CHANTIER DAVIE CANADA - Key Persons
Alban Fournier has been CFO since 2020. He is an international leader with 24 years of experience in all aspects of the finance function, including strategic, corporate, business partnering and controllership. As CFO, Alban heads a function that is increasingly central to the Davie business. Throughout his career, he has led large teams and achieved world-class efficiency and effectiveness. Alban has also successfully driven major business and finance transformations. Before Davie, he spent over 20 years with Rio Tinto, the world's second-largest mining company. He held positions of increasing seniority across three continents. Alban holds a Master's in Finance and Economics.
Job Titles:
- Director of Federal Government Projects
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice - President, Human Resources
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice - President, Marine Programs and Operations Support Services
Bill Hives has been with Davie since 2016. He has 30 years of experience in the marine industry. He is responsible for the CCG's Medium Icebreaker program as well as company-wide operations support services. This includes supply chain, quality assurance, quality control, document control, occupational health, safety, industrial security and the environment. After beginning his career at sea, Bill worked with leading oil and gas companies in senior engineering, operations and project management roles around the world. Bill has advanced qualifications in Project Management, Industrial Measurement, Process Control and Marine Engineering.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
- President of Davie
James Davies has been President of Davie since 2012 adding the role of CEO in 2019. Previously, he held the additional role of CFO from 2012 until 2018. He is also a founding partner and President of Davie owners, the Inocea Group. James has overseen the transformation of Davie, executing a strategy jointly conceived nearly a decade and a half ago with Inocea co-founder, Alex Vicefield. James was previously CEO of a maritime-focused investment advisory in London. He has also served as Finance Director for a private investor group with significant maritime holdings. Among many other aspects of the shipbuilding industry, James also has expert knowledge of ship finance, both during the construction and post-delivery phases. James is a qualified accountant and holds a Bachelor in Accounting and Finance.
Job Titles:
- Davie As Vice President, Business Development
- Vice - President, Business Development
Jason Reid joined Davie as Vice President, Business Development in 2023. He comes from a submarine heritage having served as an engineer in the Royal Navy for 26 years with a focus on tactical operations and training. After teaching international senior military officers leadership in southeast Asia for three years, his last naval appointment was as senior program manager for the UK Continuous at Sea Deterrence. On removing his uniform, he found his flair for winning business and commercial strategy in not only the naval and commercial maritime industries but also in aerospace and advanced manufacturing. Jason is a Chartered Engineer and holds a Master's degree in Defence Studies.
Jim Shepherd has been Chief Operating Officer since 2021. Jim's responsibilities cover all shipbuilding operations and projects at Davie. With 25 years of experience in offshore/shipbuilding, Jim has served in a variety of senior roles across Canada and began his career on the East Coast of Canada. Before returning to Canadian shipbuilding with Davie, Jim spent a decade in senior positions in the oil and gas sector in Western Canada and the United States for leading companies such as Wood, SNC-Lavalin and Amec Foster Wheeler. Jim holds a Bachelor in Commerce from Saint Mary's University, Nova Scotia.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice - President, Programs
Kenneth was appointed to his current role in 2021 and is accountable for ensuring the leadership and management of the shipyard's ongoing programs and ensuing projects. His association with Davie Shipbuilding began in 2017 when he joined the company as Project Director. Kenneth led the delivery of groundbreaking dual-fuel ferries to the Société des Traversiers du Québec. Now, as Davie embarks on multi-year, multi-ship construction programs, Kenneth brings decades of seagoing, shipbuilding, marine systems design and worldwide project management experience. For example, he led major offshore and drill ship construction programs internationally including in Singapore, South Korea and China. Kenneth is certified as a First-Class Marine Engineer.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice - President, Strategic Development
Lindsey Kettel has been with Davie since 2015. Her original mandate was to ensure Davie's business processes supported the delivery of MV Asterix to the Royal Canadian Navy. Since then, Lindsey's scope of responsibility has steadily increased. Today, she leads transformational projects and initiatives, including National Shipbuilding Strategy negotiations, research initiatives and the industrial technological benefits (ITB) program. Lindsey has been focused on the marine construction, conversion and repair industry since 2012. Before joining Davie, Lindsey has worked with Babcock Canada and Seaspan Shipyards. Lindsey holds a Bachelor of Engineering & Management and an Executive MBA.
