
Lindsay Preston
Managing Director (she/her)
We are experienced search professionals and trusted advisors who believe great leadership begins with great relationships. We bring a personal, thoughtful approach to every engagement, building meaningful connections with our candidates and clients to help create lasting impact.
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Managing Director (she/her)

Founder (she/her)

Senior Advisor (she/her)

Senior Advisor (she/her)

Senior Advisor (she/her)

Director, Operations and Finance (he/him)
Director, Operations and Finance (he/him)
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.
Senior Advisor (she/her)
Lori brings three decades of senior leadership experience in fundraising, business development, and marketing across the not‑for‑profit sector and the sports industry. She is known for building long‑term, authentic relationships and for leading high‑performing teams through periods of change and strategic growth. Her understanding of organizational dynamics, board governance, and executive leadership directly strengthens her work at PHC, allowing her to assess candidates with unique insight and to support clients with a grounded, real‑world perspective on what strong leadership truly looks like.
Lori served as President and CEO of Crohn’s and Colitis Canada (CCC) from 2021-2025. She partnered closely with the board, staff, and community to develop and execute CCC’s Impact Strategy, launched in 2022, guiding the organization’s priorities in research, advocacy, and support for people living with IBD.
Prior to CCC, Lori led the campus‑wide development strategy at Wilfrid Laurier University and held executive roles at Multiple Sclerosis Canada (MS Canada). As VP, Development and Marketing, and as Executive Director of the MS Scientific Research Foundation, she worked closely with the foundation chair and board to cultivate and secure transformational investments. She has also held senior roles at the Baycrest Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada.
Lori began her career in the sports industry, working with the NHL Players’ Association, IMG Canada, and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, where she focused on corporate partnerships, marketing, and major events.
Across her career, Lori has recruited, coached, and developed senior leaders; built diverse, mission‑driven teams; and navigated complex environments. She brings this lived experience to every search, helping organizations clarify what they truly need in a leader and identifying candidates who not only have the skills, but the values, judgment, and leadership presence to thrive.
Senior Advisor (she/her)
Diane brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector to PHC, along with a strong understanding of organizational leadership, fundraising strategy, stakeholder engagement and relationship building. Earlier in her career, she spent 20 years in the Hollywood television production industry, developing valuable experience in collaboration, creative problem-solving and managing complex projects.
Diane most recently served as Vice President, Development at The Royal Conservatory of Music, where she helped shape fundraising strategy and led initiatives that contributed to significant philanthropic success. Previously, she held senior leadership roles in the corporate sector and charitable foundation space. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with executive leaders, boards, donors and corporate partners to advance organizational priorities and build meaningful relationships.
Diane’s commitment to community leadership extends beyond her professional career. She currently serves on the board of the Hamilton Burlington SPCA and previously served as Chair of the Ontario Para Network. Her volunteer involvement has also included the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, the Children’s Aid Society and numerous other community organizations.
At PHC, Diane draws on her leadership experience and understanding of mission-driven organizations to connect talented people with opportunities where they can make a meaningful difference. She brings a thoughtful, relationship-driven approach to executive search, with an appreciation for the importance of finding leaders whose experience, values and vision align with an organization’s needs.
Diane’s extensive experience in fundraising, organizational strategy and stakeholder engagement offers a valuable perspective in executive search for nonprofit and philanthropic leadership roles.
Diane holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Senior Advisor (she/her)
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.
Founder (she/her)
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.
Managing Director (she/her)
Lindsay is the Managing Director 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 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.