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Global CEO advisory firm Teneo held a reception this week at Major Tom to announce the official opening of its Calgary office and to introduce its managing director here, Lauren Ramey.
Teneo was created in New York in 2011 and has grown to have a presence in 40 markets around the world, staffed by more than 1,400 employees. A Toronto office was opened in 2016 and in Montreal in 2020. But after serving a growing number of clients here from Toronto, Ramey said, “In Canada, you have to be in Calgary.”
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From his New York head office, Teneo CEO Paul Keary says: “With successful offices in Toronto and Montreal, Calgary was the next step to expand our Canadian footprint, and reflects the confidence we have in that market to continue to be an economic powerhouse for the country.”
Attending the event at Major Tom, global vice-chair James Crossland — who heads the firm’s Canadian business — said: “Calgary was the next target market in our growth strategy — a city that has established itself as a global economic player, attracting international investments and partnerships from around the world. Not only has Calgary positioned itself as a leader at the forefront of the energy industry, but it has made meaningful efforts to diversify its economy, ensuring long-term economic sustainability and growth.”
Also present to welcome Calgary as its newest office expansion was Teneo global chair Ursula Burns who, after being a client of Teneo as CEO of Xerox, joined the firm in 2017.
Most recently, former Alberta premier Jason Kenney joined Teneo as a senior adviser.
Ramey, an avid skier and hiker, is excited to be based here, saying that when the Toronto office began discussions on expanding into Calgary, she quickly raised her hand.
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Born in Peterborough, Ont., she earned her BA in political science from McGill, in Montreal, and joined the Government of Ontario in a variety of positions, including four years as director of communications and planning in the premier’s office.
After leaving government, Ramey moved to Spain to obtain her masters in communications at IE University Madrid.
After graduation, she took a consulting job in Dubai and then joined Teneo’s Dubai office as vice-president, where for the next two years she provided strategic communications advice to clients across the Middle East in various industries including government, oil and gas, finance and technology.
Ramey says flying into Calgary on more frequent occasions to work with Teneo clients, she was enthused by the dynamic and vibrant community. “It’s a global city and Calgary is ideal for our natural expansion.”
Initially, her work was primarily in support of CEOs and senior executive clients in the traditional energy industries, but is now providing strategic communications counsel in both the public and private sectors across several markets — backed by the firm’s expansive network of senior advisers.
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She has hired James Mottershead — for the past four years leading communications at TransAlta — as senior vice-president of corporate communications to help grow the business here, and plans to add more staff early in the new year.
Crossland added: “We look forward to supporting the business community here to meet their strategic goals, acting as a trusted adviser to clients as they navigate complex challenges.”
Ramey and Mottershead are settling into their new office space on the 28th floor of Telus Sky, which Ramey says gives her awesome panoramas of the foothills and mountains she is very much looking forward to enjoying.
Notes:
Mairead Lavery, president and CEO of Export Development Canada, will discuss growth, innovation and collaboration during a fireside chat in the Oak Room of the Fairmont Palliser at a luncheon on Nov. 7. At the event, organized by the Ireland-Alberta Trade Association and moderated by Brad Perry, president and CEO of Calgary Economic Development, she plans on sharing insights into accessing global market opportunities for Alberta’s small and medium-sized enterprises, and discuss EDC’s strategic focus and the sectors that will drive the most growth in Ireland for Canadian businesses and those in Alberta.
David Parker appears regularly in the Herald. Read his columns online at calgaryherald.com/business. He can be reached at 403-830-4622 or by email at [email protected]
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