TEAM

OUR TEAM

Hewitt Group Inc. was formed in late 2017 following the sale of Hewitt Equipment Limited, the operating company of the Hewitt family since 1952.

Jim Hewitt and his son David determined that forming a direct private equity group was the best way to remain active investors and builders in the Eastern Canadian economy.

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

JIM HEWITT

CHAIRMAN & CEO

In November 2017, Jim became Chairman and CEO of the Hewitt Group Inc. and of the Hewitt Foundation following the sale of Hewitt Equipment Limited, the Caterpillar dealer for Québec and Labrador West, which was founded in 1952 by Jim’s father, the late Robert Hewitt. Jim joined the company in 1968 and worked in various positions in Sales, Product Support and Marketing in Montréal, the Eastern Townships and Québec City.

In 1980, he became Vice President and General Manager of the Material Handling Division headquartered in St-Laurent, Québec. In 1983, he was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Hewitt Equipment Limited and a Director of the Company. In addition to his role as President and CEO, Jim became Chairman of the Company in 1992.

In 1995, under his leadership, the Company acquired Atlantic Tractors & Equipment Limited, the Caterpillar dealer for the Maritimes and then assumed the role of President and CEO of Atlantic, until 2007 when he became Chairman and CEO.

Following the creation of Hewitt Rentals Inc. and of Hewitt Material Handling Inc. in 1999 and 2001 respectively, he also became President and CEO of these two companies. In 2012, Jim became Chairman and CEO of Hewitt Equipment Limited and of its subsidiaries. At the time of the sale of the Company, Hewitt Equipment and its subsidiaries had over 2,100 employees and 48 branches across Québec, Ontario, the Maritimes and Labrador West.

Throughout his career, Jim has been active in both industry and community affairs. In 2007, he was inducted into the Conseil du Patronat’s Club des Entrepreneurs and in 2009, he was awarded the Centenary Medal from the Boy Scouts of Canada recognizing Hewitt Equipment’s many contributions to the Scouts.

In 2012 was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and most recently, in 2018, Jim and his son David were honoured by the Fraser Institute.

DAVID L. MCAUSLAND

VICE CHAIRMAN

David McAusland, Ad.E. is a partner in the firm of McCarthy Tétrault. He advises corporations, shareholders and entrepreneurs focusing on business development strategies, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, financings, governance matters and complex negotiations.

A graduate of McGill University (BCL ’76, LLB ’77), David is a respected member of the Canadian business community and recognized as a leading corporate lawyer and business advisor with broad international experience. He has been at the centre of numerous large, innovative and precedent setting corporate transactions and development strategies.

David is a highly experienced corporate director, and has been a strong advocate over many years on behalf of community and non-for-profit organizations and business causes.

RONI FARAH

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & CFO

In November 2017, Roni was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Hewitt Group following the sale of the family operating business.  He plays a central role in shaping and executing the Company’s Vision and driving its long-term strategy.  He oversees the Company’s dynamic investment portfolio, that spans public markets, private equity, real estate, and direct investments in operating companies.  He is an active member of the Executive Team and serves on the Investment Committees of both the Hewitt Group and the Hewitt Foundation.  

Roni joined Hewitt Equipment Limited in 2010 where he held several senior positions including Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer. He played a pivotal role in the sale of the Hewitt family business in 2017 and was instrumental in establishing both the Hewitt Group and the Hewitt Foundation thereafter.

With over 25 years of experience, Roni has developed extensive financial expertise, spearheading areas such as mergers and acquisitions, financial structuring, financing, and the implementation of complex ERP systems, enabling operational excellence across the organization.

Roni holds a Bachelor of Commerce and an MBA from McGill University and earned his ICD.D designation through the Directors Education Program. He also serves on the Investment Committee for Tyndale St-Georges, a community center based in Montréal.

KIM ANDERSON

VICE PRESIDENT

Kim was appointed Vice President of Hewitt Group Inc. following the sale of Hewitt Equipment Limited in October 2017 where she held the position of Communications Director and later named Chief Executive Officer of the Hewitt Foundation in June 2018.

Kim is a founding Member of the executive team at Hewitt Group and Hewitt Foundation, playing an active role in determining each entity’s Vision, Mission and strategy.  Collaborating with members of the Executive Team and Advisory Board, Kim helped design and implement the family’s vision in promoting, building and investing in the Eastern Canadian economy.

Kim holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Translation and a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish from Concordia University and earned her ICD.D designation through the Directors Education Program.  She joined the Montreal General Hospital Foundation’s Board in May 2018, where she continues to raise funds for the Cedars Golf Classic as Co-Chair and was most recently nominated to the Board and Communications Chair at Royal Montreal Golf Club in 2025.

