OUR Leadership
Board of Directors
Duncan N. R. Jackman
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Mr. Jackman is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of E-L Financial Corporation Limited and its associated companies Economic Investment Trust Limited and United Corporations Limited. He has held these positions since 2001. Prior to joining E-L Financial Corporation Limited, Mr. Jackman held a variety of positions including portfolio manager at Cassels Blaikie and investment analyst at RBC Dominion Securities Inc.
Mr. Jackman holds a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from McGill University.
Mr. Jackman has been a director of Algoma since 1997 and Chairman since 2010.
Mats Berglund
Mr. Berglund served as the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Pacific Basin, a Hong Kong-listed owner and operator of dry bulk vessels controlling a fleet of over 200 ships from 2012-2021. Mr. Berglund has more than 35 years of shipping experience from both private and public companies in Europe, the USA and Asia, including as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of marine fuel trader Chemoil Energy and Head of Crude Transportation for Overseas Shipholding Group. Previously, he served in a variety of leadership roles across the Stena group of companies, culminating as President of Stena Rederi, Stena’s parent company for all shipping activities.
He is an Independent Director of Ardmore Shipping (an international product & chemical carrier company) and of the Northern Marine Group (a ship management and marine and offshore services provider).
Mr. Berglund holds an Economist degree from the Gothenburg University Business School and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard.
Mr. Berglund was elected to the Board of Algoma in 2023.
Richard B. Carty
Mr. Carty is Vice-President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, E-L Financial Corporation Limited. Prior to joining E-L Financial, Mr. Carty held executive roles in the human resources, legal and compliance areas with a large Canadian life insurance company.
Mr. Carty has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Honours) from Queen’s University, an LLB from the University of Victoria, and an MBA from Imperial College Business School (London). Mr. Carty was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1992.
Mr. Carty has been a director of Algoma since 2010.
Jens Grønning
Mr. Grønning is a partner in boutique asset management firm Otto Danielsen (founded in 1944), which an equal partner and him bought in 2016.
Previously, Mr. Grønning was CEO of Navig8 Chemical Tankers from 2019 until the merger with Hafnia Group in 2022. Prior to that he served on the board of the company as well as CTG, a New York based chemical tanker ship-owner. Until 2015, Mr. Grønning was CEO at Team Tankers, a leading chemical tanker company listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange, as well as Senior Advisor to the Board of Tufton Oceanic, a London based fund management company. From 2008 to 2013 he was CEO of UACC in Dubai, operating a fleet of MR chemical and LR1 product tankers. Before this, he was COO of Eitzen Chemical from 2004, after completing a 5 year tenure for the Group in Singapore, where he was in charge of the company’s technical ship management, Aframax floating storage activity (FSO) as well as dry-bulk sale & purchase. Mr. Grønning has studied an Executive MBA at IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Mr. Grønning was elected to the Board of Algoma in 2023.
E. M. Blake Hutcheson
Blake Hutcheson is President and CEO of OMERS. He is responsible for the overall leadership and performance of the OMERS enterprise. He was appointed OMERS President and Chief Pension Officer in 2018. His mandate included leading OMERS pension business, Strategy, Communications & Public Affairs, Legal, Technology and Operations, in addition to Asset Liability Management.
Blake previously served as President and CEO of Oxford Properties Group since 2010, and in 2014 he also became Chief Investment Officer, Real Estate and Strategic Investments and added the OMERS Platform Investments portfolio, an integral part of the OMERS innovative agenda.
Prior to OMERS, Blake was the Head of Global Real Estate with Mount Kellett Capital Management, a New York-based private equity firm with offices in key locations around the globe. Previously, he was Chairman and President of the Canadian, Latin American, and Mexican operations for CB Richard Ellis, the world’s largest real estate services company.
A former recipient of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, Blake is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario. He also completed a Graduate Diploma in International and Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics (with Distinction) and a Master’s Degree in Real Estate Development at Columbia University (where he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2017).
Mr. Hutcheson has been a director of Algoma since 2003.
Trinity O. Jackman
Ms. Jackman has a Ph. D in classical archaeology from Stanford University and a B.A. from Columbia University. Ms Jackman completed post-doctoral studies at Columbia University and has taught at Columbia. Prior to her current role at York University, she served as a Curatorial Consultant to the Royal Ontario Museum. Ms. Jackman has served on the boards of directors of the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery (2009 to 2014, including Vice-President of the Board from 2012 to 2014) and the Canadian Opera Company (2011 to 2014).
