OTTAWA, August 1st, 2008 - The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), today announced the appointment of Mr. Prashant Shanker Pathak as a member of the Board of Directors.
"With his international perspective in a global economy and experience with both the not-for-profit and private sectors, Mr. Pathak will be of great value in our ongoing efforts to support entrepreneurial success and growth in Canada," said Minister Prentice. "I welcome Mr. Pathak to the board of the BDC."
Since 2006, Mr. Pathak has been a managing partner at ReichmannHauer Capital Partners, providing leadership in the area of investments as Principal Investor. Prior to this, Mr. Pathak was a partner with McKinsey & Company and led consulting and advisory assignments for global companies in North America, Europe and Asia. He also has vast international management and operational experience, working with Schlumberger Geco-Prakla as Operations Supervisor in Southeast Asia and Norway and as Special Projects Coordinator and Field Engineer with HLS India.
Mr. Pathak has been involved with a number of non-profit organizations. He has been an active member of the UNICEF Canada-India $3-million HIV/AIDS program and an advisor for a program to encourage entrepreneurship among First Nations youth. He has also volunteered as a counsellor with several other non-profit organizations in the Greater Toronto Area.
Mr. Pathak holds an MBA from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France, and a Bachelor of Technology (Electrical and Electronics Engineering) from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur, India.
BDC is a financial institution wholly owned by the Government of Canada. BDC actively supports the development and growth of Canadian small and medium-sized businesses through its complementary financial, investment and consulting solutions.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Deirdra McCracken
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jim Prentice
Minister of Industry
613-995-9001
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
