Meet the Team
Led by experienced professionals with deep expertise in capital markets, corporate finance, and transaction execution.
Chair & Chief Executive Officer
Paul G. Smith
Paul G. Smith’s has had roles as Board Director (often as Chair), CEO, CFO and Advisor across diverse organizations in the Canadian public and private sectors. He began in the Canadian federal government where he served in various ministerial offices before becoming Executive Assistant to the Prime Minister. Then, following formative years with Bell Canada, he co-founded in 2004 one of the first Capital Pool Companies (CPC) in Canada and led its transformation into a Canadian regulated deposit-taking institution. Today, he is Chair & CEO of Rally Enterprises & Communications Corp., a facilities-based telecom operator offering services Canada-wide. Fluent in English and French, he has lived in France and across Canada. His academic studies include an INSEAD MBA, a Master in Public Administration and undergraduate degrees in Commerce and Social Sciences. He is an accredited member of the Canadian Institute of Corporate Directors.
Senior Advisor
Darryl Irwin
Darryl Irwin is a tax partner with one of the Big 4 accounting firms, specializing in corporate and international tax with a strong M&A background. He previously led the M&A tax practice at another major accounting firm, where he advised companies at all stages of development across acquisitions, reorganizations, and liquidity events. He is a trusted advisor to private company owners in the GTA, with deep experience in tax planning, corporate structuring, and transaction advisory, with a particular focus on the technology sector. At First & Goal Capital Corp., he contributes to structuring transactions and advising on tax issues, capital raises and growth initiatives.
Director
CJ Gavsie
CJ is Founder and CEO of Gavcap and Preeminent Developments, a property development firm that raises and deploys capital in land development. Prior to founding Gavcap, he enjoyed a distinguished 24-year career in banking, serving as Global Head of Fixed Income, Commodities and Currency at BMO, and previously as Global Head of Foreign Exchange Products & China Capital Markets, overseeing operations across Canada, the United States, Europe, and China. He retired from BMO in 2018 as one of its most senior executives. Today, he leads Gavcap and Preeminent Developments, bringing together deep capital markets expertise and senior leadership experience across banking, investment, and real estate development.
Director
Daiana Turcu
Daiana has over a decade of experience in financial advisory and consulting, having managed and delivered more than 200 international projects across a broad range of industries. She currently serves as an independent consultant to companies in the technology and retail sectors, and also works with Big 4 accounting firms providing valuation services across tax reorganizations, financial reporting, and transaction advisory. Her project experience includes IP valuations, Purchase Price Allocations, Stock-Based Compensation, Earnout considerations, and Impairment testing. Today, she brings broad valuation and advisory experience to complex engagements requiring analytical rigor across a wide range of sectors and transaction contexts.