Ms. Jackman was elected to the Algoma Board of Directors in 2021.
Mark McQueen
Mr. McQueen joined the Algoma board in 2015.
Mr. McQueen is President and Executive Managing Director, Innovation Banking at CIBC. He also serves as a member of the governing council of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, as Deputy Chair (Student Awards) for the Campaign for Western, and is the Honourary Captain of the Royal Canadian Navy.
Mr. McQueen’s career in the financial services industry began in 1993. Prior to the acquisition of his firm, Wellington Financial LP, by CIBC, Mr. McQueen held roles with the predecessor firm to Macquarie Capital Markets, as well as BMO Nesbitt Burns and Bank of Montreal.
Mr. McQueen is the former Chairman of the Board of the Toronto Port Authority and of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. Previously he was an Executive Assistant and advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister and served as Special Assistant to two cabinet ministers.
Mr. McQueen holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Western Ontario.
Clive P. Rowe
Mr. Rowe is a Partner with Oskie Capital, a New York investment firm focused on turnarounds that he co-founded in 2010. Prior to Oskie, he was a partner at SLS Capital and before that he was a strategy consultant. He is Chairman of the Board of RoadOne Intermodal Logistics, a trucking company, and he is a member of the Board of Empire Life Insurance Co.
Mr. Rowe has a MBA from the Harvard Business School and BA from Harvard College.
Mr. Rowe has been a director of Algoma since 1999.
Eric Stevenson
Mr. Stevenson is co-founder of Perseverance Marine, a privately held investment group which has successfully pursued a strategy of value investing in cyclical shipping markets. Perseverance has owned or invested in a broad range of ship types including refrigerated cargo vessels, small product tankers and chemical tankers, offshore supply, multi-purpose ships and bulk carriers.
From the mid-1980s, Mr. Stevenson worked as an investment banker in London, England, specializing in cross-border mergers and acquisitions and equity issues. Latterly, he served as Vice President, Corporate Finance, with the investment banking arm of Barclays Bank.
Mr. Stevenson graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont with an Honours B.A. in History. He earned an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario in 1986.
Mr. Stevenson’s community activities are primarily focused on conservation and the environment. He is the former Chair, and a member of the Executive Committee, of Environmental Defence Canada.
Mr. Stevenson was elected to the Board of Algoma in 2013.
Gregg Ruhl
President and Chief Executive Officer
Gregg Ruhl is responsible for the overall strategic direction of Algoma Central Corporation. Gregg joined Algoma in November of 2015 as Senior Vice-President, Technical, became Chief Operating Officer in 2017 and in 2019 assumed the role of President and CEO. Mr. Ruhl has over 35 years’ experience in the transportation industry, including over 25 years in marine transportation.
Prior to joining Algoma in 2015, Mr. Ruhl held increasingly senior positions within the marine, terminal, and rail industries.
Mr. Ruhl is co-chair of the Marine Transportation Advisory Council, Director on the board of the International Chamber of Shipping, and a member of the Domestic Ship Owners Committee of Canada’s Chamber of Marine Commerce.
Mr. Ruhl has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineer and an MBA.
Mr. Ruhl was elected to the Board of Algoma in 2023.
Senior Leadership
Gregg Ruhl
President and Chief Executive Officer
Gregg Ruhl is responsible for the overall strategic direction of Algoma Central Corporation. Gregg joined Algoma in November of 2015 as Senior Vice-President, Technical, became Chief Operating Officer in 2017 and in 2019 assumed the role of President and CEO. Mr. Ruhl has over 35 years’ experience in the transportation industry, including over 25 years in marine transportation.
Prior to joining Algoma in 2015, Mr. Ruhl held increasingly senior positions within the marine, terminal, and rail industries.
Mr. Ruhl is co-chair of the Marine Transportation Advisory Council, Director on the board of the International Chamber of Shipping, and a member of the Domestic Ship Owners Committee of Canada’s Chamber of Marine Commerce.
Mr. Ruhl has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineer and an MBA.
Mr. Ruhl was elected to the Board of Algoma in 2023.
J. Wesley Newton
Executive Vice-President, Strategy and Business Development
Wes Newton directs strategic and business development for the Corporation and is responsible for the Corporation's international business units including its ocean self-unloaders, global short sea short-sea divisions (cement and mini-bulk), and FureBear (product tanker) joint venture.