THE TEAM

In alphabetical order

SUZANNE BERGERON-HEWITT

DIRECTOR

Suzanne joined Hewitt Equipment Limited as Secretary in 1984 and retired as Executive Assistant in July 2017 after 33 years of service. She played a pivotal role in the sale of the Hewitt family business in 2017 and subsequently in establishing the Hewitt Foundation with Jim. Prior to working at Hewitt Equipment, Suzanne worked for Redpath, in the offices, both in Montreal and in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Although Suzanne is passionate about her work and helped Hewitt reach many of its milestones over the years, she is best known for her compassion and her attentiveness. While at Hewitt, she would not only donate to the Centraide fundraising campaign, but advocate for its invaluable importance. Establishing the Hewitt Foundation is a chance to make a holistic change, have an impact, get involved and really help those in need.

CHANTAL BOURGEOIS

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Chantal graduated with a diploma in paralegal studies from Collège de Secrétariat Moderne (CSM) de Montréal in 1982 and worked for several law offices in Montréal, Laval and City of Lorraine and, as of 1994, worked as Assistant to Me Pierre Dupras, the only civil rights lawyer. In this role, she greatly improved her knowledge in accounting. In 2005, as Me Dupras was easing into retirement, she joined the Finance Department at Hewitt Equipment Limited as Secretary. In 2008, she was appointed to Assistant to the Corporate Controller until the sale of the Company in October 2017. She joined the Hewitt Group as Executive Assistant in 2017.

CHARLES CARAZATO

ANALYST, INVESTMENTS

Charles holds both a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Finance from Université de Sherbrooke, with a Specialization in Corporate Finance. He completed his final review on corporate development strategies for a growing public company in their early expansion stage. He also gained important experience in the investment world when working as an Intern in mergers and acquisitions for a public firm.
Charles joined Hewitt Group as an Investment Analyst in April 2022, bringing with him his knowledge acquired from his previous role as a Commercial Banking Analyst, where he worked on multiple credit transactions, and real estate financing deals. He is actively involved in the due diligence process and investment analysis, and implementation of different investment strategies spanning multiple asset classes.

JONATHAN CHABOT

DIRECTOR, INVESTMENTS

Jonathan has a Master’s Degree in Finance from the University of Sherbrooke, with a final project touching upon the creation of performance attribution measures adjusted to different risk metrics and received his CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) designation in 2013. He increased his knowledge of processes and procedures working at Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec. His career led him to spend over five years working for a prominent Québec family foundation where he managed a diversified portfolio on top of managing the risk. Moreover, Jonathan also worked for Venture Capital arm of Investissement Québec, where he participated the due diligence process of investments and in analyzing private transactions. Jonathan joined the Hewitt Group in October 2018 as Senior Investment Analyst and appointed to Director, Investments in July 2021. He is responsible for the due diligence process and investment analysis for real estate, private companies and public funds.

JULIE DESSUREAULT

CHIEF ACCOUNTANT & TREASURY ANALYST

Julie graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the Université de Québec à Montréal.  She gained experience working for multiple large companies as a Financial/Treasury Analyst, such as SNC-Lavalin, Guillevin International, Rolls-Royce Canada and Aveos.  She joined the Finance team at Hewitt Equipment Limited in September 2010 as Financial Analyst, and then the Treasury department in 2012, all the while continuing to offer support to the Finance Department.  She was also very involved in a variety of special projects including changing banks, replacing and implementing a new accounting system, as well as implementing a credit card purchasing service throughout the various subsidiaries of the Company.  Following the sale of Hewitt Equipment Limited to Toromont Industries, Julie was promoted to Supervisor, Treasury, for all divisions including the American division. She jointed the Hewitt Group in April 2020 as Chief Accountant and Treasury Analyst.

JOHN RAKOTONDRAJAONA

SENIOR INVESTMENT ANALYST

John holds a Master’s degree in Finance from the University of Sherbrooke where his final writing reviews and quantifies the cost of hedging against currency risk in an internationally diversified portfolio. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) since 2015 and is a member of the Montreal CFA Society and has passed all the exams towards obtaining the title of Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA). He spent nine years working for an asset management firm based in Montreal where he played a significant role in leading the fundamental research team. Using a quality value and long-term orientation approach, he conducted deep fundamental analysis to uncover potentially profitable investment ideas. John joined Hewitt Group in April 2021 as a Senior Investment Analyst.  He is actively involved in the due diligence process and investment analysis, and implementation of different investment strategies spanning multiple asset classes.

