Team

  • Hassan Khosrowshahi

    Chairman

    Phone: 604-694-8810
    Email: hk@wesbild.com

    Hassan Khosrowshahi was born in Tehran, Iran in 1940. He was educated in Iran and England and obtained his degree in law and economics from the University of Tehran.

    He joined his family company, the Minoo Industrial Group, in 1961. Minoo Industrial Group was a major manufacturer and distributor of food products, pharmaceutical and cosmetics with sales over US $350 million in 1978. Minoo Industrial Group produced products under its own brand names and under license for major international companies such as Beatrice Foods, Sandoz, United Biscuits, L'Oreal Group, Boots, and G.D. Searle. In addition, the Khosrowshahi family, through various companies which they controlled, had been the exclusive distributors for Nestle S.A. in Iran from 1954 until 1981.

    Hassan immigrated to Canada in 1981 and founded the Inwest Group of Companies. Khosrowshahi is the Chairman of Inwest Group of Companies. Khosrowshahi is married and he and his wife Nezhat have two children.

  • Ted Ayerst

    Senior Vice-President

    Phone: 604-484-3890
    Email: tayerst@wesbild.com

    Since joining Wesbild in 1989, he has been primarily responsible for all residential land development activities, including Westwood Plateau and Burke Mountain in Coquitlam, B.C. He is now responsible for all day-to-day activities in the land development division. Ted holds a degree in Urban Planning from Ryerson University in Toronto. Prior to joining Wesbild, he was responsible for master planned community developments located in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Palm Beach County, Florida.

  • David Bullus

    Vice-President, Development & Construction

    Phone: 604-484-3891
    Email: dbullus@wesbild.com

    David was trained as a City Planner and has worked in the Vancouver development industry since 1981. David holds a post-graduate degree in planning from Leeds University in England. After working as a Development Manager with Imperial Ventures for five years - building 900 apartments and the Meridian Hotel (now Sutton Place) - he joined Wesbild to oversee the design and construction of the Station Square Shopping Centre in Metrotown. David was also a key player in the development of Westwood Plateau, overseeing all of the development's design and infrastructure from start to finish. He is currently overseeing the planning and development of the Foothills at Burke Mountain.

  • Rod Cochrane

    General Manager, Resort

    Phone: 250-503-3418
    E-mail: rcochrane@wesbild.com

    Rod, Wesbild’s General Manager, Resort, is responsible for overseeing all aspects of resort operations at Predator Ridge including golf, food & beverage and lodging.

    Rod has been in the golf business for the last 25 years, with the last 10 years in a General Manager capacity. His time in golf has included being the Head Professional at Gallagher’s Canyon, Director of Golf for Fairmont Chateau Whistler and General Manager at Nicklaus North Golf Course. Rod’s commitment to the golf and resort experience and attention to detail is evident in every aspect of Predator Ridge.

    Originally from Prince George, Rod lives in Vernon with his wife and two daughters.

  • Rob Davidson

    Vice-President, Marketing

    Phone: 604-694-8827
    Email: rdavidson@wesbild.com

    Rob is Vice President, Marketing for Wesbild. Rob has worked in every facet of marketing over the past 20 years across a broad variety of different industries. Rob graduated with a BComm from UBC in 1987. He worked extensively on the agency side, including a five-year stint as Managing Director at Cossette. From there he spent three years as VP Marketing at BuildDirect, an online retailer of building supplies.

    Rob was chosen by Business in Vancouver as a recipient of their “40 Under 40” Award in 2002.

    Rob lives in North Vancouver with his wife and four children.

  • David Laronde

    Senior Vice-President, Shopping Centres

    Phone: 604-694-8819
    Email: dlaronde@wesbild.com

    David assumed the role as Senior Vice-President, Shopping Centres in 2011 and is responsible for all aspects of the Wesbild shopping centres and the strategic growth of Wesbild’s commercial assets.

    David joined Wesbild in 1988 and has worked since then with the Wesbild group of companies, including  Future Shop Ltd. and its affiliates in Canada and the Western United States.

    He is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia. David’s education includes a Bachelor of Science in Cell Biology from UBC, a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from UBC and law degrees from the University of Detroit (JD) and the University of Windsor (LLB).

  • Kevin Layden

    President and CEO

    Phone: 604-694-8826
    Email: klayden@wesbild.com

    Kevin is the President and CEO of Wesbild Holdings Ltd. Prior to Wesbild, Kevin was the President of Future Shop when it was purchased from Inwest Investments (Wesbild’s parent company) by Best Buy Co. Inc. in 2001. He remained in his post as President after the closing and was responsible for the integration with Best Buy. He led the team responsible for building out the Best Buy banner across Canada using the standalone infrastructure of Future Shop while simultaneously growing the Future Shop banner. This strategy became known as the “dual brand strategy” and was the subject of many doubters of the plan.

    After achieving the success of Future Shop and Best Buy and exceeding all expectations as separate banners, with distinct looks and shopping experiences, the dual brand strategy has now become the model for which Best Buy has chosen to expand internationally. The model is now being deployed in other countries, such as China and Europe.

    Kevin went on to become the COO of Best Buy International with responsibility of expanding Best Buy in Canada, Mexico, England, Turkey & China before leaving to join Wesbild.