Prior to joining Algoma in 2011, Mr. Newton held a position as senior corporate counsel with the Canadian subsidiary of a large international express air shipping company and had practiced litigation and commercial law in private practice. Called to the Ontario Bar in 2004, Mr. Newton holds a Honours Bachelor of Arts (HBA) in History from Queens University and an LLB from the University of New Brunswick.
Steve Wright
Executive Vice-President, Operations & Technical
As Executive Vice-President of Operations and Technical at Algoma, Steve Wright oversees Operations, Engineering, and Technical teams. Mr. Wright focuses on Algoma's key strategic and optimization priorities, ensuring safety, environmental, and operational efficiency standards are met, as per company policies, government regulations, and customer expectations. Steve has 40 years of experience in the marine industry in both operating and technical positions.
Prior to becoming part of the Algoma team Steve was Director Technical (Projects), and Director Operations with Seaway Marine Transport. Steve started his career as a Marine Engineer with Upper Lakes Shipping and was General Manager Special Projects prior to joining Seaway Marine Transport.
Steve holds a 1st Class Combined Marine Engineering Certificate and spent 13 years as an Engineering Officer, 6 as a Chief Engineer, prior to moving into shore-based management positions.
Christopher Lazarz, CPA, CA
Chief Financial Officer
Christopher Lazarz is the Chief Financial Officer of Algoma Central Corporation, effective January 1, 2025. He has been with Algoma since 2011, holding various finance positions of increasing responsibility. Prior to his appointment as CFO, he served as Vice-President of Corporate Finance.
Mr. Lazarz oversees the company’s comprehensive financial and business information systems strategies and operations. He monitors the financial performance of the company, its partnerships, and its investments. Additionally, he is responsible for financial reporting and compliance, managing the capital structure, investor relations, risk management, corporate taxation, and treasury management. Mr. Lazarz also provides financial oversight for Algoma’s growth and expansion initiatives.
Christopher is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA) and holds an Honours Bachelor of Accounting (BAcc) degree from Brock University. Before joining Algoma, he worked in audit, accounting, and advisory roles at Deloitte LLP.
Jeffrey M. DeRosario, P.Eng
Senior Vice-President, Commercial
Jeff DeRosario leads the commercial team, with responsibility for commercial strategy, sales/marketing, contracting, vessel scheduling, and customer service for the domestic dry-bulk and product tankers businesses. Mr. DeRosario joined Algoma in 2013 as Director – Sales, and was promoted to Assistant Vice President, Marketing in 2018 and subsequently promoted to Vice President, Commercial in 2020.
Prior to joining Algoma, Mr. DeRosario held progressively more senior engineering and sales management roles over 10 years in the mining and steel industries.
Mr. DeRosario is a licensed Professional Engineer, with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Queen's University.
Mario Battista, CPA, CMA
Vice-President, Information Systems and Security & Business Information Systems
Mario Battista directs all aspects of accounting operations, overseeing all transactions related to general ledger, receivables, payables, payroll and financial reporting. Mr. Battista is responsible for the Corporation’s Business Information systems and their continual development and enhancements to meet the needs of the Company.
Mr. Battista joined Algoma Central Corporation in 2003 and was Corporate Controller from 2003 to 2011 and Director, Business Systems from 2011 to 2017. In April 2023, Mr. Battista assumed a new role as Vice-President, Information Systems and Security. The creation of this role, with its focus on developing future information systems and data security, is intended to highlight the critical role that our systems play in the success of our company.
Mr. Battista is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Certified Management Accountant, and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Brock University.
Charlie Bungard, CEng, FIMarEST
Vice-President, Operations
Charlie Bungard is responsible for all Marine, Technical and QHSE operations with Algoma’s fleet of domestic and international vessels. Mr. Bungard has a lengthy experience in the marine industry, having been involved in a broad range of maritime activities and operations in various sectors of this industry.
Mr. Bungard initially joined Algoma Central Corporation in 2015, was appointed Assistant Vice-President, Technical Operations in April 2020 and on September 1, 2022 assumed the role of Vice-President, Operations.
Charlie started his maritime career as an Engineering Cadet with Cunard Line and progressed over 15 years at sea to the rank of 1st Engineer with Disney Cruise line. In 2005, Charlie joined an offshore support company in the UK as Superintendent, and since then has been employed in various senior technical operations and management roles in the international marine industry. This has included work with vessels employed in Offshore Support, Tug/Barge, RoRo/RoPax, Dry Bulk, and Oil Tanker operations.
