Management Team


Descartes' management team is comprised of experienced logistics operators that specialize in operations, technology, marketing and sales. The team has deep domain expertise in logistics and distribution and can use first hand experiences to address the challenges our customers face. The team is committed to building and managing a world-class organization focused on serving and delivering results for our shareholders and customers.

Edward Ryan

Ed Ryan serves Descartes as Chief Executive Officer and is a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Ryan guides the company’s long-tenured executive management team and drives its growth and M&A strategies. Prior to taking on his current role in 2013, Mr. Ryan led Descartes’ global sales and marketing operations as Chief Commercial Officer after having served as Executive Vice President of Global Field Operations. Mr. Ryan brings more than 30 years of experience in supply chain and logistics technology to the company and its customers. Prior to joining Descartes in 2000, Mr. Ryan led commercial operations at E-Transport where he helped grow the business from its early start-up days to the successful ocean network acquired by Descartes.


J. Scott Pagan

As President and Chief Operating Officer, Scott oversees Descartes’ operations. This includes Descartes’ research and development activities, Global Logistics Network service delivery, implementation and activation services, corporate development initiatives, corporate communication strategies, and legal and administrative functions.

Scott previously served as the company’s Chief Corporate Officer and Corporate Secretary. Prior to joining Descartes in May 2000, Scott worked in a private law practice in Southern Ontario, where he specialized in corporate and intellectual property law. He was a finalist in the Lexpert 2006 Top Lawyers and General Counsel under 40 and in the 2011 Canadian General Counsel Awards Business Achievement category.


Allan Brett

As Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Allan Brett is responsible for Descartes' worldwide financial and administrative functions.

Allan is an experienced public company executive, who served as CFO of Aastra Technologies Limited from June 1996 through to its January 2014 sale to Mitel 
Networks Corporation. In his 18 years at Aastra the company grew to over $600 million in revenues and 2,000 employees, with more than 60 consecutive quarters of profitability.


Andrew Roszko

As Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Roszko oversees the Corporation’s global go-to-market activities, including sales, marketing, customer success and other commercial operations, as well as the Corporation’s solution pillar general management organization.

Prior to joining Descartes, Andrew was the founder of a software consulting firm and Cube Route, a SaaS-based route optimization and mobile tracking provider. Mr. Roszko holds a degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Software Engineering from the University of Waterloo.


Raimond Diederik

As Executive Vice President, Information Services, Raimond Diederik is responsible for Research and Development, Customer Support, IT Operations and Data Managementsolutions for Descartes.

Raimond has over 20 years of experience managing logistic information systems, and has played a key role at Descartes since joining the organization in 1993. Prior to Descartes, Raimond worked as an Infrastructure Consultant with the Research & Development group of P&O Nedlloyd’s Information Technology Division.


Chris Jones

As Executive Vice President, Industry and Services, Chris Jones is primarily responsible for Descartes industry thought-leadership activities and implementation services for Descartes' solutions. With over 30 years of experience in the supply chain market, Chris has held a variety of senior management positions including: Senior Vice President at The Aberdeen Group, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development for SynQuest, Vice President and Research Director for Enterprise Resource Planning Solutions at Gartner and Associate Director Operations and Technology Kraft Foods.


Peter Nguyen

As SVP, Legal and General Counsel, Peter Nguyen is the principal officer in charge of all Descartes legal matters. His role includes oversight of Descartes’ Legal Team in contracts with customers and suppliers, protection of our intellectual property, management of disputes and advice on our merger & acquisition activities. Also, as Corporate Secretary, Peter works closely with our Board of Directors on corporate governance and public company compliance.

Before joining Descartes in 2020, Peter was General Counsel to two high growth software companies and served as in-house counsel to several other technology companies. He has been recognized by the Legal 500 (GC Powerlist: Canada - 2020, 2019, 2016), Precedent magazine (Innovation Award - 2020), Canadian Lawyer (Top 25 Most Influential – 2019), the International Law Office/Association of Corporate Counsel (Global Counsel Awards – 2019, 2016), LEXPERT® (Zenith Award – Change Agent in Law – 2019), National Post/ZSA (Canadian General Counsel Awards (Finalist) – 2019, 2018) and the Financial Times (Innovative Lawyers North America Awards –  2018). He is a frequent speaker and contributor on legal technology, legal operations, and law practice in the in-house environment. Peter graduated from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and was admitted to practice law in Ontario and New York.


Ed Gardner

As Executive Vice President, Corporate Development, Ed Gardner is responsible for the development and execution of Descartes’ M&A strategy.  

