Cathy Preston (she/her)
Founder
Cathy held senior leadership roles during her 17 year career in the marketing services sector followed by 20+ years of executive search experience in which she has built a stellar reputation for her client service orientation and her ability to source and recruit ‘best in class’ talent.
A graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University, Cathy began her career in Marketing at Colgate Palmolive and later joined a contingency-based search firm where her efforts were focused on marketing roles primarily within the CPG sector. In 1984 Cathy was recruited by Marketing & Promotion Group (M&PG) and was instrumental in that company’s exponential growth, including the founding of Mosaic Direct, a sister company to M&PG which became one of Canada’s leading direct marketing agencies. In 1998 she assumed the role of President, Mosaic Marketing Services, the largest marketing services company in Canada, and consistently delivered increased growth and performance. In 2001 Cathy returned to the executive search industry to bring her breadth of business and client service knowledge to her clients and help them build their senior leadership teams.
Cathy is a past member of the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) Leadership Committee and a past member of their Board Nominating Committee, and a Past Board member of the CMA itself. She also served as a board member for five years for Covenant House, a resource for homeless youth. Cathy is a founding member of the steering committee for the Judy Project, a Rotman School of Business executive program for the Advancement of Women in Leadership. Cathy also volunteers with Scala Network, an organization targeted at helping women at multi levels advance their careers which is a personal interest and passion. She is also working to help executive women who are 50 years of age and older with beginning to strategize around their “Next Chapter”.
In her spare time you'll find Cathy whipping up a healthy meal or walking her mini-schnauzer with her husband.
Lindsay Preston (she/her)
managing Partner
Lindsay is the Managing Partner at PHC, where she leads the firm’s executive search practice and shapes its strategic direction, client partnerships, and delivery excellence. Since joining the firm in 2017, she has become a trusted advisor to boards and senior leadership teams, known for her judgment, discretion, and ability to deliver transformative leadership talent.
Over the course of her tenure, Lindsay has led hundreds of executive and senior-level searches across sectors, with a track record defined by consistency and impact. Her work is distinguished by a year-one retention rate exceeding 90 percent and a 100 percent completion rate on executive mandates—outcomes that reflect both the rigor of her process and the strength of her client relationships. She is widely recognized for her ability to identify, engage, and secure high-calibre leaders in competitive and complex markets.
Prior to her career in executive search, Lindsay built a strong foundation in marketing and philanthropy, bringing a nuanced understanding of stakeholder engagement and organizational dynamics. Her experience spans roles at Artez Interactive, SickKids Foundation, PayPal Canada and Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, where she developed a global perspective on brand, culture, and performance. She began her career at Cundari Group, where she refined her client management approach and built a reputation for reliability, precision, and integrity.
Lindsay holds a Certificate in Human Resources Management, with a focus on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA), from Toronto Metropolitan University, and a Bachelor of Management from Dalhousie University, specializing in Leadership and Organizations.
You’ll find Lindsay at the nearest park with her two young children and beloved French Bulldog, and spending time with her husband and dear friends - often in the kitchen, where any good conversation begins.
SAMANTHA DAVID (she/her)
Partner
Samantha brings her authentic, purpose driven leadership style to PHC along with her diverse experience in organizational leadership, external relations, Board management and executive recruitment. Samantha joins PHC after several years in executive recruitment with a focus on C-Suite roles, along with 30 years of leadership in the non-profit sector.
In addition to executive recruitment, Samantha’s career has spanned program delivery, marketing and fundraising in non-profit organizations like MedicAlert, the Alzheimer Society and Campfire Circle. She was the Executive Director of the national charity Breakfast for Learning and worked with the Board on the acquisition by President’s Choice Children’s Charity.
A dynamic presenter and facilitator, Samantha has taught in the Humber Fundraising Management Program and has presented to professional associations including the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Association of Healthcare Philanthropy, and the Canadian Society of Association Executives. She has a Master of Social Work, a Diploma in Adult Education and has completed the Ivey Executive Leadership Program.
Samantha’s leadership supports our strategic advisory and interim practice, executive recruitment and our newest pillar, executive interview preparedness and coaching.
lori radke (she/her)
Partner
Lori has thirty years of progressive leadership experience in fundraising, business development, and marketing, across the not-for-profit sector and the sports industry. She thrives on building and nurturing long-term, authentic relationships with diverse stakeholders.
Lori began her career in the sports industry, with a focus on corporate partnerships, marketing, and events, bringing her passion for sports to roles at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, IMG Canada, and the NHL Players’ Association.
Most recently she was the President and CEO at Crohn’s and Colitis Canada (CCC), leading the organization since early 2021. She partnered with the board and community to develop and execute on CCC’s Impact Strategy, which launched in 2022.
Prior to CCC, Lori led the campus-wide development strategy at Wilfrid Laurier University and spent several years in executive roles at Multiple Sclerosis Canada (MS Canada). Lori served as the VP of Development and Marketing at MS Canada and was the Executive Director of the MS Scientific Research Foundation, where she worked closely with the foundation chair, board members, and others to lead cultivation and solicitation of the $75 million Acts of Greatness campaign. Lori’s has held leadership roles at organizations such as the Baycrest Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada.
Lori supports our Executive Search pillar.
Ian Preston (he/him)
managing director, operations & finance
After graduating from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, Ian began his business career with General Motors where he held positions in Sales, Distribution and Customer Service departments. He then joined Spalding Canada and gained experience in sales and marketing initiatives before moving on to Nestle where, in a career that spanned nearly two decades, he held various senior positions in Marketing, Supply Chain Management and Sales. His many accomplishments at Nestlé included spearheading the significant development of Nestlé Canada’s sales with Walmart and subsequently in helping establish the Ice Cream business for Nestlé as Director of Sales.
In 2001 Ian entered the retained search industry focusing his efforts primarily on senior Sales and Marketing roles as well as non-profit organizations. Ian possesses well honed strategic thinking abilities; communication skills; and a keenly developed, intuitively insightful ability to gauge interpersonal relationships that he has developed during his marketing, sales and search career. As General Manager Ian manages the day to day requirements of the firm's operation and provides sage council on search mandates as required.
Ian is a graduate of The Gestalt Institute of Toronto’s four year Training Program as well as the Gestalt Training Program for Professionals. As an accredited Gestalt Therapist he ran a private therapy and personal growth practice from 2005 through 2016 that assisted individuals in addressing challenges that they were experiencing in dealing with everyday life.
Ian has taught sales and marketing courses at George Brown community college and a past-board member of the Gestalt Institute of Toronto.
advisory board
Over the course of nurturing our 15+ year practice we’ve had the good fortune to establish a number of deep trusted relationships with some very talented professionals who we often turn to for their expertise and sage council.