One of Ottawa’s best-known finance men is calling it a career.
Mitel announced Wednesday that Steve Spooner, the Kanata tech firm’s chief financial officer for more than 15 years, is retiring. The Ottawa Business Journal and Ottawa Board of Trade named Spooner the inaugural CFO of the Year at the 2018 Best Ottawa Business Awards.
A native of Ottawa, Spooner was pivotal in Mitel’s growth over the past decade and a half, guiding the firm through multiple acquisitions and a $147-million initial public offering. CEO Rich McBee called Spooner the “modern CFO” for his understanding of both the minutiae of the business and the broad vision of the company’s future.
OBJ360 (Sponsored)

Your next memorable getaway awaits in Whitewater Region
If you’re eager to immerse yourself in some quintessentially Canadian experiences, look no further than Whitewater Region in the County of Renfrew, in the Upper Ottawa Valley. It’s a four-season

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa is the company’s new Canadian jewel
There’s a buzz of excitement at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa as a $350-million transformation of the former Rideau Carleton Raceway nears completion. This high-energy entertainment destination will soon
As the story goes, Mitel co-founder and longtime board member Terry Matthews had to call on Spooner twice to convince him to join the communications firm back in the early 2000s, but Spooner eventually couldn’t resist the call of his valued mentor and Wesley Clover chairman.
“Talent is the natural resource of the tech industry – the precious metal that drives business growth and success – and Steve Spooner has set the gold standard for best-in-class financial leadership and integrity in Ottawa, Canada and the world,” Matthews said when Spooner was awarded the CFO of the Year honours.
Taking the CFO reins from Spooner will be Vanessa Kanu, who until now served as Mitel’s senior vice-president of finance. The 2017 Forty Under 40 award recipient has already been with Mitel for 15 years and has served as an adviser to both Spooner and McBee in her current role.