Board of Directors

APPOINTED: JUNE 29, 2023
TERM EXPIRES: 2025 ANNUAL MEETING

Patricia Perkins has over 30 years of political and governance experience. Patricia served as a Durham Regional Councillor for 18 years, including eight years as Mayor of Whitby. She was actively involved in Public Health and Social Services as a member, Vice-Chair and then Chair of the Health and Social Services Committee, dealing with challenging issues such as SARS, downloading of Social Housing and downloading of Paramedic services. Patricia was a member of the Strategic Planning Committee for the Region of Durham and produced and implemented the Region’s first Community Strategic Plan. Following her municipal career, Patricia was elected as a Member of Parliament for the riding of Whitby/Oshawa. Before being elected, Patricia had extensive municipal experience in the Finance Department of the (then) City of Scarborough. Patricia has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Whitby Hydro Corporation, Durham Region Non-Profit Housing Corporation, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (Chair), Durham Children’s Aid Society and the Charles H. Best Diabetes Centre for Children and Youth (Chair). Residing in Whitby, Patricia is a Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Whitby and is a Paul Harris Fellow. She is a proud recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal.

ELECTED: JUNE 28, 2023
TERM EXPIRES: 2026 ANNUAL MEETING

Linda Franklin has been the CEO of two major associations over the past 30 years and has chaired and served on several public sector boards. Through her extensive experience, Linda has acquired valuable knowledge in board governance and effective board membership. Linda’s expertise was further enhanced by completing the Rotman ICD.D designation. Linda has collaborated with regulatory bodies in healthcare and postsecondary education and played a significant role in establishing the VQA regulatory body for the wine industry. Consequently, she deeply understands the crucial role regulators play in the province. Linda’s association work involved various responsibilities, including creating board education programs, contributing to government policy development, overseeing marketing and public relations efforts, and managing communications. Linda has also crafted strategic plans for associations and provided consultation support to other organizations in their planning processes. Linda is the immediate past chair of the William Osler Health System Board of Directors and serves on the boards of Niagara College, Ontario Health atHome (formerly Home and Community Care Support Services) and the Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board. She is also vice-chair of the OMVIC Board of Directors and serves as chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee.

ELECTED: JUNE 28, 2023
TERM EXPIRES: 2026 ANNUAL MEETING

Sohail Ahmed’s journey began at 17 when he defied norms and inspired others by establishing his own dealership in Niagara, Momo Cars Inc. Over a decade, he has consistently championed innovation and pushed boundaries, earning recognition for his talent and expertise. Sohail’s impact on the automotive industry extends beyond the boundaries of a single dealership. He expanded his reach nationwide, introducing Momo Express across four provinces and seven cities. Sohail’s unique progressive vision of the automotive industry earned him a well-deserved place among Automotive Remarketing’s prestigious “40 under 40,” highlighting his ability to shape the future of this dynamic sector. Sohail’s commitment to community service and public policy is equally inspiring. Serving on the Brock University Board of Trustees, ISNP and BUSU Board of Directors, he has demonstrated his passion for making a difference and creating positive change.

APPOINTED: MARCH 8, 2022
TERM EXPIRES: MARCH 7, 2025

Rod Jackson was a Member of the Provincial Parliament from 2011 to 2014 and was appointed to the provincial shadow cabinet as Official Opposition Critic for Community and Social Services, the third largest ministry in the province. In addition, he served as the watchdog for the 2015 Pan-Am Games. Rod was also a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in honour of his significant contributions and achievements as a Canadian. Before his time in the legislature, Rod ran Redline Strategies, a national automotive-focused Human Resources consultancy. Currently, Rod is a Senior Partner at FullForce Legal Services LLP, practicing Employment Law, Landlord Tenant and Litigation. Rod also serves on the provincial Board of Directors for the Ontario Trillium Foundation as Vice-Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee.