Ed joined Descartes in 2003 where he first held a number of senior roles within our corporate finance organization.  His previous experience includes both practical logistics experience where he worked in a senior leadership position at a third party logistics provider, as well as deal execution and integration experience as part of Ernst & Young’s Transaction Advisory Services practice in London, England.


bob parker

Bob Parker is Executive Vice President, Customer Support & Client Services at Descartes. Bob has led the growth of the company’s customer-facing organization from a small group to 400+ skilled specialists and customer care representatives throughout North America, Europe and Asia. He empowers the team to be innovative and continuously look for ways to improve service to customers. Prior to joining Descartes in 2009, Bob served in various sales, professional services and executive leadership roles in both private and public sectors where he gained invaluable experience in operations across diverse business sectors. Bob is committed to helping customers and can be reached at bparker@descartes.com.


Ken Wood

As Executive Vice President, Product Management, Ken Wood provides leadership in defining our product strategy, developing roadmaps, and working with all aspects of product delivery.

Ken joined Descartes in 2001 in connection with our acquisition of Centricity, a cloud-based Transportation Management Systems provider.  His previous experience includes leadership roles in development, consulting and product management with leading supply chain software providers such as CAPS Logistics, i2 Technologies, and Centricity.


As SVP, Human Resources, Maija Michell is responsible for Human Resources operations for Descartes globally.

Prior to joining Descartes in 2017, she has led international HR departments in her career spanning 20+ years for technology organizations such as Psion PLC, Motorola Solutions and Unitron Hearing. Maija holds a BA in Psychology and Communications from Brock University, a Diploma in HR Management from Humber College, as well as the CHRL designation.


Chad Murphy

Chad oversees technology implementation and activation services by professional services teams across the organization to Descartes’ global customer base. Prior to taking on his current role in 2023, Chad held senior management positions with the company for over 20 years, including in product management, solutions consulting and professional services. Prior to joining Descartes, Chad served at Centricity, a provider of transportation management and optimization software, acquired by Descartes in 2001. Chad draws upon over 30 years of supply chain technology experience to engage with customers from diverse industries, understand their challenges, and help them implement solutions and operational improvements across their organizations that deliver significant value.

Board of Directors


MANDATE:

The members of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) have the duty to supervise the management of the business and affairs of The Descartes Systems Group Inc. (the “Company”). The Board, directly and through its committees, the Chair of the Board and the Lead Director, as applicable, shall provide direction to senior management, generally through the Chief Executive Officer, to pursue the best interests of the Company. In fulfilling its mandate, the Board of Directors, among other matters, is responsible for:

• Reviewing, at the beginning of each fiscal year, the business plan and financial goals of the Company as well as longer term strategic plans prepared and elaborated by Management and, throughout the year, monitoring the achievement of the objectives set;
• Ensuring that it is properly informed, on a timely basis, of all important issues and developments involving the Company and its business environment;
• Ensuring the implementation of appropriate systems or plans to manage the important issues and developments involving the Company;
• Overseeing the Company’s strategic direction; and
• Appointing senior Management and monitoring key executive performance and business results.

Read the full Mandate of the Board of Directors here.

If you wish to contact our Board of Directors directly, you can do so via email at BoardOfDirectors@descartes.com

Mr. Demirian has served as non-executive Chair of the Board of the Corporation since May 2014 and was previously Chair of the Corporation’s audit committee. Mr. Demirian first joined the Board of Directors of Descartes in 2011. Mr. Demirian is also a member of Descartes’ Audit Committee and Corporate Governance Committee.

Mr. Demirian is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Certified General Accountant and a Chartered Accountant. Since 2003, Mr. Demirian has served as president of Parklea Capital, Inc., a boutique financial and strategy advisory firm providing services to small- and mid-market public and private companies, and President of Demicap Inc., a private investment firm. Prior to Mr. Demirian’s position at Parklea, he held the position of Executive Vice President of Group Telecom, Inc. from 2000 to 2003. From 1983 to 2000, Mr. Demirian was with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP where he was a partner and head of the Information and Communications Practice. Mr. Demirian serves on the boards of Enghouse Systems Ltd. (TSX:ENGH) and Imax Corporation (NYSE:IMAX). Mr. Demirian holds a Bachelor of Business Management degree from Ryerson University.

Mr. Demirian can be contacted directly on matters related to the governance of the Company at BoardOfDirectors@descartes.com


Mr. Chopra joined Descartes’ Board of Directors in May 2020. Mr. Chopra is a member of Descartes’ Audit Committee and the Nominating Committee.

