Bruce Power’s Leadership Team is responsible for more than 4,000 employees who work to provide Ontario with over 30 per cent of its electricity.
Eric Chassard is President and CEO of Bruce Power. Eric previously served as the company’s Executive Vice-President of Projects and Engineering, where he successfully led the on-time and on-budget delivery of Bruce Power’s Life-Extension Program, which included delivering the first of six unit refurbishments ahead of schedule and under budget in 2023.
Eric has an extensive background in the nuclear industry and has held a series of senior executive positions both in nuclear operations and overseeing multibillion-dollar project portfolios. Prior to joining Bruce Power, Eric was CEO of Menter Newydd, a joint venture between Hitachi, Bechtel and JGC responsible for the construction of the Wylfa nuclear power plants. He also held increasingly senior positions within the AREVA Group, most recently serving as Senior Executive Vice-President of AREVA covering worldwide engineering, supply chain and project activities.
Eric has a degree in Engineering specializing in Nuclear Engineering and holds a post-graduate diploma in Nuclear Reactor Physics. In 2018, he was awarded the French National Order of Merit for his leadership contributions to AREVA. Eric proudly became a Canadian citizen in 2023.
Ken Thomson is the Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice-President for Bruce Power. He is responsible for the overall nuclear leadership of Bruce Power’s fleet of eight nuclear reactors producing 6,500 megawatts of zero-carbon energy for the Province of Ontario.
Starting his career with Bruce Power in 2002, Ken has held many senior positions including Vice- President, Life Extension and Plant Manager at both of the two stations located on the Bruce Site (Bruce A Plant Manager role for 3.5 years, Bruce B station for 2 years). Kens accomplishments range from helping lead sustained improved performance at each station as well as significant contributions to the Bruce Power Life Extension program. Ken has held various roles in Engineering, Chemistry and Operations during his tenure with the organization.
Ken has been and continues to be active in the nuclear industry. Most recently he has been the Executive Sponsor of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) International Human and Organizational Performance Working Group (I-HOP) since February of 2022. This role compliments Kens passion for excellence in Organizational Effectiveness, Leadership as well as Continuous Improvement.
Ken holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Brunswick.
James Scongack is the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President at Bruce Power. In this role James is responsible for organizational transformation and a wide-range of operational and capital project services at the world’s largest operating nuclear facility and Canada’s largest private-sector electricity infrastructure project. He also has responsibility for procurement, supply chain, nuclear regulatory affairs, external affairs, environment, sustainability, asset dispatch, medical isotopes and business development.
During his over 20-years of service at Bruce Power, he’s served in several diverse leadership roles at the company including the Vice-President of the Bruce B Generating Station where he was responsible for the safe, reliable operations and project integration at the facility consisting of four large-scale CANDU nuclear reactors. He’s also served as the company’s Vice-President of Environment & Corporate Affairs and in leadership roles reporting to the President & CEO dating back to 2005.
James has provided leadership in several large-scale commercial transactions and labour agreements including the 2015 agreement with the Province of Ontario extending the life of the facility to 2064 through a multi-Billion investment program.
James serves as Chair of the Independent Electricity System Operator Strategic Advisory Committee, Chair of the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council and Chair of the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO). He’s previously served as a Director on LifeLabs, Canada’s largest community laboratory services provider and the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.
James has been recognized by the Globe and Mail Report on Business 2022 Best Executive Awards and awarded the Platinum Jubilee Award in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th Anniversary on the Throne for his work on COVID-19 Provincial vaccination efforts. He’s also a recipient of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 by Caldwell/Bloomberg.
James has an Executive MBA from London’s Ivey Business School and a Chartered Director through McMaster’s DeGroote Business School. James holds a master’s degree from the University of Guelph College of Management and Economics in Leadership and a BA (Hons) and has completed Master’s-level Project Management certification through York University’s Schulich Business School. He is also a graduate of the US-based Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Senior Plant Management Program and Bruce Power’s Enhanced Operational Training Program.
Laurent joined Bruce Power in 2023 as Senior Vice-President, Performance Assurance and New Build and was appointed to Executive Vice-President, Projects in 2024.
Laurent will be responsible for Major Component Replacement, Project Management and Construction, Asset Management, Sustaining Capital, site-wide Quality and Project Controls, as well as preparing a New Build Project.
Prior to Bruce Power, Laurent worked for EDF Energy with over 25 years of experience in Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning. During his career he was responsible for successfully leading several first-of-a-kind multibillion-dollar Projects like the first Nuclear Power European Pressurized Water Reactor (EPR) worldwide project up to the commercial operation.
Laurent has been instrumental in strengthening our Project Control processes and organization, improving quality and delivery of our main components suppliers and structuring our New Build evaluation process.
Laurent holds a Master’s degree of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Besancon in France.
Kevin Kelly currently serves as the Executive Vice-President, Finance, and Chief Financial Officer. He was previously the company’s Executive Vice-President, Nuclear Development. Previously, Kevin was responsible for Supply Chain, Site Services, Business and Capital Planning, Corporate Finance and Reporting, Treasury and Taxation, Energy Trading, and Pension Asset Management.
