TLDR:
- Paula Cruickshank appointed as senior VP of fund investments at BDC Capital
- Cruickshank fills role previously held by Alison Nankivell, now MaRS’ CEO
Paula Cruickshank has been appointed as the senior vice-president of fund investments at BDC Capital, filling the position previously held by Alison Nankivell. With over 15 years of experience at BDC and nearly three decades of banking experience, Cruickshank will officially transition to her new role on July 1. BDC Capital is Canada’s most active limited partner, with investments in over 160 venture funds and commitments of over $1 billion. Cruickshank’s role will be critical for the Canadian venture capital ecosystem.
In her previous roles at BDC, Cruickshank oversaw financing and consulting services in British Columbia and Canada’s northern region, as well as digital transformation efforts between 2021 and 2023. She is currently serving as the senior vice-president for Ontario. BDC Capital recently launched a $50-million Seed Venture Fund to support pre-seed and seed-stage software startups. However, some Canadian VCs have expressed frustration with the organization’s lack of support for emerging fund managers.
Overall, Cruickshank’s appointment to lead BDC Capital’s fund investments highlights the organization’s continued commitment to supporting the growth and evolution of the Canadian venture capital ecosystem.
