We bring clarity to complex and complicated situations.
A boutique consultancy specializing in providing strategic advice to C-suite executives, boards of directors, and governments.
What do we do?
We are seasoned strategic advisors to C-suite executives, boards of directors, and governments, with proven expertise in developing and executing strategies for special situations and projects across Canada.
We understand these situations demand a combination of creativity, discipline, flexibility, and contextual awareness, whether they are driven by M&A, crisis, business interruption, leadership transition, shareholder activism, challenging competitive conditions, or adverse government or regulatory action.
In our careers in government and advising large public companies, VC-backed firms, and charitable organizations, we have seen a growing need for boutique, tailored, and focused strategic advice for senior leaders as they pursue critical business objectives or are taking on significant strategic change.
Our collaborative and practical approach combines our deep experience with a holistic stakeholder management framework and innovative multi-disciplinary tactics.
We are proud of our reputation of being able to work with an organization’s existing legal, regulatory and other professional advisors, or independently and discreetly, as appropriate.
Who are we?
We are senior strategists who bring clarity to a complex and complicated situation.
We were proud to have been part of the small leadership team that led the regulatory and communications strategy to close the $26-billion sale of Shaw Communications to Rogers Communications in 2023. Widely recognized as one of the most complex transactions to be approved in Canada, that deal demonstrated the value that boutique, tailored, and focused strategic advice can provide to senior leaders.
We have more than five decades of combined experience working with public and private companies, governments, and not-for-profit organizations across Canada, providing counsel and leadership on complex regulatory matters, stakeholder management, change management, strategic communications, and government relations.
Chethan P. Lakshman
Chethan Lakshman is a senior communications and reputation management specialist who has worked for 30 years with leaders in highly regulated industries, VC-backed companies, and private firms, providing advice to C-suite executives, leading financial and change management communications, and M&A communications in several large organizations from RBC to Shaw Communications.
In addition to serving as a member of the board of directors of Shaw Rocket Fund, Chethan serves on a variety of not for profit boards and civic committees, including King’s Trust Canada, the Canadian Journalism Foundation, Vancouver-based Arts Umbrella, Toronto-based The Company Theatre (Chair), and Calgary Sports and Major Events Committee. Chethan recently stepped down from the board of The Walrus Foundation after 11 years, and is also former Chair of Calgary-based Hull Services and the Toronto Business Development Centre.
Chima Nkemdirim, K.C.
Chima Nkemdirim, K.C. has over 26 years of experience, advising corporations and governments at all levels. He most recently led the government relations strategy at Shaw Communications. Prior to Shaw, he was a partner at Dentons, where he helped clients, primarily in Canada’s energy sector, navigate Canada’s complex securities regulatory environment, assisting them with equity and debt financings and M&A. He is a seasoned political strategist, well respected across party lines, having successfully managed several political campaigns. He also served as Chief of Staff to former Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi for seven years.
Chima is an active volunteer on several non-profit boards. He currently serves as the Chair of Calgary Arts Development and the Vice Chair of The Walrus Foundation. He also serves on the boards of Arts Commons, The Black Opportunity Fund, and The Calgary Foundation.
Who are our clients?
Our selected clients are typically facing challenges driven by a number of factors, including M&A, crisis, business interruption, leadership transition, shareholder activism, competitive conditions, or adverse government or regulatory action.
We are retained by key investors, senior executives of public or private companies, governments, not-for-profit organizations, or family offices, or their boards of directors or advisory boards.
We are proud of our reputation of being able to work with existing professional advisors of an organization, or independently and discreetly, as appropriate.
Contact us.
chethan@rishinolan.com | 403-472-3101
chima@rishinolan.com | 403-561-2350
1732 31 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2T 1S5