Ken Smithard
Experienced Canadian Cable Operator Executive Ken Smithard
Ken Smithard spent 23 years with Cogeco Connexion in Montreal, the second-largest cable operator in Ontario and Québec. This included time as the company’s president. Throughout his tenure at the company, he oversaw activities relating to virtually all business operations, including business strategy, organizational performance, marketing and sales, and operations. While serving as the president of Cogeco, Ken Smithard achieved the highest earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization margin in the country’s cable industry. He also excelled in the areas of customer and employee satisfaction. Another major achievement involved successfully lobbying the Ontario and Québec governments to establish a series of rural broadband funding initiatives.
In addition to his professional activities, Ken Smithard has held board positions with community organizations such as the Burlington Chamber of Commerce. He has served as the chair of the Burlington Performing Arts Center and United Way Hamilton region fundraising efforts. He has helped raise millions of dollars for philanthropic activities throughout Ontario and Quebec.
Ken Smithard studied commerce at McGill University. He went on to earn a master of business administration degree at Concordia University, and began an economics doctoral program at J.J. Strossmayer University in 2023.
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Hamilton, Canada