Mr. Chopra most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Canada Post Corporation from February 2011 to March 2018. Mr. Chopra has more than 30 years of global experience in the financial services, technology, transportation, logistics & supply-chain industries. Prior to that, for more than 20 years, he worked for Pitney Bowes Inc., a NYSE-traded technology company known for postage meters, mail automation and location intelligence services. He served as President of Pitney Bowes Canada and Latin America from 2006 to 2010. He held a number of increasingly senior executive roles internationally, including President of its new Asia Pacific and Middle East region from 2001 to 2006 and Chief Financial Officer for Europe, Africa & Middle East (EAME) region from 1998-2001. He has previously served on the boards of Canada Post Corporation, Purolator Inc., SCI Group, the Canada Post Community Foundation and the Toronto Region Board of Trade. He currently sits on the board of Celestica, Inc. (TSX:CLS), The North West Company (TSX:NWC) and Sun Life Financial (TSX:SLF). Mr. Chopra is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada and has a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (Honours) and a Master’s Degree in Business Management (PGDBM).


Ms. Close joined Descartes’ Board of Directors in 2015. Ms. Close is Chair of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Nominating Committee.

Ms. Close held the position of President of the Production Services division of Tervita Corporation from 2010 until 2016. Tervita Production Services (now High Artic Energy Services Inc., TSX:HWO) delivers engineering and field-based services to the oil and gas industry. From 2002 to 2010, Ms. Close was the Executive Vice President of DO2 Technologies (now Transzap, Inc.), a software company providing electronic invoicing to the oil and gas industry. During Ms. Close’s tenure, DO2 grew from a start-up to the leading provider of e-invoicing to oil and gas companies and their suppliers. Prior to DO2, Ms. Close served in a number of Regional Vice President roles in Halliburton Corporation’s software division, Landmark Graphics. She held executive roles in several of Landmark’s largest regions, including VP of Strategic Accounts, Regional VP of North America and Regional VP of Europe and the Former Soviet Union. During Ms. Close’s 12 years at Halliburton, she worked in Canada, the US and Europe. Ms. Close also currently serves on the board of directors of a private oil and gas company. Ms. Close holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Calgary and the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors and Rotman School of Management.

 


Sandra Hanington

Ms. Hanington joined Descartes’ Board of Directors in 2022.

Ms. Hanington most recently served as the President & Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Canadian Mint, a $1.4 billion global manufacturing and marketing business. Prior to that, Ms. Hanington served in a number of progressively senior roles in the financial services industry in Canada and the U.S., culminating as Executive Vice-President and member of the Management Committee of BMO Financial Group. Ms. Hanington currently serves as a director for Extendicare Inc. (TSX:EXE), which provides care to seniors across Canada in long-term care homes, retirement homes or through quality home care and is a member of the Governing Council of the University of Toronto. Ms. Hanington previously served on the boards of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Aima Inc., and Symcor, Inc.

 


Kelley Irwin

Ms. Irwin joined Descartes’ Board of Directors in 2022.

Ms. Irwin currently serves as the Chief Information Officer of the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) for the Province of Ontario. Prior to her role with the ESA, Ms. Irwin has led several global technology teams, holding executive information technology roles at Sun Life Financial, TD Bank, Economical Insurance and Sonnet Insurance. Ms. Irwin is a cyber advocate and is active in public forums on cyber security. Ms. Irwin currently serves as a director on the board of Pro-Demnity, a professional liability insurer to architectural practices in the Province of Ontario.

 


Mr. Maple joined Descartes’ Board of Directors in 2017. Mr. Maple is Chair of the Nominating Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee

Mr. Maple is currently President and CEO of Goddard Systems, Inc., which oversees the operation of more than 500 premium early childhood education schools across the United States. Between January 2014 and August 2019, Mr. Maple was the President of First Student, Inc., a subsidiary of United Kingdom based publicly-traded First Group plc. First Group plc is the leading transport operator in the United Kingdom and North America, providing solutions encompassing student bus transportation and public rail. Prior to serving as President of First Group, from 2006 to January 2014, Mr. Maple was President of Aramark Education where he had responsibility for more than 15,000 employees serving more than 4,500 US schools with food preparation, facilities management and related services. Prior to his role as President of Aramark Education, from 2003 to 2006, Mr. Maple held senior executive management positions at Aramark. Prior to serving in an executive role at Aramark, from 1994 to 2003, Mr. Maple served as an Area Vice President at Coors Brewing and in several other management roles. Prior to 1994, Mr. Maple held roles at Kraft-General Foods, PepsiCola and The Quaker Oats Company. Mr. Maple has a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Accounting from the University of Tennessee. Mr. Maple has served on numerous charitable and community-based boards and has been an active participant in organizations supporting primary and secondary schools and communities across North America.


