Chris Ward MBA, CMC

Chris has an undergraduate degree in economics and an MBA from the University of Toronto. He has held senior positions in manufacturing, distribution and service businesses. Through firsthand experience with one of Canada's largest retailers, he learned the fundamentals of customer satisfaction and branding. He was the co-founder of an organization that has grown through acquisition and merger to become one of the largest in its field, as well as a custom publishing firm that numbered among its clients some of North America’s most successful organizations.

As founder and CEO of Riverhorse Brand Advisors Chris has played a lead role in developing magnetic brands for national associations, financial institutions, professional service firms and consumer and business-to-business products.

Chris is involved in every project from a quality control perspective, and advises clients on branding, research, strategic planning and marketing.

Peter Buchanan, Associate Advisor

Peter Buchanan is a recognized pioneer and innovator in the field of management and leadership development. In his career, he has spent in excess of 20,000 hours coaching and mentoring senior executives, business owners, CEO's and Presidents.

He is a principal in Management Transitions Ltd., a firm specializing in management and leadership development, executive coaching, group facilitation, team development and consulting in the area of organizational culture. A lifelong learner. he has an MBA from University of Western Ontario. In recent years, Peter has taught leadership in the MBA program at Royal Roads University in Victoria and continues to mentor MBA students as time permits.

As Associate Advisor with Riverhorse Brand Advisors, Peter heads up our team building and leadership development practice.

Kate Erickson, Associate Advisor

Kate is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School and the Rotman School of Management’s Executive Program in Advanced Human Resources Management. She was selected by Rotman to help develop the School’s executive level human resources program.

Over the last 20 years, Kate has worked for clients in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, establishing an enviable track record for best in class programs in organization structure & design, employment branding and human resource planning & strategy. She has supported the human resources function at Coca-Cola, Virgin Mobile, Home Depot, Ontario Power Authority and Doctors Without Borders.

As Associate Advisor with Riverhorse Brand Advisors, Kate plays a key role in assignments relating to employee engagement and employment branding.