Governance

Board of Directors

Board of Directors Overview

Our Board of Directors is responsible for the management of Mullen Group’s business and affairs, with its primary responsibility to foster the long term success of Mullen Group consistent with its fiduciary responsibility to the Corporation to maximize value. Mullen Group’s PDF File Board Manual outlines the Board’s principal duties and responsibilities. Our Board also has both a chair and a lead director.

The terms of reference and role of the Chair of the Board are established through and governed by the provisions of the PDF File Board Manual.

The role of Lead Director is established through, and governed by, the provisions of the PDF File CNG Committee Mandate which specifically provides that the CNG Committee Chair will act as the Lead Director of Mullen Group.

Murray K. Mullen

Year Appointed: 1993
Independent Member: No
Mullen Board Committees: No

Business Experience
  • Chair, Senior Executive Officer & President, Mullen Group Ltd.
  • Joined Mullen in 1977, held the positions of President and Chief Executive Officer from 1991 to September 4, 2004, and was appointed Chairman in 2001.
  • Instrumental in the growth of Mullen and has directed the acquisitions undertaken by Mullen.
  • Bachelor of Arts (Economics) degree – University of Calgary.

Benoit Durand, CFA, ICD.D

Year Appointed: 2022
Independent Member: Yes
Mullen Board Committees:

  • Compensation, Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee.
  • Audit Committee.
Business Experience
  •  Mr. Durand has over 35 years’ experience in the finance and capital markets industry as an investment professional.
  • Mr. Durand was employed for 22 years with Van Berkom and Associates until his recent retirement where he held positions as lead manger of a diversified Canadian equity portfolio and was a director and member of the executive management committee.
  • Mr. Durand earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree from McGill University in 1983 and in 2016 the ICD.D designation form the Institute of Corporate Directors in Montreal.

Laura Hartwell, ICD.D

Year Appointed: 2024
Independent Member: Yes
Mullen Board Committees:

  • Compensation, Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee.
  • Audit Committee.
Business Experience
  • Ms. Hartwell was a member of IBM Canada’s Executive as Vice President, West until her retirement in 2023.
  • Ms. Hartwell has over 30 years of senior management experience anchored on the intersection of technology and business strategy.
  • Ms. Hartwell earned her Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta in 1989 and has an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Stephen H. Lockwood, LLB

Year Appointed: 2014
Independent Member: Yes
Mullen Board Committees: No

Business Experience
  • 2018 – Present – Special Advisor to the Chair and CEO of ATCO Ltd.
  • 2015 – 2018 President and Chief Operating Officer of ATCO Structures & Logistics Ltd.
  • 2004 – 2014 President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, Mullen Group Ltd.
  • President of Producers Oilfield Services Inc., 2 years.
  • 1988 – 2004 Partner, Carscallen Lockwood LLP, a Calgary law firm he co-founded.
  • Bachelors of Laws degree – University of Calgary (1981).
  • Bachelor of Commerce degree – University of Alberta (1978).

Christine E. McGinley, CPA, CA, ICD.D

Year Appointed: 2017
Independent Member: Yes
Mullen Board Committees:

  • Compensation, Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee.
  • Audit Committee.
Business Experience
  • McGinley was the former Senior Vice President, Operations for Canwest Global Communications Corp. until her retirement in 2010.
  • Ms. McGinley has over 25 years of senior management experience, specializing in the areas of operations, technology and finance .
  • Ms. McGinley has served as a director and audit chairperson on a number of boards and has an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors in Toronto, Ontario.
  • Ms. McGinley earned her Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta in 1980 and is a member of the Canadian and Alberta Institutes of Chartered Professional Accountants.

Jamil Murji, CFA

Year Appointed: 2021
Independent Member: Yes
Mullen Board Committees:

  • Compensation, Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee.
  • Audit Committee.
Business Experience
  • 2016 – 2019 President & CEO of Argus Carriers Ltd.
  • 2013 – 2019 President & CEO of Inter-Urban Delivery Service Ltd.

Mr. Murji holds an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Simon Fraser University and an MBA from Western University’s Richard Ivey School of Business.

SONIA TIBBATTS, MBA

Year Appointed: 2017
Independent Member: Yes
Mullen Board Committees:

  • Chair – Compensation, Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee.
  • Audit Committee.
Business Experience
  • Ms. Tibbatts has over 33 years’ experience in the finance and capital markets industry.
  • Ms. Tibbatts was employed for 33 years with RBC Capital Markets until her retirement in 2016 during which she held positions such as Managing Director, Director, Vice President, Corporate Banking and Vice President, Oil & Gas Banking.
  • Ms. Tibbatts was also the Chairperson of RBC Capital Markets’ Energy Industry Operating Committee from 2008-2016.
  • Ms. Tibbatts earned a Bachelor of Home Economics Degree in 1976 from the University of Manitoba, a Master of Science degree in 1980 from the University of Manitoba and a Master of Business Administration degree in 1986 from the University of Calgary.

Richard Whitley, FCPA, FCA

Year Appointed: 2022
Independent Member: Yes
Mullen Board Committees:

  • Compensation, Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee.
  • Chair – Audit Committee.
Business Experience
  • Mr. Whitley was employed with KPMG from 1984 to 2020 in their Mississauga, Toronto and Calgary offices.
  • Mr. Whitley retired as a partner of KPMG’s Calgary office in 2020. Prior to retiring he was the Calgary Office Managing Partner. In addition to client responsibilities, he was responsible for the oversight of the growth and client relationships of the Calgary office and its 700 people.
  • Mr. Whitley was also part of KPMG Canada’s Management Committee and National Markets Committee.
  • Mr. Whitley earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University in 1984 and received his Chartered Professional Accountant designation in 1986.