Mr. Muntwyler joined Descartes’ Board of Directors in May 2020. Mr. Muntwyler is a member of the Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance Committee.

Mr. Muntwyler has significant international experience in the transportation, logistics and technology sectors. Having previously held various senior executive positions at Swiss Air and the positions of Chief Executive of DHL Express (UK) Limited and Managing Director (Switzerland, Germany and Central Europe) at DHL Express, he is now a management consultant through his business, Conlogic AG, specializing in strategic development, leadership guidance and customer orientation and process automation. Mr. Muntwyler spent 10 years in the DHL Express organization following a 27 year career with Swiss Air. Mr. Muntwyler currently serves as a non-executive director on the board of Austrian Post (Vienna:POST). Mr. Muntwyler previously served as a non-executive director on the board of National Express Group PLC in the United Kingdom (LSE:NEX) from 2011 to 2020 and as a director of Panalpina World Transport (Holding) Ltd. from 2010 to 2018.



Jane O'Hagan

Ms. O’Hagan joined Descartes’ Board of Directors in 2014. Ms. O’Hagan is Chair of the Corporate Governance Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee.

Ms. O’Hagan is a corporate director with over 20 years experience in the transportation and logistics sectors. On August 1, 2023, Ms. O’Hagan was appointed to the board of GCT Global Container Terminals Inc. based in Vancouver, B.C. and will serve as Chair of the Human Resources Committee. From 2010 until 2014, Ms. O’Hagan was the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited. Ms. O’Hagan also held various roles at CP Rail including Senior Vice President, Strategy and Yield, Vice President, Strategy and External Affairs and Assistant Vice President, Strategy and Research. Ms. O’Hagan also serves as a director of USD Partners GP LCC, the general partner of USD Partners LP (NYSE:USDP), an acquirer, developer and operator of energy-related rail terminals and other complementary mid-stream assets, where Ms. O’Hagan serves as the Chair of USD Partners GP LLC board’s conflicts committee and as a member of the audit committee. From 2018 until its aquisition in 2021, Ms. O’Hagan was a member of the board of Pinnacle Renewable Holdings (TSX:PL), a supplier of industrial wood pellets based in Richmond, BC, where she also served as a member of the audit and risk committees. Ms. O’Hagan has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) and a Bachelor of Administrative and Commercial Studies from the University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario, Canada) and has completed graduate studies in Program and Policy Studies from the University of Western Ontario. In December 2012, Ms. O’Hagan was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network. Ms. O’Hagan is also a holder of the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors, which she achieved in June 2016 and earned the CERT Certificate in Cyber Risk Oversight issued by Carnegie Mellon University and the National Association of Corporate Directors in February 2018.



Mr. Ryan is Descartes’ Chief Executive Officer, having been appointed to that position in November 2013. Since 2000, Mr. Ryan has occupied various senior management positions within Descartes, with particular focus on the Corporation’s network and recurring business. Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ryan served as the Corporation’s Chief Commercial Officer (2011-2013), Executive Vice President, Global Field Operations (2007-2011), General Manager, Global Logistics Network (2004-2007) and Vice President, Sales (2000-2004). Mr. Ryan first joined Descartes in February 2000 in connection with the Corporation’s acquisition of E-Transport Incorporated. Mr. Ryan has a Bachelor of Arts from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.



Mr. Walker joined Descartes’ Board of Directors in 2011. Mr. Walker is Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Corporate Governance Committee.

Mr. Walker is a Certified Public Accountant and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. Mr. Walker has 37 years overall financial and executive management experience including 21 years of experience as a Chief Financial Officer with both public and private companies. Mr. Walker served as Chief Financial Officer, and Senior Vice President of Bowne & Company, a New York Stock Exchange-listed provider of services to help companies produce and manage their shareholder, investor and marketing & business communications, from 2006 until its acquisition by R.R. Donnelley & Sons in 2010. Prior to Bowne & Company, from 1988 to 2006, Mr. Walker was an executive with Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corporation a motion picture theatre exhibition chain, including sixteen years as Chief Financial Officer. Prior thereto, Mr. Walker served for six years as Controller and Principal Accounting Officer of Corporate Property Investors, then one of the largest real estate investment trusts in the United States. Mr. Walker also served for six years as Treasurer and Assistant Corporate Controller of Princess Hotels International a company involved in the ownership and operation of luxury resort hotels, real estate and timesharing developments. Since October 2021, Mr. Walker has been a member of the board of Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. II (Nasdaq:SAMUA, SAMA, SAMAW) where he is the Chair of the Audit Committee and also serves on the Nominating and Compensation Committees. Mr. Walker started his career in the New York office of then-Price Waterhouse. Mr. Walker is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of CPAs.