Afshin Ardalan named Managing Director of Vancouver Office

(Calgary, Alberta) Meridian Canada today announced that Mr. Afshin Ardalan has been named Managing Director of the Vancouver and lower mainland Meridian office. His primary responsibility will be business development and client relationship management

“We have operated a Vancouver corporate finance office from the inception of Meridian four years ago, and now we are excited to partner with Afshin to head up this new Branch Office that will focus on new clients throughout the lower mainland, commented Keith Turner, President and CEO. “In Afshin we are very fortunate to attract a broadly experienced and educated senior level international business executive who also brings practical experience of owning and operating his own small business in Vancouver.”

Companies in the $5 million to $250 million revenue range will be expertly served by Meridian’s expanded Vancouver office.

Afshin Ardalan has nearly 20 years of experience in setting up and managing branch offices for various multinational companies in all parts of the world with particular focus on North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

A graduate of the MBA program from the prestigious IMD institute in Lausanne, Switzerland, Afshin spent several years in the Far East and worked on the expansion of a Norwegian pharmaceutical company in Asia-Pacific opening offices in Australia, New Zealand and a number of Asian countries, and managed an extensive network of agents and distributors.

As a senior manager with Metro International, a Swedish based publishing company, Afshin was responsible for establishing the company’s presence and operations in over a dozen countries including France and Italy where he also acted as general manager and oversaw all aspects of the companies operations.

Companies in the $5 million to $250 million revenue range will be expertly served by Meridian’s expanded Vancouver office.

“Vancouver is a major internationally connected city whose business community is about to be showcased on the world stage once again with the upcoming Olympics,” commented Randy Lennon, Managing Director of Branch Network Development. “Afshin Ardalan is the perfect fit for developing relationships with potential clients in an increasingly cosmopolitan business environment throughout the lower mainland.”

Afshin’s experience also includes working at Nestle’s international headquarters in Switzerland, the world’s largest food and beverage company, as a project manager working on outsourcing projects with deal values in excess of 100 million USD resulting in projected savings of over 20%.

For the past 2 years Afshin has owned and operated a local business in Vancouver. Afshin’s entrepreneurial attitude and business ownership experience coupled with his years of experience working for larger corporations brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial spirit and corporate discipline which will be a valuable asset in ensuring the success of Meridian’s office in Vancouver.