CECILY RANGER

DIRECTOR, PROPERTY AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Graduate from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Arts, Cecily started her career at CN Rail in the Real Estate Department. Developing skills over six years as a Facility Manager, her responsibilities ranged from small office relocations to overseeing major projects in both Montréal and Chicago. She then became a Third-Party Manager for the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Contract in Facility Management for BLJC and CBRE, managing over 30 branch bank locations in the Greater Montréal Area. Over the years, Cecily has also worked for RBC as Private Suite Manager and at SBM Site Services as Regional Manager, Canada, for custodial services for such clients as Merck Frosst, Hewlett Packard and Microsoft. In 2011, Cecily joined Hewitt Equipment Limited and spent seven years overseeing all construction projects. Her responsibilities started with conceptualization until delivery of the project, overseeing all personnel involved, including suppliers and managing budgets and timelines. Cecily understands the importance of a budget and  always maximizes resources in order to minimize costs and is committed to every project. Cecily joined Hewitt Group in 2018 and was appointed Director, Property & Project Management  in January 2021.

RODRIGO RIDANO

ANALYST, INVESTMENTS

Rodrigo Ridano, M.Sc, CFA, joined Hewitt Group in 2023, bringing with him seven years of professional experience in Finance. Prior to joining our team, he served as Internal Audit Advisor at Ivanhoe Cambridge, Financial Analyst at BMO Capital Markets, and Stockbroker at CIBC, in addition to multiple internships during his academic studies. His areas of expertise include data and financial analysis, risk management, and investments. Rodrigo holds two Bachelor’s Degrees, in Management and in Finance, from the University of Sherbrooke and a Master of Science in Finance from the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University, where he earned a membership to the Golden Key Honour Society. His Master's thesis focused on an empirical and quantitative analysis of ESG and institutional ownership data. In 2023, Rodrigo achieved the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. On a personal note, Rodrigo is passionate about health, culture and the environment. He enjoys maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and listening to numerous audiobooks each year. Additionally, he is committed to adopting green and sustainable habits in his daily life.

THE ADVISORY BOARD

THE ADVISORY BOARD

JIM HEWITT

Chairman & CEO
In November 2017, Jim became Chairman and CEO of the Hewitt Group Inc. and of the Hewitt Foundation following the sale of Hewitt Equipment Limited which was founded in 1952 by Jim’s father, the late Robert Hewitt. At the time of the sale, Hewitt Equipment and its subsidiaries had over 2,100 employees across Québec, Ontario, the Maritimes and Labrador West.

Throughout his career, Jim has been active in both industry and community affairs. He has been a Board member of the Canadian Construction Association, the Montréal Board of Trade and La Chambre de Commerce de Montréal Métropolitain. He was Chairman of the Conseil du Patronat du Québec from 1994-1997 and President of the Canadian Association of Equipment Distributors in 1988.

He currently serves on the Boards of the Québec Veterans Foundation (formerly Ste Anne’s Hospital Foundation), Pointe-à-Callière Museum and the 1000 Islands Boat Museum.

In 2007, he was inducted into the Conseil du Patronat’s Club des Entrepreneurs and in 2012 was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

DAVID L. MCAUSLAND

Vice Chairman
David McAusland, Ad.E. is a partner in the firm of McCarthy Tétrault. He advises corporations, shareholders and entrepreneurs focusing on business development strategies, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, financings, governance matters and complex negotiations. A graduate of McGill University (BCL ’76, LLB ’77), David is a respected member of the Canadian business community and recognized as a leading corporate lawyer and business advisor with broad international experience. He has been at the centre of numerous large, innovative and precedent setting corporate transactions and development strategies.

David is a highly experienced corporate director, and has been a strong advocate over many years on behalf of community and non-for-profit organizations and business causes.

MICHAEL F. MACEY

Member since 2017
Mike obtained his Bachelor of Commerce - Honours Accounting from Loyola College of the University of Montreal and his CPA CA from McGill University. He joined the Montréal office of PricewaterhouseCoopers (then McDonald Currie, Coopers & Lybrand) to start a 43-year career in public accounting.

A former lecturer in accounting and tax at McGill and Concordia universities, Mike has taught at the CICA tax course for accountants and lawyers specializing in taxation as well as Society of Estate and Tax Practitioners.

Mike acts as a Trustee of The Louis G. Johnson Foundation. Over the years he has served on several Boards including PricewaterhouseCoopers, Coopers & Lybrand as Chair, Lower Canada College, Royal Montreal Curling Club and Pointe-Claire Curling Club Catholic Community Services where he served as President and Treasurer. He also served on the Boards of the Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation and the Lower Canada College Foundation.

