Chief Commercialization Officer
Charlie leads the non-academic strategy and development of the University’s commercial interests portfolio, including market expansion, revenue-producing real estate assets and alternative revenue initiatives – all of which are aimed at advancing institutional growth and long-term sustainability.
His mandate is to:
- Underwrite, negotiate, and manage complex commercial partnerships and transactions that advance the University’s strategic interests
- Negotiate commercial agreements that play a key role in structuring and finalizing real estate deals - including acquisitions, special purpose vehicles, public-private partnerships (P3s), and campus expansion projects
- Oversee the institution’s commercial assets and leasing portfolio
- Maximize and diversify revenue streams in support of the University’s academic and research missions
- Work alongside the VP Finance & Operations, the AVPs and external stakeholders to successfully deliver capital and non-capital projects aligned with the University’s strategic priorities, including the planning and development processes necessary to prepare major projects for construction and operationalization
- Ensure compliance with regulatory, tax and governance standards as it relates to commercial activities
- Oversee the University’s enterprise risk management (ERM) efforts on behalf of the VPFO, partnering with campus leaders to identify, assess, and mitigate institutional risks
Charlie began his career at the University of Windsor in 2021 as the Procurement Manager, transitioning to the Office of the VP Finance & Operations in 2022 to oversee strategic initiatives and business enterprise. His notable contributions in the role included the Rodzik Hall P3 deal structure and negotiation, strategic procurement of the third-party campus food service operations, and 300 Ouellette’s commercial redevelopment for the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario.
Prior to joining the University, Charlie worked in data analytic consulting at AC Nielsen in Montreal, Quebec, servicing platinum CPG clients including L’Oreal, MolsonCoors, British American Tobacco, Mars-Wrigley and Ultramar Energy. His impactful analyses on pricing, innovation, brand strategy, trade, and consumer data ultimately contributed to over $200M in client-acknowledged ROI during his seven-year tenure. In 2016, he relocated to Ontario to join Movati Athletic (under the guide of US private equity firm Norwest Equity Partners), where he developed the company’s business intelligence and financial modelling capabilities, eventually taking on roles in corporate finance, real estate and business expansion. While with Movati/Norwest Equity, Charlie successfully helped lead the preparation of the underwriting, business cases and deal structures that expanded the company’s footprint in the GTA and Alberta, accounting for over $100M in capital outlay.
Charlie attended Carleton University in Ottawa and Universite Paris-Dauphine in Paris, France. He is fluent in French and also holds a certificate in Supply Chain Management for Public Procurement from the University of Guelph, a Graduate Certificate in Management from Edinburgh Business School, and a CIPP/C privacy designation via the International Association of Privacy Professionals.