KEVIN DERBYSHIRE
Toronto
Summary
Successful career C-Suite executive transitioned to non-profit initiatives. Experienced, service focused, practical, passionate. Driven to maximize efficiencies, collegiality, service and organizational results.
Overview
40
40
years of professional experience
Work History
Principal
Non-Profit Initiatives
03.2014 - Current
- engaged in leading, and general donating to, strategic projects for, diverse non-profit organizations
VP & General Counsel
Grainger Canada
Toronto, ON
01.2012 - 01.2014
- responsible for company’s legal function including complex multi-million dollar commercial, M&A and real estate transactions, regulatory, litigation, human resources, and corporate governance
- as of 2013: i) promoted to lead legal functions for Grainger's Global real estate and procurement departments; and ii) asked to join succession bench for Grainger's Global General Counsel position.
Chief Corporate Officer
Enghouse Systems
Toronto, ON
01.2011 - 01.2012
- led company’s legal, operational, investor relations and human resources functions (Canada and global)
Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel
DuPont Canada
Toronto, ON
01.2009 - 01.2011
- led legal, government relations, public relations, human resources, HQ facilities management and numerous strategic business initiatives
- business/legal lead for transformational M&A transaction re-establishing company's industrial presence
- led legal including: structure/execution of all significant corporate/commercial matters, litigation, intellectual property, labour and employment, IT and logistics/distribution transactions, corporate governance (director/officer of 5 affiliated companies)
- led government relations: development/execution of all GR initiatives including lobbying and government activities
- led public affairs: development/execution of all PR initiatives and corporate sponsorships
- led strategic business initiatives including health care expansion and photovoltaics initiatives
- appointed Chair/member of strategic sub-committees including: Finance, Governance, Crisis Management Committees
VP General Counsel & Business Affairs
Virgin Mobile Canada
Toronto, ON
01.2004 - 01.2008
- led legal/regulatory functions, and advanced company’s strategic business relationships
- structured/executed all significant commercial agreements related to company’s start-up including network provisioning, call centre, inventory logistics, retail distribution, facilities leases, wireless handset/accessories, content licensing, technology provisioning, banking facility arrangements, marketing agency agreements
- provided legal for company’s marketing and sales
- managed company’s IP interests
- led corporate governance, regulatory and government relations functions including CRTC, Investment Canada, Canadian Heritage, and Competition Bureau requirements
- managed all litigation by, and against, company and provided legal advice on all employment related matters
- discharged corporate secretarial functions for company's board of directors
Associate General Counsel/General Counsel
BCE Inc.
Toronto, ON
01.2000 - 01.2004
- promoted to Bell TV General Counsel at Canada's largest TV provider: 1.5M customers, $1B annual revenue
- structured/executed all significant commercial agreements including network infrastructure, satellite licensing, content licensing/broadcast, interactive TV services, IT hardware/software acquisition and licensing, retail distribution, inventory logistics and customer service
- provided legal support for marketing of company’s services, and corporate communications
- managed company's litigation including complex counter-piracy litigation
- provided legal advice on all employment matters
- discharged company’s corporate governance and regulatory compliance functions
- promoted to Bell Associate General Counsel: i) co-managed legal support for commercial, sales and marketing matters for Bell, BCE Nexxia, and Bell Sympatico; ii) implemented complex telco service arrangements with large corporate and governmental entities and given exclusive responsibility for BCE Nexxia’s largest customer: iii) managed all major Ontario procurement initiatives for Bell/BCE affiliates ($1B/year); iv) executed complex IT transactions including outsourcings and SW development/licensing; v) structured/implemented e-commerce initiatives including one of Canada’s largest B2B portals; vi) co-chaired BCE Law/Procurement Committee overseeing implementation of legal, purchasing and client base services across Bell/BCE affiliates; and vii) structured/executed online template database providing Bell/BCE clients with 24/7 access to up-to-date templates.
Corporate Counsel
FedEx
Toronto, ON
01.1994 - 01.2000
- first Canadian lawyer to run FedEx Canada's legal function
- structured/executed FedEx’s significant corporate/commercial, real estate, technology, and real estate build-to-suit/lease agreements
- structured/executed major product purchase, software licensing, outsourcing, and e-commerce agreements
- conducted all government affairs initiatives in aviation and trucking regulatory areas
- legal support for all advertising/marketing matters and corporate communications
- conducted company’s corporate governance and corporate secretarial functions
Associate
Fasken Martineau Dumoulin
Toronto, ON
06.1986 - 06.1994
- summer student, and then as an articling student
- then hired as an associate in a corporate/securities practice including equity/debt offerings, IPOs, purchase/sale of public/private companies, corporate reorganizations and public financings
- articling rotations in corporate/commercial, litigation, real estate and labour law areas
Education
Called to Bar of Ontario
01.1991
undefined
Université de Paris, Sorbonne
01.1989
LL.B - undefined
University of Western Ontario
01.1988
Hon. B.A. - undefined
University of Western Ontario
01.1985
Skills
- Employee performance evaluations
- Staff management
- Verbal and written communication
- Training and mentoring
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
French
Limited Working
Affiliations
- Legal Leaders for Diversity
- Association of Corporate Counsel
- Canadian Corporate Counsel Association
- Canadian IT Law Association
- New Haven Group Autistic Foundation board member (2010-12)
Timeline
Principal
Non-Profit Initiatives
03.2014 - Current
VP & General Counsel
Grainger Canada
01.2012 - 01.2014
Chief Corporate Officer
Enghouse Systems
01.2011 - 01.2012
Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel
DuPont Canada
01.2009 - 01.2011
VP General Counsel & Business Affairs
Virgin Mobile Canada
01.2004 - 01.2008
Associate General Counsel/General Counsel
BCE Inc.
01.2000 - 01.2004
Corporate Counsel
FedEx
01.1994 - 01.2000
Associate
Fasken Martineau Dumoulin
06.1986 - 06.1994
undefined
Université de Paris, Sorbonne
LL.B - undefined
University of Western Ontario
Hon. B.A. - undefined
University of Western Ontario
Called to Bar of Ontario
AWARDS/ACHIEVEMENTS
2011 Co-founder with RBC/Deloitte Legal Leaders for Diversity, an organization 100 general counsel from top companies in Canada advancing diversity in the legal profession, 2010 Canadian General Counsel of the Year Finalist (Business Achievement), 2009 A Call to Action Performance Excellence Award for Diversity in Canadian legal profession, 2007 Canadian General Counsel of the Year Award (Mid-Market Excellence), 2007 Canadian Corporate Counsel Association Board of Directors (10,000 lawyer membership), 2005 Co-Founding Exec Team of Virgin (valued at $290M), 2003 Awarded “Exceptional” Rating (only BCE lawyer (1 of 60) provided such performance rating), 1999 FedEx Global 5 Star Award – FedEx Corp’s most prestigious award for outstanding achievement, 1997 FedEx Canada Award of Excellence - FedEx Canada’s highest award for outstanding achievement