Management Committee

The Management Committee is a team of seasoned professionals responsible for developing and implementing the firms strategic and business plans.

David Schaffner, CFA, President & CEO

Cecilia Wong, CFA, Chief Financial Officer

Bill Dye, CFA, Head of Canadian Equities

Jim Gilliland, CFA, Head of Fixed Income

Gordon Gibbons, CFA, Head of Pension Portfolio Management

Jonathon Palfrey, CFA, Head of Private Client & Foundations


David Schaffner, CFA President & CEO David joined Leith Wheeler to lead the fixed income team in 1998 after eight years with the Province of B.C.’s Investments Branch as a fixed income portfolio manager. While at the Province he also developed and managed their corporate, short-term, and indexed government bond funds. After graduating from the University of British Columbia in 1986 (B. Comm. with Honours), David spent three years in financial market analysis and trading at the Bank of Canada. Dave holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, and has been a fixed income counselor and mentor for the UBC Portfolio Management Foundation for a number of years.
Cecilia Wong, CFA Chief Financial Officer Cecilia Wong joined Leith Wheeler in 1995 after seven years at Price Waterhouse Chartered Accountants as an audit manager in their Audit and Assurance practice. She is responsible for the financial, compliance and operations of Leith Wheeler. Cecilia is a graduate of University of British Columbia (B.Comm. 1989) and has been in the industry since 1995. She holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia (ICABC) and CFA Vancouver.
Bill Dye, CFA Head of Canadian Equities Bill Dye, who joined Leith Wheeler in May 1985, is an analyst and portfolio manager and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. Bill’s areas of responsibility within the Canadian Equity Committee include Financials, Golds and Precious Metals. In addition to his portfolio management and equity research experience, Bill spent five years as trader of the firm’s bond portfolios. Bill is a member and past director of CFA Vancouver, a graduate of University of British Columbia (B.Comm., Honours, 1985) and holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. He has been a member of the U.B.C. Portfolio Management Foundation Client Committee for several years.
Jim Gilliland, CFA Head of Fixed Income Jim joined Leith Wheeler in 2009. He has extensive investment experience in Canadian and U.S. fixed income markets through his time at HSBC Asset Management/M.K. Wong & Associates in Vancouver (1993-2001) and Barclays Global Investors (BGI) in San Francisco (2002-2009). Among his achievements were building out and managing a team of professionals covering interest rate strategies, corporate credit, securitized credit, and emerging markets; launching and managing a successful fixed income hedge fund; developing platforms to manage risk; and developing customized client solutions and liability driven products. Jim is a graduate of University of British Columbia (B. Comm. with honours). After his work at HSBC, Jim earned his Masters degree in Financial Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley where he finished with the highest academic average in the program. Jim holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
Gordon Gibbons, CFA Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager Gordon Gibbons joined Leith Wheeler in June 1994, with eight years of portfolio management experience at Canada Trust. He is a member of Leith Wheeler’s Management Committee, with responsibility for our pension business. Gordon manages pension and institutional portfolios. He is a graduate of Simon Fraser University (B.A. Economics, 1985), past president of CFA Vancouver and holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Gordon serves on the Board of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and Chairs its Investment Committee.
Jonathon D. Palfrey, CFA Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager Jon Palfrey joined Leith Wheeler in November 1996. He is the head of Private Client and Foundations and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. Jon is a graduate of University of British Columbia (B. Comm. 1990), a member of CFA Vancouver and holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Additionally, Jon sits on and advises a number of boards in the non-profit community.

Management Committee

David Schaffner, CFA

President & CEO

Cecilia Wong, CFA

Chief Financial Officer

Bill Dye, CFA

Head of Canadian Equities

Jim Gilliland, CFA

Head of Fixed Income

Gordon Gibbons, CFA

Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager

Jonathon D. Palfrey, CFA

Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager