OUR TEAM
MANAGEMENT & BOARD
PDP is driven by its people: a team of determined individuals who are enthusiastic about collaborative growth. We are steadfast proponents of the Canadian mid-market, and at our core, we are Partners in your success.
Our Board of Directors and our Advisory Board are composed of distinguished Canadian business leaders. They are instrumental to achieving our mission to deliver best in class capital solutions and investor returns.
Together, we are Private Debt Partners.
TEAM
Jean-Christophe Greck
President, CEO & CIOJean-Christophe Greck
President, CEO & CIO
- Jean-Christophe Greck is President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer at Private Debt Partners. He spearheads the strategy of the Firm and oversees fundraising, origination, portfolio management and investor relations.
- Prior to founding PDP, Jean-Christophe was a Managing Director at Fiera Private Debt (and formerly Integrated Asset Management) for eleven years where he was responsible for business development and investor relationship management across Canada. Jean-Christophe was also responsible for origination, underwriting, due diligence, documentation, and loan portfolio management on Quebec-based investment transactions.
- Jean-Christophe holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Finance from HEC Montreal. He is a CFA, CAIA, FRM and PRM charterholder. He lives in Montreal, Quebec and enjoys playing tennis in his spare time.
Jeffrey Deacon
Managing PartnerJeffrey Deacon
Managing Partner
- Jeffrey Deacon is focused on originating high-quality, mid-market senior term loans while overseeing all aspects of the firm’s portfolio management requirements.
- Prior to founding PDP, Jeffrey was a Managing Director at Fiera Private Debt (and formerly Integrated Asset Management) for over five years, where he was a leading originator on a team that completed transactions valued at over $1 billion across various industry sectors and throughout Canada. Prior to this, Jeffrey managed a top-performing team in the Greater Toronto Area for Roynat Capital, earning recognition as one of the leading District Directors for the merchant capital and long-term lending arm of the Bank of Nova Scotia.
- Jeffrey received a BBA in Finance from the Roanoke College in Virginia where he was a member of the men’s Varsity Golf team. He lives in Whitby, Ontario and is actively involved in the community and enjoys coaching his sons’ minor hockey and baseball teams.
Richard Kanemy
Executive AdvisorRichard Kanemy
Executive Advisor
Mr. Kanemy has over 30 years of experience investing in Canadian mid-market companies and dealing with entrepreneurs. During his career at Scotiabank Group, he led Roynat Capital’s Ontario team from 2000 to 2010, Canadian Distribution from 2010 to 2015 and Scotiabank’s Central Canada Commercial Banking team from 2015 to 2020. As SVP and Head of Roynat Canadian Distribution, he was a key member of Roynat’s Executive and Investment Committees.
Anya Rae
CFO & VP OperationsAnya Rae
CFO & VP Operations
- Anya Rae is the CFO and VP Operations at Private Debt Partners. She oversees all financial and operational affairs for both the corporate entity and investment funds, reporting directly to the President & CEO and contributing as a key member of the Executive Committee.
- Before joining Private Debt Partners in 2020, Anya was the head of finance for a market research firm as well as an international art consultancy, leading all aspects of finance, risk, compliance, and stakeholder management. Prior to this, Anya spent time in external audit, financial regulation, the banking sector, and was instrumental in the development of a private placement fine art investment fund.
- Anya holds a CPA, CA designation and BComm from the University of Toronto, and actively contributes to the financial leadership community as an Advisory Board member of the CFO Leadership Council. She is also a long-time rider with the Ride to Conquer Cancer, a CPA Mentor, a Scouts Canadian leader, and a Treasurer for her local community local school. Anya lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons.
William Chrumka
Investment AnalystWilliam Chrumka
Investment Analyst
- William joined Private Debt Partners in September 2024 as an Investment Analyst, assisting in deal origination, underwriting, due diligence, and loan portfolio management.
- He previously completed a four-month co-op with Private Debt Partners team prior to graduating from the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics.
- Past experience includes internships working in finance and sales operations.
- William holds a Bachelor of Arts from Wilfrid Laurier University, where he received academic scholarships in Economics and Finance. In his spare time, William enjoys watching Arsenal, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.
Manraj Bajwa
Financial Operations AnalystManraj Bajwa
Financial Operations Analyst
- Manraj joined Private Debt Partners in January 2025 as a Financial Operations Analyst, assisting in the accounting, financial, and operational infrastructures for both the corporate entity and group of funds.
- He has a background in asset management and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Financial Management from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario.
- Manraj’s interests include philosophy, chess, reading, and traveling. He is currently pursuing his CFA designation.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Stephen Lister
Chairman of the Board and Investment Committee MemberStephen Lister
Chairman of the Board and Investment Committee Member
- Stephen Lister is a private financier and Co-Founder of Imperial Capital, one of Canada’s most successful private equity buy-out firms. He served as Managing Partner from its founding in 1989 until 2019 and continues to contribute as a member of Imperial’s Investment Advisory Committee. Mr. Lister has been a director and trustee for several private and public companies including Stantec Inc., E.D. Smith & Sons Ltd., Associated Freezers Income Trust, Lise Watier Cosmetics, YPTel Corp., and Petra Pet Inc.