GÉRALD DÉSOURDY

Member since 2017
Gérald is a graduate from Ottawa University with a Bachelor’s in Commerce, specialization in Finance. In 1969, he joined the family business, Désourdy Construction, where he held several positions and was appointed President of Groupe Désourdy Inc. in 1981 up until its sale in 1992.


Following the sale of the company in 1992, he established Désourdy International, a company specializing in large-scale engineering projects, from civil engineering to building engineering. In 2002, he established HLT Énergies, a company specializing in solar energy, which later became a shareholder of the company Ekowatt based in Belgium, in partnership with the Wallon Regional Corporation. Since 2008, he has been overseeing the Parc sur Rivière Bromont Limited Partnership and the Samara Corporation, residential real estate developments.


He has been a member of several Board of Directors including Conseil du Patronat, the Cross Israel Highway Consortium, Agra Engineering, Hewitt Equipment Limited and President of Advisory Boards Association des constructeurs des routes et grands travaux du Québec (ACRGTQ) and Association Canadienne de la Construction (ACC).

NORMAND LEGAULT

Member since 2025
Over the years, Normand, an entrepreneur at heart, has developed extensive board experience in both private and public sectors, and, in 2001, was named Personality of the Year by La Presse in recognition of his leadership and contributions to the Montréal business community.

He managed and promoted the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Canada from 1990 to 2008, first as General Manager and later as President and Promoter. He served as President of the 2005 Montréal FINA World Aquatics Championships. Between 2018 and 2023, he acted as Senior Private Equity Advisor for the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB). He has been a Member of the Board of Cogeco Inc. since 2012 and served as a Board Member and Shareholder of Dorna Sports, the Madrid-based organization behind the prestigious MotoGP World Championship, from 2013 to 2025.

He also chaired the Boards of several major institutions, including Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), Société de la Place-des-Arts, Société du Parc Jean-Drapeau, and Montréal International. In addition, he served as both President and Chairman of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montréal.

Normand holds Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a Major in Marketing from Université de Sherbrooke.

NORAH TAYLOR

Member since 2025
Norah spent her career at Coopers & Lybrand/PwC from 1974 through 2011 where she retired as a Senior Audit Partner having held the position of Partner since 1988. Notably, she was the first woman appointed as a Partner at the Company. Norah covered clients in a broad variety of industries including Pharmaceuticals, Bio-Tech, Manufacturing and Distribution and High-Tech. Norah always prioritized the role of mentor throughout her career and was respected as a role model for women in leadership positions.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Loyola of Montréal, a Graduate Diploma in Public Accounting from McGill University and was a Chartered Accountant of the Order of Chartered Accountants of Québec until retirement.

Norah joined the Hewitt Equipment Ltd. Advisory Board in 2014 and was instrumental during the sale of the family business, the transition and the creation of Hewitt Group. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Catholic Community Services of Montréal and member of the Advisory Board for the capital campaign of St. Patrick’s Basilica.

JIM HEWITT

Chairman & CEO
In November 2017, Jim became Chairman and CEO of the Hewitt Group Inc. and of the Hewitt Foundation following the sale of Hewitt Equipment Limited which was founded in 1952 by Jim’s father, the late Robert Hewitt. At the time of the sale, Hewitt Equipment and its subsidiaries had over 2,100 employees across Québec, Ontario, the Maritimes and Labrador West.

Throughout his career, Jim has been active in both industry and community affairs. He has been a Board member of the Canadian Construction Association, the Montréal Board of Trade and La Chambre de Commerce de Montréal Métropolitain. He was Chairman of the Conseil du Patronat du Québec from 1994-1997 and President of the Canadian Association of Equipment Distributors in 1988.

He currently serves on the Boards of the Québec Veterans Foundation (formerly Ste Anne’s Hospital Foundation), Pointe-à-Callière Museum and the 1000 Islands Boat Museum.

In 2007, he was inducted into the Conseil du Patronat’s Club des Entrepreneurs and in 2012 was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

DAVID L. MCAUSLAND

Vice Chairman
David McAusland, Ad.E. is a partner in the firm of McCarthy Tétrault. He advises corporations, shareholders and entrepreneurs focusing on business development strategies, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, financings, governance matters and complex negotiations. A graduate of McGill University (BCL ’76, LLB ’77), David is a respected member of the Canadian business community and recognized as a leading corporate lawyer and business advisor with broad international experience. He has been at the centre of numerous large, innovative and precedent setting corporate transactions and development strategies.