    Kevin was also the chairman of Retail Council of Canada and served on the board for 8 years. He was on the Lower Mainland’s 2008 United Way Campaign Cabinet for the Retail and Services Group. He currently serves on the Board of UDI, Pacific Region as well he is the Co-Chair for the 2010 United Way Campaign Cabinet.

  • Matthew Lawrie

    Vice-President, Business Analytics

    Phone: 604-694-8834


    Matthew is Wesbild’s Vice-President, Business Analytics. Prior to joining Wesbild in 2010, he worked for a private equity group in New York City in an acquisitions and finance capacity and for one of the largest private developers in the eastern US, where he oversaw investment and financial aspects of a mixed-use and commercial real-estate development portfolio valued at over $1BN.

    Matthew earned an MBA in Finance and Accounting from New York University’s Stern School of Business and Masters of Architecture from the University of Waterloo. He has also worked in architectural roles in both North America and Europe on Mixed-Use, Commercial, and Residential projects.

  • Wayne Lee

    Vice-President, Investments

    Phone: 604-694-8818
    Email: wlee@wesbild.com

    Wayne Lee is Vice-President, Investments. He is responsible for the acquisition, development and disposition of real estate projects and other business ventures in Canada and the US. Wayne has worked in every facet of real estate development including accounting, finance, feasibility analysis, property management, project management, construction, residential sales and marketing, and commercial leasing.

    Wayne graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Commerce degree majoring in both Finance and Urban Land Economics. He has worked extensively on the Future Shop store development and real estate programs, Wesbild's shopping centre portfolio in the greater Pacific Northwest, high-rise condominium projects and residential land development.

    Wayne is a member of the Urban Development Institute and the International Council of Shopping Centres.

  • Brad Pelletier

    VICE-PRESIDENT, OKANAGAN

    Phone: 250-503-3582
    Email: bpelletier@wesbild.com

    As the Vice-President, Okanagan, Brad is responsible for all aspects of Wesbild’s Okanagan projects and operations including Predator Ridge and Turtle Mountain.Brad joined Wesbild from Melcor where he was the Vice President – Kelowna Region and President, Melcor Lakeside. He had been supervising the development, operations and marketing of Black Mountain Golf & Residential Community as well as overseeing Melcor’s other assets in BC. Prior to that, Brad was the Senior Vice President and Managing Director for IMG Canada, a unit of the world’s largest and most diversified sports and entertainment management company, and under his leadership, created the vision and business model to significantly improve operations and financials. Prior to IMG, Brad worked for Burrard International whose businesses include the ownership of numerous marquee golf facilities.Brad is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick and the London School of Economics. He has served on Boards of national golf and sports associations as well as several charitable Boards. Brad calls the Okanagan home along with his wife and 4 young kids.

  • Ali Rafi

    Investment Analyst

    Phone: 416-519-8142
    Email: alirafi@wesbild.com

    Ali Rafi is Wesbild’s Investment Analyst. Ali’s primary responsibility is to provide market intelligence reports that identify current trends and provide long term strategic analysis and recommendations that have a direct impact on portfolio decisions and returns. Ali has extensive experience in all facets of commercial real estate including site selection, lease negotiations, construction, marketing, merchandising, and store openings. Ali worked on the Future Shop retail expansion into the Ontario market helping the company grow to over 120 stores, achieve revenue in excess of $4 billion, and become the premiere brand for consumer electronics - a Canadian success story. Ali graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Southern Illinois University and a post graduate diploma from North London Polytechnic in London, England.

  • Randy Zien

    Deputy Chairman

    Phone: 604-694-8822
    Email: rbzien@wesbild.com

    Randy is Deputy Chairman of Inwest Investments and from 1998 to 2008 was the President of Wesbild Holdings. A lawyer by training, Randy practiced for many years as senior tax partner with Borden Ladner Gervais in Vancouver, Canada. He holds a law degree as well as a Bachelor of Commerce. Randy currently serves on the Board of UBC Properties, the organization that develops and manages the land owned by the University of British Columbia, the Coquitlam Builders' Trust, Collingwood School, Big Sky Golf Course, and the Urban Development Institute, a real estate development industry board. He is a past Governor of the Canadian Tax Foundation and taught for several years as an adjunct professor at UBC Law School.

  • Henry Rutgers

    Chief Financial Officer

    Phone: 604-694-8820
    Email: hrutgers@wesbild.com

    Henry joined Wesbild in 1985 and held the position of Vice President, Finance from 2002 until becoming the CFO in 2008. During his 25 years with Wesbild, he has been involved in all of the company's varied real estate development projects during that period. He is responsible for arranging financing for all the company's new and ongoing real estate investments and oversees the company's accounting, financial analysis, and treasury functions. Prior to joining Inwest, Henry had a seven year career with Price Waterhouse in Calgary.

    Henry holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary and is a Chartered Accountant. He is also a member of Financial Executives International.

  • Burke
  • Westwood
Wesbild Holdings Limited | Suite 2650 Park Place | 666 Burrard Street | Vancouver BC | V6C 2X8
Phone: 604.694.8800 | Fax: 604.694.0502 | Email: info@wesbild.com