- Since 1989, he has co-led the establishment of Imperial Capital Acquisition Funds I through VII and led many acquisitions and management efforts for portfolio companies in Canada and the United States. His strategic oversight helped drive growth and public listings on major stock exchanges.
- Before Imperial Capital, Mr. Lister was President of Startups Inc., a venture capital firm supporting early-stage companies and worked as a management consultant with Touche Ross & Partners. He also began his career as an economist for the Canadian House of Commons.
- Mr. Lister holds an MBA from Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario and an Honours BA in Economics from the University of Toronto. He grew up in Ottawa where he attended Lisgar Collegiate Institute.
- Since 1985 Mr. Lister has been married to Dr. Margaret (“Molly”) Rundle, a family physician, and they have two sons. He plays amateur golf and has competed in two Canadian Mid Amateur Championships. He is an avid reader and collects biographies, and Canadian art. He is a Level II ski instructor, ski races, plays the tenor saxophone, and is a fitness enthusiast.
Thomas MacMillan
Chairman of the Investment Committee and Board MemberThomas MacMillan
Chairman of the Investment Committee and Board Member
- Thomas MacMillan is a Member of the Board and Chair of the Investment Committee for PDP.
- Mr. MacMillan has over 45 years of financial services experience and has held senior leadership positions at some of Canada’s most prestigious financial institutions, including the Bank of Montreal, Chase Manhattan Bank Canada, and Mellon Bank Canada. Most notably, Mr. MacMillan served as President and CEO of CIBC Mellon from 1998 to 2009 and was Chair of CIBC Mellon from 2009 to 2011. Following his tenure at CIBC Mellon, Mr. MacMillan was Chair of Blair Franklin Asset Management and CEO at Gluskin Sheff.
- In addition to his role on the board of PDP, Mr. MacMillan has significant board experience in both the private and not-for-profit sectors. Most recently, Mr. MacMillan stepped down as the Interim President and CEO of the Corporation of Massey Hall & Roy Thompson Hall.
- Mr. MacMillan holds a B.A. from Princeton University and an M.A. from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He lives in Toronto and enjoys the performing arts and regular tennis games. He spoils his five grandchildren as much as he can.
Robert Harding
Board MemberRobert Harding
Board Member
- Mr. Robert Harding has extensive leadership experience and has served on numerous corporate boards. A Chartered Accountant by profession, Mr. Harding is the immediate past long-time Chair of Brookfield Asset Management Inc. and worked for Brookfield and its predecessor companies since 1984 in various executive positions until his retirement in 2019. He is currently the lead independent director of First Quantum Minerals Inc.
- Mr. Harding has also served on the boards of Manulife Financial Corporation (Chair of Governance and Nominating committee), Burlington Resources Inc. (Chair of the Audit committee), Norboard Inc., (Chairman of the board), NexJ Inc, (Chairman of the board) and Noranda Inc. (Chairman of the board).
- Mr. Harding is currently President of the Board of Trustees of the Art Gallery of Ontario, past Chair and Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Governors of the University of Waterloo, and a past Chair of the United Way Toronto and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
- He is a member of the Order of Canada, a recipient of the Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilee Medals and was named as one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 in 1996.
Colleen Johnston
Board MemberColleen Johnston
Board Member
- Ms. Colleen Johnston currently serves on the boards of Shopify, McCain Foods and Q4. She is Chair of Unity Health Toronto, which includes St. Michael’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Health Centre and Providence Healthcare and is a member on the Board of the Shaw Festival.
- Ms. Johnston retired from TD Bank Group in 2018. Prior to this, she was the bank’s Group Head Direct Channels, Technology, Marketing and Corporate & Public Affairs. She served as TD’s Chief Financial Officer from 2005-2015.
- In 2006 she was elected an FCA recognizing her outstanding career achievements and dedication to community activities. Ms. Johnston has received numerous top industry honours as a senior finance executive including Canada’s CFO of the Year in 2012.
- She was inducted into Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2011, for the third year in a row, she was named one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking by American Banker.
- Ms. Johnston has received Honorary Degrees from St. Mary’s University and York University (Schulich School of Business).
Sheryl Kennedy
Board MemberSheryl Kennedy
Board Member
- Ms. Sheryl Kennedy has held a number of senior positions in Government, Central Banking, Management Consulting, and Financial Services. As a former Deputy Governor at the Bank of Canada and various roles in the Economic Development and Financial Sector Policy Branches of the Department of Finance of the Government of Canada, she brings valuable expertise and perspective on finance and the Canadian economy.
- Ms. Kennedy was most recently Chair, and prior to that Chief Executive Officer at Promontory Financial Group Canada, now a wholly owned subsidiary of IBM, where she established and led the Canadian arm of the global consulting firm. At Promontory, she assisted financial services clients in addressing strategic, risk management, governance, and regulatory compliance challenges.