ELECTED: JUNE 19, 2024
TERM EXPIRIES: 2027 ANNUAL MEETING

Ken Kawall has over 30 years of private and public sector experience. Ken worked for and governed Ontario public sector entities, complemented with senior customer service, financial and technology leadership roles for a variety of companies including Scotiabank, CUMIS, and as Chief Technology and Innovation Officer of the WSIB. A former Assistant Deputy Minister in the Ontario Government he served in multiple ministries, including Small Business and Consumer Services, Government Services, Transportation and Labour. He is a member of the CAA Niagara Board of Directors and the Vice-Chair, Treasurer, and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority Board of Directors, the regulator mandated by the Government of Ontario to enforce the province’s circular economy laws. He previously served on the Boards of Niagara Health and the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. Ken holds a Bachelor of Mathematics (Computer Science) from the University of Waterloo, an MBA from the University of Western Ontario and is a CPA CMA and Life Member of the Chartered Professional Accountants Ontario. He is also the proud recipient of an Ontario Government Amethyst Award. Ken volunteers with the Town of Lincoln, Heritage Committee and is Vice-Chair of the Niagara Region Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee.

ELECTED: JUNE 19, 2024
TERM EXPIRES: 2027 ANNUAL MEETING

Rob Leggat is an accomplished automotive professional, serving as the Managing Partner of Team Honda Powerhouse of Milton and the Managing Partner/GM of Leggat Discovery Ford. Since he took over the Honda dealership in 2010, they have won the Honda President’s Challenge six times. Rob’s career in the automotive sales industry began in September 2003 when he joined Leggat/Mountain Saturn Saab. Rob transitioned to sales management in 2005 and worked there until 2008. In May 2008, he joined and assisted in opening Team Honda as an open point and has also been at Ford since 2021. Rob completed his studies at Georgian College and the University of Western Ontario and joined the OMVIC Board of Directors in 2020 for a three-year term. Rob is currently an Ontario Honda Dealers Association member, providing input and feedback on Honda advertising strategies. He also works actively with Honda Canada, fellow Honda dealers and advertising channels to best promote the Honda brand. Rob is a fourth-generation car dealer and has been in the industry full-time since 2003. He is looking to continue his experience and further assist OMVIC in helping the industry achieve bigger and better things. Rob believes in fairness within the industry and strives daily to give his dealership and industry a positive image.

ELECTED: JUNE 15, 2022
TERM EXPIRES: 2025 ANNUAL MEETING

Jason Mayhew has over 10 years of experience as an entrepreneur in the automotive vertical and is the founder and leader of AutoAgents. He has developed a car sales model that is disrupting the automotive industry norm. AutoAgents is a complete 180 from the standard dealership model, steering clear of purchasing a large inventory to attract clients, and instead approaches each sale in an agile manner, purchasing vehicles on demand as needed. A member of UCDA, Jason has founded and sold multiple automotive retail, rental and technology businesses in both British Columbia and Ontario. Opening his first dealership in 2008, he accumulated a wide variety of experiences in leasing, rentals, auto sales and automotive technology.

ELECTED: JUNE 28, 2023
TERM EXPIRES: 2025 ANNUAL MEETING
Glen Padassery is a chartered board governance professional (Chartered Director from the DeGroote School of Business). He is a strategist with a background in consumer protection, regulatory oversight, transformation, risk management, governance, change management and compliance. Having had over 25 years in government, he is a highly astute senior executive known for protecting the public interest, developing government laws that balance competing interests, championing innovation and driving continuous improvement across various markets. Glen is currently the Executive Vice President, Policy and Chief Consumer Officer at the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA). Prior to that, he was the Assistant Deputy Minister of Consumer Protection Ontario. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Technical Standard and Safety Authority (TSSA), including as the Chair of the Audit, Risk and Finance Committee. He previously served on the Boards of the Tarion Warranty Corporation and the Canadian Automobile Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan (CAMVAP).

APPOINTED: AUGUST 8, 2024
TERM EXPIRES: 2026 ANNUAL MEETING

Patrick Shea, MStJ, KC, LSM, CS, a partner at Gowling WLG in Toronto, specializes in commercial law, focusing on bankruptcy and insolvency. He has advised on major corporate restructuring across various industries and consulted on insolvency law reform for the governments of Canada and the Caribbean. Patrick has taught business and insolvency law and is involved with several legal organizations, including as co-chair of the American Bankruptcy Institute’s International Committee. Patrick currently serves on the boards of St. John Ambulance’s Toronto Branch and the St. John Canada Foundation, among others. A licensed pilot and former officer of the Canadian Forces, he has received numerous prestigious honours, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Law Society Medal.