Marc Babinski joined Davie in 2014, with already over 25 years of experience in law practice. Marc was admitted to the bar in 1989 and became one of Canada's leading lawyers, focused on offering strategic advice on commercial matters. He was the regional head of corporate commercial law for Canada's largest law firm, Borden Ladner Gervais. He has also worked with a great variety of corporate clients, ranging from small and medium-sized business (SMBs) owners to chief financial officers, venture-backed CEOs, venture capital and private equity fund managers, in-house counsel and leaders of professional associations and sports governing bodies.
Job Titles:
- Vice - President, Shipyard Upgrade and Integration
Pascale joined Davie in December 2022. In her role as Vice-President Shipyard Upgrade and Integration, Pascale is responsible for the shipyard facilities expansion and the integrated improvement implementation in the context of the National Shipbuilding Strategy. Pascale brings more than twenty years of experience in the planning and strategic execution of major projects in Canada and internationally. She held senior positions on multi-billion valued projects for leading companies in the engineering and construction industry. Pascale is a registered Mechanical Engineer, member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec and holds a master's in engineering management.
Job Titles:
- Chief Communications Officer
Paul Barrett has been CCO since 2021 and is responsible for Davie's reputation and key relationships. With 25+ years of experience in government and public affairs, mergers, acquisitions and crisis management, Paul has positioned corporate transactions in multiple industries worth over US$100 bn. He has worked worldwide, notably 12 years in Asia, where he was Hong Kong Correspondent for Lloyd's List, which has provided shipping news since 1734. In the maritime sector, Paul led external affairs for global container shipping group, Neptune Orient Lines. He holds a Bachelor in Media & Journalism and has completed executive education at INSEAD and IMD.
Job Titles:
- Vice - President, Future Programs
Job Titles:
- Vice - President
- Vice - President, Operations
Richard Alie has been Vice-President, Operations since 2019. In over 11 years with Davie, he has held roles of increasing seniority. Richard's broad field experience is a major asset for Davie, including carpenter/ joiner, foreman and leading services and finishing workshops. His considerable production expertise helps to ensure project success and is enhanced from his time with companies such as Polycor and Bocenor Group. In his current role, Richard's responsibilities include yard operations coordination, equipment acquisition, dry docking, security, collective agreement negotiation and budget development for naval operations. Richard served in the Canadian armed forces and has advanced industrial safety qualifications.
Job Titles:
- Vice - President, Engineering
Job Titles:
- Vice - President, Government and Corporate Affairs
Susanne Vaas has over 20 years of experience in government and corporate affairs and international relations. In her current role since 2021, Susanne articulates Davie's business objectives through federal government stakeholder engagement. She also supports Davie's vision to become an exporter. Prior to joining Davie, Susanne worked at the Canadian Media Producers Association as Vice-President, Corporate and International Affairs, and at the Department of Canadian Heritage as a Manager of Business and Legal Affairs. She began her career in private practice at a boutique law firm in Ottawa. Susanne holds Bachelor degrees in Common and Civil Law, and was admitted to the Law Society of Ontario in 1994.
Job Titles:
- Director, Supply Chain Management
Davie will build two ferries to supply essential service to eastern Canada island communities. The first vessel will replace the Madeleine vessel on the Prince Edward Island to Îles-de-la-Madeleine service route. The new vessel will be called MV Jean-Lapierre. The second vessel is to replace the Holiday Island vessel on the Prince Edward Island to Nova Scotia service route.