Keith C. Cowan - Director

Mr. Cowan has more than 35 years' experience in all aspects of information technology, the majority of which was with IBM Canada Ltd. contributing in executive, sales and strategic management roles.

Mr. Cowan managed the IBM banking industry centre in Toronto. During that time, he spearheaded the introduction of the technology to drive the Interac® system that has ultimately made cash from any bank available at any banking machine and most retailers in Canada. Under his leadership, the group evolved from a cost centre of 28 people to an international profit centre of 129. Solutions were developed to automate many aspects of retail banking as well as foreign exchange trading. A key component of this successful growth was a consistent market focus by spearheading an Advisory Board with representatives of the five major Canadian banks. Keith also led IBM Corporation in the development of their cheque imaging product line through his chairing of the Requirements Council, composed of eight major banks (including RBC and BMO), each with two representatives and an alternate, for a total of thirty people including IBM representatives.

After IBM, Mr. Cowan held a number of executive level positions with CDSL Canada Ltd. (now CGI) between 1992 and 1996 finally serving as the Interim President and CEO prior to its takeover by CGI. CDSL offered computer technology outsourcing services to credit unions, small foreign banks, The Co-operators insurance companies, and selected commercial enterprises. A key part of this experience was managing the decision process for the twelve-member (co-op) Board of Directors.

Mr. Cowan also operates his own management consulting company. He has consulted on retail POS and banking opportunities for Telus Enterprise Solutions, and assisted an independent mortgage origination company on an EDI implementation with Canadian banks.  He also cofounded a company that developed solutions for retail banking, career counselling and supply chain management.  It also provides outsourcing services as an Applications Service provider (ASP).

He was founder of eXcape Business Transactions Inc., a developer of point-of-sale solutions for the retail industry, specializing in mobile payment solutions for the fleet market. He served as the CEO for five years until his return to consulting in 2002. He remains on their board.

Mr. Cowan is an active member of the Professional Engineers Association and Mensa Canada. He was an active member of The Executive Committee (TEC) until his departure from eXcape in 2002. He also serves on the Boards of Directors of eXcape, Yorktown Technologies Inc. and Burrard Technology Corp.

Recent Positions Held:

August 2002 to Present                President, Yorktown Technologies Inc.

As President, Mr. Cowan assists with strategic direction as well as attaining new projects for the company’s intellectual property, and new product offerings. He also consults with various other companies, including eXcape, Yorktown Applications Services and Burrard Technologies Corporation. He maintains his industry connections in Vancouver and Toronto, particularly in the financial sector and the information technology consulting sector.

March 1999 to July 2002               President, eXcape Business Transactions Inc.

This start-up established alternative solutions for financial point-of-sale solutions for retailers, specializing in wireless solutions for fleets. Mr. Cowan was a founder of the Burnaby BC company, leading a management buyout from Orion Technologies of the Canadian operating company, and gaining the venture capital funding from TecCapital.

Prior Positions of Keith Cowan

July 1997 to February 1999         President, Orion Technologies Inc.

This e-commerce company established a joint venture with Telekom Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur to pursue e-commerce solutions in Malaysia as well as offering e-commerce solutions in BC.

May 1996 to June 1997                 President, On Approval Computer Services

This company offered independent mortgage originators an EDI soluti0on in which enable them to put their client mortgage requirements out to bid electronically by the major financial institutions.

May, 1995 to April 1996                 President, CDSL

During this period, he provided focus to the efforts of the company in their core services and core markets, aligning them within a strategic framework, after gaining Board approval, and pursuing a consolidation strategy for switching and banking offerings within their core markets to retain a pre-eminent position in the financial services sector.

August, 1994 to May, 1995           Vice President, Systems Services Division, CDSL

There were five objectives during this assignment: restore service levels, improve client satisfaction, improve employee satisfaction, make the financial targets, and select a successor for the VP role. Four of the five targets were met. The employee satisfaction target was not, but SSD had a positive movement from 1993, while the total satisfaction for CDSL eroded by 10%

May, 1993 to July, 1994                 Vice President, Radical Systems Inc.

This was a software startup competing in the database and system transformation field. It was successfully launched and had reached the securing of second tranche funding to complete product plans when he was asked to return to CDSL at the request of the President. It was a logical point of departure until a completed product was available to market after the next phase.

July 1992 to May 1993                   Vice President, Operations/SSD, CDSL

As Vice President, Systems Services Division for the Co-operators Data Services Limited, he developed a reengineering plan for the division, and reduced the budget from 39 million to 34 million, while reinvesting $1.5 million in new service initiatives.

The resulting transformation plan rationalized the skills and services in the three major data centres in Mississauga, Regina and Burnaby, and resulted in the announcement of a new outsourcing services offering. He also played a key role in the non-disruptive downsizing of 20% of the company staff in February 1993.

Prior to July 1992                           IBM Canada Limited

Mr. Cowan held numerous executive positions in sales, marketing and product management with IBM Canada in Alberta and Ontario, most recently managing their 129-person international banking development centre in Toronto.

Papers on the Web           

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