Neil Murdoch retiring from Aston Hill

Derek Slemko, interim chief financial officer, will succeed Murdoch as COO. Slemko has been actively involved in all corporate operational initiatives in his current role, the company says in a statement.

Slemko joined Aston Hill in 2006 as corporate controller and during his time with the company has had several roles focused on both finance and operations including, most recently, senior vice president of finance and business development prior to being appointed as interim CFO in July 2015.

“I have every confidence in the capabilities Derek Slemko brings to the role of COO. I’ve personally worked alongside him since the day I joined Aston Hill almost nine years ago,” says Ben Cheng, Aston Hill’s president and chief investment officer, in a statement. “His expertise in the areas of finance, operations and business strategy combined with his deep knowledge of Aston Hill ensure a smooth transition and his success in the position.”

Murdoch intends to dedicate more time to his personal endeavours as a board member for several companies and charities and will continue as an angel investor within the Canadian business environment.

“There is never a perfect time to transition the COO role, but I feel that having achieved certain milestones it is a good time to pass on the reins,” says Murdoch in the statement. “I am proud of what we have achieved together and wish everyone continued success moving forward.”

“I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Neil since he first joined Aston Hill,” adds Cheng. “He has been an important part of the senior management team and was instrumental in the corporate reorganization that took place through 2015. His expertise in the areas of corporate strategy, business development and operations were valuable assets from the day he joined Aston Hill, and I know I speak for the entire Aston Hill team when I say that we will miss his day-to-day involvement and we wish him all the best.”