Michael Vels
Corporate Director
Michael Vels is the former Executive Vice President, Chief Development Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc., also within Empire Company Limited, where he was responsible for leading Empire’s real estate, technology, strategic sourcing, enterprise project management and mergers, and acquisitions activities. Before his tenure at Empire, Mr. Vels was the Chief Financial Officer at Hydro One from 2015 to 2017.
Prior to joining Hydro One, Mr. Vels held several progressive roles at Maple Leaf Foods from 1991 to 2014, including Executive Vice President and Chief Transition Officer, Executive Vice President of Finance, and Vice President of Finance. Before Canada Bread Company Ltd. was acquired by Grupo Bimbo S.A.B., Mr. Vels was its Chief Financial Officer.
Mr. Vels began his early career in various roles at KPMG and Ernst & Whinney Chartered Accountants (now Ernst & Young LLP).
He currently serves on the board of directors for Crombie Real Estate Investment Trust and has previously served on the boards of Country Style Food Services Inc. and Canada Bread Company Ltd.
Mr. Vels holds a Bachelor of Accounting degree from University of the Witwatersrand. He has also earned his ICD.D designation.