David is a highly experienced corporate director, and has been a strong advocate over many years on behalf of community and non-for-profit organizations and business causes.

MICHAEL F. MACEY

Member since 2017
Mike obtained his Bachelor of Commerce - Honours Accounting from Loyola College of the University of Montreal and his CPA CA from McGill University. He joined the Montréal office of PricewaterhouseCoopers (then McDonald Currie, Coopers & Lybrand) to start a 43-year career in public accounting.

A former lecturer in accounting and tax at McGill and Concordia universities, Mike has taught at the CICA tax course for accountants and lawyers specializing in taxation as well as Society of Estate and Tax Practitioners.

Mike acts as a Trustee of The Louis G. Johnson Foundation. Over the years he has served on several Boards including PricewaterhouseCoopers, Coopers & Lybrand as Chair, Lower Canada College, Royal Montreal Curling Club and Pointe-Claire Curling Club Catholic Community Services where he served as President and Treasurer. He also served on the Boards of the Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation and the Lower Canada College Foundation.

GÉRALD DÉSOURDY

Member since 2017
Gérald is a graduate from Ottawa University with a Bachelor’s in Commerce, specialization in Finance. In 1969, he joined the family business, Désourdy Construction, where he held several positions and was appointed President of Groupe Désourdy Inc. in 1981 up until its sale in 1992.


Following the sale of the company in 1992, he established Désourdy International, a company specializing in large-scale engineering projects, from civil engineering to building engineering. In 2002, he established HLT Énergies, a company specializing in solar energy, which later became a shareholder of the company Ekowatt based in Belgium, in partnership with the Wallon Regional Corporation. Since 2008, he has been overseeing the Parc sur Rivière Bromont Limited Partnership and the Samara Corporation, residential real estate developments.


 He has been a member of several Board of Directors including Conseil du Patronat, the Cross Israel Highway Consortium, Agra Engineering, Hewitt Equipment Limited and President of Advisory Boards Association des constructeurs des routes et grands travaux du Québec (ACRGTQ) and Association Canadienne de la Construction (ACC).

NORMAND LEGAULT

Member since 2025
Over the years, Normand, an entrepreneur at heart, has developed extensive board experience in both private and public sectors, and, in 2001, was named Personality of the Year by La Presse in recognition of his leadership and contributions to the Montréal business community.

He managed and promoted the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Canada from 1990 to 2008, first as General Manager and later as President and Promoter. He served as President of the 2005 Montréal FINA World Aquatics Championships. Between 2018 and 2023, he acted as Senior Private Equity Advisor for the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB). He has been a Member of the Board of Cogeco Inc. since 2012 and served as a Board Member and Shareholder of Dorna Sports, the Madrid-based organization behind the prestigious MotoGP World Championship, from 2013 to 2025.

He also chaired the Boards of several major institutions, including Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), Société de la Place-des-Arts, Société du Parc Jean-Drapeau, and Montréal International. In addition, he served as both President and Chairman of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montréal.

Normand holds Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a Major in Marketing from Université de Sherbrooke.

NORAH TAYLOR

Member since 2025
Norah spent her career at Coopers & Lybrand/PwC from 1974 through 2011 where she retired as a Senior Audit Partner having held the position of Partner since 1988. Notably, she was the first woman appointed as a Partner at the Company. Norah covered clients in a broad variety of industries including Pharmaceuticals, Bio-Tech, Manufacturing and Distribution and High-Tech. Norah always prioritized the role of mentor throughout her career and was respected as a role model for women in leadership positions.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Loyola of Montréal, a Graduate Diploma in Public Accounting from McGill University and was a Chartered Accountant of the Order of Chartered Accountants of Québec until retirement.

Norah joined the Hewitt Equipment Ltd. Advisory Board in 2014 and was instrumental during the sale of the family business, the transition and the creation of Hewitt Group. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Catholic Community Services of Montréal and member of the Advisory Board for the capital campaign of St. Patrick’s Basilica.

HEWITT GROUP

The Hewitt Team in 2017.

Standing (from left to right): Chantal Bourgeois, Jonathan Chabot, David Hewitt, Suzanne Bergeron-Hewitt, Roni Farah, Cecily Ranger.

Seated (from left to right): David McAusland, Kim Anderson, Jim Hewitt, Russell Hiscock.

CHANTAL BOURGEOIS

JONATHAN CHABOT

DAVID HEWITT

SUZANNE BERGERON-HEWITT

RONI FARAH

CECILY RANGER

DAVID L. MCAUSLAND

KIM ANDERSON

JIM HEWITT

RUSSELL HISCOCK