Leadership Assets
Visual assets and copy pertaining to our leadership team, all in one place.
Sid Paquette
Sid heads all aspects of our strategy and operations. Before joining RBC, he was a managing partner at OMERS Ventures, where he led several multi-stage investments in tech and innovation startups.
Previously, Sid worked in the international tax practice of a Big Four accounting firm and also worked at one of Canada’s leading corporate law firms, where he specialized in providing M&A advice to Canadian and foreign-based multinational corporations, as well as developing and implementing innovative intellectual property strategies.
Sid has a uniquely versatile skillset, and holds a BA from York University, JD from Osgoode Hall Law School, MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, and an MTax from the University of Waterloo. He’s also an avid ‘60s and ‘70s car aficionado.
Tony Barkett
Tony leads our full technology and innovation banking practice. He provides strategic oversight of product and market development, and heads our national relationship management and credit advisory teams.
Prior to RBC, Tony was the Managing Director for Silicon Valley Bank, focused on helping technology companies thrive in Canada’s growing innovation economy. Previously, Tony managed SVB’s Eastern Cleantech practice and worked with technology companies under $100M. Prior to this role, Tony managed SVB’s Southeast Asset Based Lending Group.
Over the course of more than twenty years at SVB, he’s provided a variety of financing solutions to technology companies at every stage.
Hector Crespo
Hector is the ultimate blend of creative thinking and strategic execution. He and his team work closely with our venture founders and partners to help them discover new business opportunities, gain insights on the human experience, and design exceptional products and services.
Prior to joining RBC, Hector worked in consulting at top advertising and digital agencies, where he built and managed creative service and marketing practices for clients including Fortune 500 companies and major league sport franchises. He’s also led digital and mobile strategy and delivery teams at large financial institutions.
While he grew up, received his undergraduate and graduate degrees, and lived throughout the U.S., he now calls Oakville, Ontario his home, along with his wife and son.
Nicole Kelly
Nicole leads our platform engagement and marketing teams, which manage performance, brand, marketing, technology and operations, and partnerships for both the RBCx practice and scaling Ventures portfolio companies. Nicole and her team also work closely with early- and late-stage Banking clients to support their scaling efforts with resources and advisory on go-to-market strategies, growth marketing, PR, and communications.
Prior to RBC, Nicole served as the Director of Community at OMERS Ventures, where she led marketing, communications, and stakeholder relations.
Nicole has over twelve years of marketing and communications experience, primarily within finance and media across digital and traditional platforms.
Vikram Luthra
As Head of Operations of RBCx, Vik leads finance, strategy, operations, risk, employee engagement, and analytics functions for the group. As Head of Health & Wellness Ventures, Vik builds and scales our portfolio in the healthcare space.
Previously, Vik was the CEO of Dr.Bill, and also Head of Strategy & Business Development for B2B & Health verticals at RBC Ventures. In this role, Vik led Ownr’s acquisition of Founded, a legal tech start-up that set the foundation for Ownr’s exponential growth.
Equal parts entrepreneur, corporate innovator, and business executive, Vik has built and/or led more than 15 businesses over his career, including a multi-million dollar consulting business that he exited successfully in 2011.
Vik is a CPA, CMA, and holds a BA from York University.
Shane Murphy
Shane is CEO of Ownr, an RBCx company that makes it easy and affordable for entrepreneurs to incorporate, register and confidently handle ongoing legal compliance. Shane was previously Co-Founder of Founded Technologies, a legal-technology startup that served lawyers and small business owners before it was acquired by RBCx in 2020.
Shane joined Ownr as its Chief Operating Officer following the acquisition and played a key role as it grew to serve over 100,000 Canadian entrepreneurs.
Prior to starting a technology company, Shane was a litigation lawyer who appeared at all levels of court in Ontario. He holds law degrees from McGill University, and a master’s degree from the London School of Economics.
Kim Murray
Kim leads RBCx’s human resources activities. She partners with the senior leadership team to develop workforce strategies and provide talent advice to drive business outcomes.
Prior to joining RBCx, Kim held several senior HR roles at RBC, as well as at other financial institutions. Kim gives back to her community through her support of the MS Society of Atlantic Canada.
Anne No
Anne leads a highly specialized team across Eastern Canada to deliver industry-tailored capital financing, business advice, and solutions that go beyond traditional banking to support the growth of technology and innovation companies.
Anne has held a wide range of positions in commercial banking, with extensive experience in technology, life sciences, and media. Anne has an Industrial Engineering degree from the University of Brest in France and MBA from HEC Montreal in finance and entrepreneurship.
Dave Simons
Despite being our Head of Technology, Dave is first and foremost a people person. He oversees our team of high-performing tech leads and engineers to help build and refine founders’ visions.
Dave has managed software teams and delivered innovative infrastructures, consumer-facing services, and licensed software for over 25 years in large corporations, small to mid-sized private companies, and venture-backed startups across Silicon Valley, Toronto, New York, Tel Aviv, and Waterloo.
Most recently, Dave was the Senior Vice President of Engineering at Kik. Prior to Kik, he was the Chief Technology Officer at Points.
Dave lives in Toronto with his wife and their three sons. When he’s not busy solving tech challenges, he loves to fish and spend time at the family cottage.
Karen Starns
Karen Starns is the CEO of OJO Canada, a powerful real estate platform helping more Canadians realize their home ownership goals by bringing together insights-based guidance, industry experts, and financial resource support.
Karen is an award-winning technology and real estate industry executive. Her outstanding track record of building global brands, driving growth, and solving complex business challenges has been shaped by two leadership stints at Amazon, 13 years at Microsoft, and a global role at Pearson.
An active mentor of women and up-and-coming leaders, she is also a board member of the international nonprofit Miracle Foundation. Karen is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, a lecturer at the McCombs School of Business, and a Fast Company Executive board member.
Devon Thompson
Devon leads a highly specialized team across Western Canada to deliver industry-tailored capital financing, business advice, and solutions that go beyond traditional banking to support the growth of technology and innovation companies.
Devon is an accomplished leader, speaker, board member, and coach. She has over 15 years of experience in financial services and is a passionate connector and mentor within the tech ecosystem.
She was recognized as an Influential Woman in Finance by BCBusiness magazine, and volunteers at the UBC Sauder School of Business, as well as at TechWorks with Junior Achievement.
Alison Wilkie
Alison leads a team of lawyers that support RBCx and RBC’s enterprise digital initiatives. With over 20 years of industry experience, Alison expertly enables her business partners to transform and deliver digital products and services. She also leverages her knowledge of emerging technologies to advise on innovative transaction structures and negotiate complex technology, M&A, and collaboration agreements.
Prior to joining RBC, Alison practiced corporate law at one of Canada’s leading law firms. Alison holds a BA from McMaster University and a LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School.
Sarah Wilkinson
Sarah is the CEO of Dr.Bill, a healthtech startup that makes billing easier for physicians. Sarah originally joined Dr.Bill as their Chief Operating Officer, and scaled the business to $1B+ in billings.
Previously, Sarah held a series of fintech roles at RBC across Canada and the U.S. in areas including innovation strategy, business development, product management, and M&A.
Sarah resides in Vancouver, and is a named inventor on three patents in the security and payments space.