Charlie is a registered Chartered Engineer, a Chartered Marine Engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology. He was educated at South Tyneside College in the UK and holds an unlimited Class 1 Certificate of Competency in Marine Engineering.
Cathy Smith
Vice-President, Human Resources
Cathy is responsible for the Human Resources and Fleet Personnel departments at Algoma. In this role, Cathy works closely with other members of the leadership team and provides leadership and oversight for all aspects of recruitment and selection, talent management and development, employee and labour relations, compensation and benefits, disability management, diversity and inclusion, and community involvement.
Cathy joined Algoma in 2008 as Director, Human Resources, supporting both staff and fleet personnel in all aspects of human resources including labour relations, acting as Chief Negotiator for Algoma for several collective bargaining renewals. In 2018, Cathy was promoted to her current position as Vice President, Human Resources with a specialized focus in corporate human resources. As of 2024, Cathy once again holds a dual focus role, concentrating on both corporate human resources and fleet personnel strategies and initiatives.
Cathy has extensive experience in strategic human resources in her 20+ year career. Prior to joining Algoma, Cathy led the human resource department at manufacturing facilities for two large multinational food manufacturing companies. To complement her experience, Cathy holds a BA in Psychology and a Human Resource Management post grad diploma.
Kelly Humes
Assistant Vice-President Technical & Purchasing
Kelly Humes is responsible for both the Technical Services and Purchasing teams at Algoma. Kelly’s key focus lies with developing procurement strategies, providing asset management of the domestic fleet, driving special projects and participating in revenue generation strategies.
Kelly joined the Algoma team in 2007 as Manager, Tech Services. Her journey with Algoma has taken her to Director of Technical Services in 2017 and subsequently adding the portfolio of purchasing in 2019. Kelly assumed the role of Assistant Vice-President, Technical and Purchasing in September, 2022.
Kelly graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland with a Bachelor of Engineering, Naval Architecture degree and prior to joining Algoma spent 13 years in private marine consulting. During her consulting years Kelly had the opportunity to work in many facets or the marine transportation marketplace including inspection, asset preservation, and project management.
Joshua H. Juel, MILR
Assistant Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Marine Operations
Joshua Juel has responsibility for regulatory affairs pertaining to vessel operations for both Algoma’s domestic and international fleets, including advocacy as industry leader for the company at all levels of the Canadian, United States and international governments. He is also the Company Security Officer (CSO).
Mr. Juel joined Algoma in 2018 and successfully directed all aspects of the Fleet Personnel function for Algoma’s domestic fleet prior to assuming his current role. Before that, Mr. Juel was a Manager for the marine divisionof the Canadian National Railway Company (CN), with a particular focus on Great Lakes Fleet and Compagnie de gestion de Matane (COGEMA). Before that, Mr. Juel worked in the cruise line industry in positions of increasing responsibility, the most recent of which was with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) as a Human Resources Director.
Mr. Juel served as Vice Chairman of the Lake Carriers’ Association from 2017 to 2018, and holds degrees from the Great Lakes Maritime Academy and Cornell University. He also earned his license as a U.S. Merchant Marine deck officer for vessels of unlimited tonnage, in addition to marine pilotage from Duluth, Minnesota to Cape Vincent, New York. Mr. Juel is also a certified Class I Railroad Conductor.
Robin Waldie
Assistant Vice-President, Engineering
Robin Waldie is responsible for the Engineering management of Algoma’s Domestic dry-bulk Fleet technical aspects and will be championing the team’s operational initiatives. Prior to joining Algoma, Mr. Waldie worked for the Canadian Coast Guard (Cadet), Stelco, and then Upper Lakes Shipping.
Mr. Waldie joined Algoma in 1993 in the Vessel Computerization Project and started working shipboard in 1995 progressing through every engineering officer position until 1999 where he was promoted to Chief Engineer with Algoma. In 2012 Mr. Waldie accepted a position ashore as a ship manager and has advanced through the dry-bulk Engineering positions until promoted to Assistant Vice-President in September, 2022.
Mr. Waldie graduated the cadet program from Georgian College and has a Fourth Class Steam and First Class Motor, Certificates of Competency from Transport Canada.