- Ms. Kennedy currently serves on the board of Cogent Communications Holdings Inc (member of Audit committee) and CLS Group Holdings AG (Chair of the UK Intermediate Holdings Inc subsidiary, Member of Audit and Finance, Nominating and Governance and Chair’s committees).
- Until June 2025, she was Vice Chair of the Canadian Public Accountability Board which regulates the auditing of public companies. Ms. Kennedy is Vice Chair of the Vancouver-based charity, Mothers Matter Centre, a trustee of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada Pension Plans (Chair of the Asset Mix committee) and Governor of the University of Waterloo (Chair of the Pension Investment committee and member of the Finance and Investment committee).
- Ms. Kennedy was awarded the Women in Capital Markets Leadership Award in 2007.
Anatol von Hahn
Board Member and Investment Committee MemberAnatol von Hahn
Board Member and Investment Committee Member
- Mr. Anatol von Hahn is a venture capitalist, retired senior international bank executive, and board member with over 30 years of board, Chief Executive Officer and executive management experience in banking and finance in North America, Latin America, and Asia.
- As CEO, and in senior executive positions, Mr. von Hahn has led banking operations in Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Singapore. He has chaired or served on the boards of seven international banks as well as a number of associations and charities. He most recently managed the Canadian operations of Scotiabank.
- Anatol’s venture capital interests are focused on emerging Canadian tech companies. He currently is the Chairman of The Group Ventures, sits on the Boards of numerous technology companies including MindBridge AI, Cyber Defence Corporation and Smart Money, as well on the Advisory Board of a number of manufacturing, real estate and services companies in the US and Canada. He sits on the Board of ALMA Children’s Education Foundation and the MacDonald Stewart Foundation.
ADVISORY BOARD
Mario Charpentier
Mario Charpentier
Mr. Mario Charpentier is the Founding Partner and Co-Head of the Corporate Finance Sector of BCF LLP, a leading mid-market Quebec-based law firm. Mr. Charpentier has extensive leadership experience serving as Managing Partner of BCF for 25 years, from foundation in 1995 until November 2019. As a tax practitioner, he advises clients from every industry on the legal and business strategies to adopt to best grow their business. His involvement in the start-up community has led him to Co-Head BCF Imagine, a program for innovative entrepreneurs starting their business and to sit as Chairman of BCF Ventures’ Board, a seed investment fund for high-growth technology companies. Under his management, BCF has introduced a variety of pro bono initiatives and implemented diversity and inclusion programs aimed at promoting women, cultural, and gender minorities to positions of leadership and governance throughout the organization and the larger business community. Mario has been named Notable Practitioner in Corporate and Commercial Law by Chambers and Partners Québec ranking and in 2020 he was selected to the Best Lawyers Directory in M&A Law.
Kristi Miller
Kristi Miller
Ms. Kristi Miller has been providing mid-market businesses with relationship-focused, strategic financing and advice for more than twenty years. As Founder and former National Managing Director of First West Capital, Ms. Miller grew the business from start-up to a national junior capital firm that funded over $250 million to more than 100 businesses. She was recognized by EY as the Pacific Region’s 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year in the category of Business Disrupter for this work. Ms. Miller serves on a number of corporate and non-profit boards and is a recipient of the Canadian Venture Capital Association’s Ted Anderson Community Leadership Award. Currently, Ms. Miller serves as a Managing Partner at Krystal Growth Partners, a Vancouver based private equity firm focused on investing in mid-market companies with revenues ranging from $10 million to $100 million located in British Columbia.
Jeffrey Pocock
Jeffrey Pocock
Mr. Jeffrey Pocock is a mid-market M&A and Corporate Finance professional. For the past 8 years, he served as the National M&A and Private Equity Leader at Grant Thornton, developing and growing the practice to become national in scale. Mr. Pocock’s previous experience includes being a founding Partner with Solaris Capital Advisors and a partner with Orenda Corporate Finance. Mr. Pocock has also worked in the Corporate Finance Group at KPMG for 8 years and with RBC Dominion Securities as a VP in their M&A Group. Throughout his career, he has been involved in over 150 successful transactions across various industries. Mr. Pocock earned his BA in Economics from Western University (Huron College), his MBA from the University of Toronto and holds the designations of Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Business Valuator and Corporate Finance Professional.
Jason Barr
Independent Investment Committee MemberJason Barr
Independent Investment Committee Member
Mr. Barr brings a wealth of experience in Canadian mid-market commercial lending. During his career at Roynat Capital he was Vice President & Head of Business Lending from 2015 to 2021 where he led a national team of relationship managers focused on the provision of both senior and junior debt to mid-sized companies. In this role he was a key member of the executive management team and had an integral role in the development of the firm’s go-to-market strategy. Jason holds on MBA from the Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan, has completed an executive education program in strategy development at Columbia University as well as the Director’s Education Program through the Rotman School of Management and the Institute of Corporate Directors.