Kevin brings more than 25 years of experience in the areas of strategic and operational planning, financial reporting and cost management, treasury, taxation, pension and insurance. More recently, he was part of the Bruce Power team which successfully negotiated a long-term commercial framework with the Province of Ontario enabling the life extension of the facility up to 2064.
Kevin joined Bruce Power as the Head of Finance when the company was formed in 2001 after working with British Energy when that entity acquired 80 per cent of Bruce Power. In 2005, he was appointed as Vice-President Finance and supported the 2005 Bruce Power Refurbishment Agreement negotiation team and the related restructuring of Bruce Power. He has also served as the Chief Financial Officer, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice-President, Finance and Commercial Services, and Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services.
Prior to his role at Bruce Power, Kevin was responsible for setting up the reporting and governance structure for British Energy in North America. During this time he also served on the due diligence and transition team focusing on the transaction between Bruce Power and Ontario Power Generation. Kevin has also worked at BDO’s Toronto office where he was responsible for managing various operational and financial client groups that consisted of both owner-managed businesses and public companies.
Kevin is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Reactor Technology Course for Utility Executives. He is a CPA and received his Chartered Accountant (CA) designation from the ICAO in 1997 and holds a Bachelor of Accounting degree from Brock University.
Brian Hilbers is the Senior Vice-President and Chief Administrative Officer at Bruce Power. In this role Brian is responsible for business strategy, governance, enterprise risk management, human resources, labour relations, law, commercial internal audit and various independent oversight groups. During his 20 plus year career at Bruce Power, Brian has also led high performing teams in emergency and protective services, projects and commercial services.
Prior to joining Bruce Power, Brian practiced law at international firms in Toronto and New York. He was called to the bar in Ontario and admitted to the bar in New York.
In addition to undergraduate and graduate degrees from McGill University and the University of Windsor, respectively, Brian has a law degree from Western University, an Executive MBA from the Ivey School of Business and has received executive level training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Gary Newman joined Bruce Power in 2004 as the Department Manager of Equipment Life Cycle Engineering. He was appointed to his current position of Chief Engineer & Senior Vice-President of Engineering in June of 2008.
Gary carries the responsibility for all Engineering activity at Bruce Power and holds the Design Authority for the Bruce Power site.
Gary is an active participant in numerous boards and holds Director positions on the Board of Directors for the CANDU Owners Group (COG) (Chairman), the Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII), the University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (UNENE) (Vice-Chairman), as well as the Advanced Nuclear Research Centre ((ANRC) Strathclyde)).
Prior to joining Bruce Power, Gary was employed by AMEC – Nuclear Safety Solutions Ltd., as the Director, Structural Integrity Division. He was also the Senior Department Manager of Fuel, Fuel Channels & Reactor Components at Ontario Power Generation, and originally joined Ontario Hydro in 1990, where he was the Senior Department Manager, Fuel Channels.
Gary holds a Masters of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo.
Karen Smith is the Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Bruce Power. Her role is to oversee Bruce Power’s Human Resources function including Labour Relations, Recruitment, Talent Management, Employee Engagement, Ethics, Wellness and Total Rewards.
Karen has been with Bruce Power 14 years and held various roles within Human Resources as well as in the areas of Corporate Affairs, Strategic Support and Corporate Services. Prior to joining Bruce Power Karen worked for BlackBerry. She also is a board member with the Electricity of Human Resources Canada (EHRC) as well as a member of the Appeals Committee with the Girl Guides of Canada Board of Directors.
Karen holds an Executive MBA from Schulich- Kellogg program, has a degree in Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University as well as an Executive Certificate in Human Resources Leadership from Cornell University.
Karen resides in Kincardine Ontario with her husband and their daughter.
Dela Avle currently serves as General Counsel at Bruce Power. This role includes oversight of the Law Division as well as his own areas of practice, which include corporate, commercial, infrastructure, litigation, information technology and intellectual property matters.
Dela joined Bruce Power in 2009, as senior legal counsel. He subsequently also spent time in rotations and secondments in senior management roles in the Supply Chain, Projects & Engineering, and Human Resources Divisions.
Prior to joining Bruce Power, Dela practiced law at major law firms in Toronto, New York and Ghana, where he practiced corporate/commercial law and litigation.
Dela has a Bachelor of Arts (Magna Cum Laude) from Brandeis University in Massachusetts, where he was a Wien International Scholar and also selected to Phi Beta Kappa academic honors society. He obtained his JD from Harvard Law School, and has been called to the bar in Ontario, New York state and Ghana.
Dela is also a graduate of the Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Manager program from the Aresty Institute of Executive Education at Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania, as well as the Mini MBA for in-House Counsel program at the Boston University School of Management. Additionally, Dela is a graduate of the Rotman School of Business (University of Toronto) and the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association’s Business Leadership Program for In House Counsel, with the Certified In House Counsel (C.I.C.) designation; and he also holds a Masters Certification in Project Management from York University’s Schulich Business School.
