J. R. Kinglsey Ward

J. R. KINGSLEY WARD has over 25 years of experience initiating, structuring and monetizing private equity investments. He began his career in 1991 at the head office of his family’s group of companies, the Vimy Ridge Group Ltd., a Toronto-based holding company with a portfolio of  investments primarily in  the health care industry. In 1992, VRG Capital, a division of the Vimy Ridge Group, was formed to develop merchant banking initiatives for the Group. From 1992 to 2011, Kingsley was President of VRG Capital. In 2011, VRG Capital Corp. was formed to expand these merchant banking activities in partnership with other family offices, and Kingsley is currently a Managing Partner.

Kingsley is currently Chairman of the following companies: Clarus Securities, an institutional investment dealer; Data Communications Management, marketing communications business; Apri Holdings Group, employee benefits management company; Founders Advantage Capital, a public private equity firm; and Nucro Technics, a pharmaceutical contract support organization.

He is also currently a Co-Founder and Chairman of Globalive Technology, a public Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence investment company.  He is a Founder and former Director of IPEC and a Founder and former Chairman of Pareto Corp., a marketing services company until its sale in 2011. He is a past Director of PLM Group, a commercial printing and direct marketing company. Kingsley serves on and has served as Director of a number of other private and public companies.

Kingsley’s commitment to community involvement includes 25 years of executive committee work with Polo for Heart, a Heart & Stroke Foundation charity event, and the Polo for Health series of charity events. He is a co-chair of the Capitalize for Kids board, an investor conference in support of SickKids Hospital, and is a past director of the Special Olympics Canada Foundation.

Kingsley has been actively involved in YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization) since 1999 and has held a number of positions, including chairman of the Ontario chapter, member of the Canadian regional council, member of the Canadian regional executive committee and Canadian regional educational officer.

Kingsley is a board member of Polo Canada, a national sports organization committed to the promotion of polo. He is a member and former director and treasurer of the Toronto Polo Club. Kingsley is a member of the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association and the Toronto Club.