(Toronto) – The Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network (ORION) is pleased to welcome Gilles Cinq-Mars to the ORION team as Vice President, Finance and Operations. Reporting to ORION’s President and CEO, Darin Graham, he will manage the accounting operations and developing the infrastructure, business and operational analysis and processes from finance to program management, in order to support business decisions that benefit the research, education and innovation sector in Ontario.
With more than 25 years of leadership experience, Gilles is a change-minded executive trained in information technology, finance, and human resources. Having worked in both private and public sectors, Gilles has executed cost-reducing solutions and infrastructure revitalization, driving an organization’s overall system stability, efficiency and security.
“We’re excited to have Gilles bring his wealth of knowledge and experience to ORION’s management team. He will build even stronger links to our stakeholder’s administrative teams and help ORION bring new robust service offerings and strategic opportunities that meet business needs,” says Darin Graham.
In his most recent role as Director of Finance and Administration at the United Way of York Region, Gilles refreshed its entire IT infrastructure and restructured the finance department, including enhancing the reporting to the Board of Directors and Audit Finance and Investment committee. As an individual driven to maximize performance and optimize opportunities, he has developed and incorporated strategies that have improved the overall performance of the organizations he’s worked for.
Gilles’ additional community leadership involvements include serving as Secretary/Treasurer and an elected member of the Board of Directors at Pickering College and the Richmond Hill Canoe Club. Gilles received his MBA in Information Systems and BA in Economics from McMaster University. He has also completed the Advanced Program in Human Resources Management from the University of Toronto Rotman School of Business, leading to Gilles’ accreditation as a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP).
“I am tremendously excited to part of the ORION team, leading change and growth with Darin,” says Gilles. “I look forward to exploring the opportunities and potential of optimizing ORION’s strategy and operations, in order to support Ontario’s research, education and innovation customers.”
ABOUT ORION
The Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network (ORION) is an advanced technology, “ultra-fast” fibre optic network, owned and operated by a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing research, learning and innovation. ORION connects all of Ontario’s universities, numerous colleges, several teaching hospitals, other public research facilities and a growing number of school boards to one another and to the global grid of research and education (R&E) networks.
For further information:
Cathy Bogaart
Director, Marketing and Communications Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network (ORION)
416.507.9860 ext. 250
cathy.bogaart@orion.on.ca