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Don Harkness

CFO

Don is a seasoned finance executive with 25+ years as a CFO, specializing in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across diverse industries. A graduate of Ivey Business School and a Chartered Accountant, Don transitioned early in his career from a multinational to focus on entrepreneurs, family-owned, private equity-backed, and small-cap public companies.

Throughout multiple economic cycles, Don has helped businesses scale during growth and navigate restructuring during downturns. He has led over 10 acquisitions, participated in equity and debt financings, and managed M&A transactions from the selling side.

With a hands-on approach, Don has taken on strategic and operational responsibilities beyond finance, including overseeing IT (ERP implementations), HR, fleet, distribution, and legal functions—making him a versatile leader in the SME space.

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Track record highlights

  • Lead company-wide ERP implementation project of fully integrated back office enterprise management solution
  • Experience with raising equity and convertible debt from friends and family, angel investors, family office and private equity firms
  • Acquired and integrated numerous businesses
  • Experience with raising and renegotiating debt financing
  • Took SaaS start-up med-tech company public through a reverse takeover of a TSXV listed capital pool corporation

Sector Experience

  • Technology-Media & Telecoms: SaaS, Packaged Software, Training & Support
  • Healthcare: Medical Rehabilitation Products, Manufacturing & Distribution
  • Healthcare: Professional Services
  • Services: Custom Software Development
  • Transportation: Container Movement

Don's specialist skills

Profit Improvement

Identification and management of key revenue and cost drivers

Systems and Controls

Former Director of IT; Process improvement and ERP implementations

Budgeting & Forecasting

Built and implemented financial models to support financing and planning

M&A Specialist

Acquired over 10 companies and divested 2

Executive Coaching

Improved financial literacy of leadership team

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