of risk-taking activity and management of risk and compliance across the organization. In her five years as CRO, Lisa played a key role in managing through a number of crises, including ATB's response to COVID-19 and supporting clients through both the Calgary/High River floods and the Fort McMurray wildfires.
With more than 25 years of professional experience in the banking, oil and gas and pharmaceutical industries, Lisa knows that success is attainable by focusing on client experience, an inclusive workplace culture and clear goals. She holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University and a Bachelor of Business Commerce from Memorial University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Entrepreneur
Manjit Minhas is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist in the liquor industry. She also appears as a television personality on the Canadian reality series Dragons' Den, where she has invested in dozens of Canadian businesses. Manjit's unique experience has given her a range of knowledge in brand development, marketing, sales management and retail negotiation.
Manjit has enjoyed a variety of board experiences and she has a strong connection to Alberta and Canada through her numerous philanthropic endeavours.
Manjit was appointed as the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the Canadian Armed Forces in late 2022.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Risk Committee
- Member of the Board of Directors
Mary Ellen Neilson had a successful career in financial services, where she held various senior executive positions in a national bank with extensive experience in banking, financial services, credit and loan losses. She served on and chaired various boards, committees and organizations. Mary Ellen is an elected senator for the University of Calgary and was a member of the Board of Governors, where she served as vice-chair of the Investment Committee and chair of the Finance and Property Committee. Mary Ellen was an Executive Director at the Association for Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured until early 2020.
Mary Ellen has her BCom from the University of Calgary, her MBA from York University, her CMA and CPA from the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario and Alberta and her ICD.D from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Director
- Executive
- Member of the Board of Directors
Maryse Saint-Laurent is an accomplished executive and corporate director with over 25 years of experience as a business-oriented corporate, transactional and securities lawyer in the energy and resource sectors. Maryse has led several M&A and financing transactions and has a strong governance background. She also possesses over 30 years of direct and indirect experience in human resources, compensation and benefits administration.
Maryse holds a Master of Laws degree in securities and finance from York University's Osgoode Hall Law School. She earned an LLB, BA and certifications in both Human Resources Management and Indigenous Canada from the University of Alberta. She also has an ICD.D designation.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Director
- Business Leader
Michael Kelly is a business leader with over 30 years of experience working with growth-oriented businesses in Canadian and international markets. Michael held various executive roles for Trican Well Service Ltd. from 1997 to 2013. During that time, he helped the company grow from a regional Canadian service company to a global presence, with operations spanning North America, MENA, Australia, Russia and Kazakhstan.
Michael currently chairs the boards of Habitat Life Science and Enersoft Inc., and he has extensive board experience in the private and public sectors, in industries that include oil field services, AgTech, cannabis and digital technology.
Michael is an experienced finance professional who holds a CPA, CA designation and a certified director with an ICD.D designation.
Job Titles:
- Chief Risk Officer
- Member of the Leadership Team
- As Chief Risk Officer
has overall responsibility for ATB Financial's risk management and compliance functions. Renee strongly believes that risk-taking is an important part of any worthy pursuit. She leads risk management professionals with expertise spanning multiple enterprise risk disciplines, including credit, market/liquidity, operational, regulatory compliance, financial crime and strategy. Together, these teams support and elevate organizational performance through expertise and advice, conducting independent oversight of risk-taking and management of risk and compliance activities.
Prior to joining ATB, Renee built finance, risk, compliance and assurance expertise across a variety of industries, at both private and publicly traded companies. She possesses a breadth of knowledge that enables her to drive value across diverse risk disciplines. Renee has empowered ATB's Risk Management team to be innovative, dynamic and insightful, inspiring the organization to challenge the status quo while also cultivating strong risk management practices.
Renee holds Chartered Accountant and Chartered Professional Accountant designations and has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta.
Job Titles:
- Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer & Corporate Secretary
Job Titles:
- Chief People, Culture, Brand and Communications Officer
Job Titles:
- Finance
- Member of the Board of Directors
Wendy Henkelman is a finance professional specializing in the areas of finance, taxation and accounting. She has held leadership positions at Penn West Exploration as Vice President of Treasury and Compliance and served as the executive in charge of tax and royalties at Shell Canada.