David Smales

Biography

David Smales has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Aecon since November 2009 and is responsible for financial reporting, accounting and compliance, budgeting and financial planning, taxation, treasury, operational finance, shared services and Aecon’s capital markets activities. Prior to joining Aecon, Mr. Smales was the Chief Financial Officer of Catalyst Paper Corporation and prior to that held a number of senior financial positions at Novar plc in the UK, focused on international operations. His career also includes roles in general management, strategy, and M&A both in industry and during 10 years with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mr. Smales is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and has a BA (Honours) degree from the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in England.

Research Interest

Aecon has a rich history that spans more than a century. In fact, Aecon’s history can be traced back to 1877, when Scottish immigrant Adam Clark started a plumbing and gas fitting business in Hamilton, Ontario.  Since that time, Aecon has grown into one of Canada’s largest and most diverse construction and infrastructure development companies. Throughout the years, Aecon has been involved in the building of some of Canada’s most important landmarks, including the CN Tower, St. Lawrence Seaway, Highway 407 Express Toll Route, Vancouver Sky Train, and the Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, to name just a few. Aecon’s predecessor companies include some of Canada’s most renowned construction names.  Over the years, companies such as The Foundation Company of Canada, Jackson Lewis, Lockerbie and Hole, Banister Pipelines, Nicholls-Radtke, Pitts Engineering Construction, and Armbro Construction have come together to form what we now know as Aecon.