VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TELUS International (NYSE and TSX: TIXT), a leading digital customer experience (DCX) innovator that designs, builds and delivers next-generation solutions for global and disruptive brands, today announces that its chief financial officer, Vanessa Kanu, has been recognized as 2021’s CFO of the Year by the Ottawa Board of Trade and Ottawa Business Journal at the Best Ottawa Business Awards. The annual awards recognize local businesses and leaders in Canada’s national capital region who demonstrate strong leadership, remarkable innovation and an unwavering commitment to community and social issues.
“I’m truly honored and humbled to accept this prestigious award on behalf of the remarkable team I’ve had the pleasure of leading,” said Vanessa Kanu, CFO of TELUS International. “It has been an exciting year of growth and change, both personally, and for our company since I joined the organization last September. Together, we’ve marked significant milestones like our IPO and our acquisitions of Lionbridge AI and Playment. I look forward to our growth journey ahead as we continue to strengthen our position as a trusted partner to many of the world’s top brands and industry-leading disruptors, and continuing to exemplify TELUS International’s commitment to putting customers first while investing in the global communities where we live, work, and serve.”
“Vanessa joined our executive team during one of the most intense and exciting times in our company’s history as we were in the midst of our IPO journey,” said Jeff Puritt, president and CEO of TELUS International. “Her ability to learn our business so quickly and thoroughly is a true testament to her extensive financial experience and commitment to excellence. Moreover, her proven acumen and strategic mindset were key as our company made its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange and became the largest tech IPO in the history of the Toronto Stock Exchange this past February. Over the past 14 months, Vanessa’s superb leadership and deep-seated expertise have been instrumental in helping to drive our company’s profitability and guiding our direction. From hosting virtual roadshows to connect us with our stakeholders and our expanding community of investors, to leading our recent, successful, oversubscribed and upsized, secondary offering of subordinate shares, Vanessa has enabled us to build upon our strong financial foundation, and I extend my heartfelt congratulations to her for this notable and well-deserved recognition.”
Prior to joining TELUS International, Vanessa held progressive roles over a 16-year period at Mitel, eventually becoming CFO where she was responsible for the organization’s global finance operations, including accounting, treasury, taxation, planning and analysis, and reporting. She also previously held roles in PricewaterhouseCoopers’ assurance and business advisory practice. Vanessa is a longtime resident of Ottawa, Ontario and is an active member in her community, volunteering for organizations such as the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, and serving on the Board of Directors, and the Finance and Audit Committees of the Ottawa Hospital Foundation, and Thorn.
“Vanessa distinguished herself working at Mitel, a pillar in Ottawa’s technology sector. She spent almost 17 years at the company, eventually becoming its CFO. Then to see her move to TELUS International and help orchestrate the largest tech IPO in TSX history is truly an amazing accomplishment,” said Michael Curran, publisher of the Ottawa Business Journal.
The annual CFO of the Year Award recognizes CFOs in Canada’s national capital region who maximize their company’s financial position and growth each year.
About TELUS International
TELUS International (NYSE & TSX: TIXT) designs, builds and delivers next-generation digital solutions to enhance the customer experience (CX) for global and disruptive brands. The company’s services support the full lifecycle of its clients’ digital transformation journeys, enabling them to more quickly embrace next-generation digital technologies to deliver better business outcomes. TELUS International’s integrated solutions span digital strategy, innovation, consulting and design, IT lifecycle including managed solutions, intelligent automation and end-to-end AI data solutions including computer vision capabilities, as well as omnichannel CX and trust and safety solutions including content moderation. Fueling all stages of company growth, TELUS International partners with brands across high growth industry verticals, including tech and games, communications and media, eCommerce and fintech, healthcare, and travel and hospitality.
TELUS International’s unique caring culture promotes diversity and inclusivity through its policies, team member resource groups and workshops, and equal employment opportunity hiring practices across the regions where it operates. The company is building stronger communities and helping those in need through large-scale volunteer events that have positively impacted the lives of more than 150,000 citizens around the world and through its five TELUS International Community Boards that have provided $4 million in funding to grassroots charitable organizations since 2015. Learn more at: www.telusinternational.com.
