Leadership at MEC

Peter Hlynsky

CEO

Peter has an extensive background as an executive leader across a range of industries in Canada, the US, Australia and Europe. He brings a broad range of experience with a focus on balancing financial stability while managing culture to ensure long-term business success. He’s a Chartered Accountant with a wealth of knowledge in everything from operational improvements to transaction services.

Peter has been a member of MEC since 1995. Some of his adventures include ski touring in Canada, hiking in the Andes, rafting the Amazon River, diving off Fiji, surfing in California and lots of kayaking through Desolation Sound and the Gulf Islands. Growing up on the North Shore near Vancouver, he has fond memories of riding his 1990s rigid mountain bike wearing hockey equipment as padding (gear has come a long way). These days, you can find Peter and his wife introducing their three kids to his favourite old trails in the mountains.

Chris Speyer

Chief Merchandising Officer

Chris brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for the outdoors. Raised in Ottawa, Chris developed his love for nature through activities like skiing at Camp Fortune, riding bikes on the Parkway and skating on the canal. His connection with MEC dates back to the 90s, when he relied on MEC gear for his outdoor adventures in Calgary.

With past roles at Elgin Sports, Forzani Group, the Accell Group and REI, Chris’s leadership style focuses on building strong, value-driven teams and brands. He is also a dedicated family man who loves sharing outdoor adventures with his wife and kids.

Chris is also deeply committed to his community, having served as executive sponsor for REI’s PRISM Inclusion Network and as Board Chair for People for Bikes. An avid trail runner, cyclist and skier, he looks forward to making a meaningful impact at MEC.

Erik Garrett

Chief Information Officer

Erik is seasoned technology leader who is living his career dream of working for MEC, a brand that has been influencing him from a young age.

Since the early 2000s, Erik has built a technology career on two basic principles – keep learning and keep improving. Having worked across multiple industries, Erik brings a breadth of experience that’s needed to keep pushing MEC’s Information Technology forward in the ever-changing retail landscape.

Erik was drawn to the outdoors from a very young age, having grown up on the West Coast, and attributes this inspiration to the old MEC print catalogues. Now settled on the North Shore of Vancouver, Erik spends his time mountain biking, hiking, camping and snowboarding.

Catherine Lau

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Catherine leads and oversees MEC’s legal, governance, privacy and real estate matters. She brings over 15 years of legal experience to our team, and prior to joining MEC, was Senior Counsel at TELUS and associate at Borden Ladner Gervais, LLP.

She currently serves on the board of Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, along with the Women General Counsel of Canada. She enjoys giving back to the community and has volunteered with various community groups, including the TELUS Victoria Community Board.

Catherine enjoys biking, hitting the ski hill and travelling with her family. A couple past highlights include visiting the ruins in Machu Picchu and snorkelling near Maldives and the Great Barrier Reef.

Matt Alexander

VP Finance

Matt leads the MEC finance team. He is a tenured finance leader with a broad range of experience. His focus is on simplifying the numbers so organizations can make the right financial decisions. He is a Chartered Accountant and has experience managing all parts of a business, including HR, legal and facilities.

He is also active in his community, holding several board positions, most recently as a former director of Hub Cycling, a partner with MEC.

Matt grew up in Vancouver and has deep roots with MEC. He’s tested the MEC products in a variety of ways including a cross-Canada bike trip, backcountry ski trips, and hiking, canoeing, and kayaking trips all over the world. Wherever he calls home, he’s always got a basement/garage of MEC gear so he’s ready to get outside.

Janet Hughes

VP People

Janet is passionate about building high-performing teams and driving innovation in engagement, retention, and People strategy. As a champion of the employee experience, she blends strategic vision with hands-on expertise in all aspects of human resources, talent acquisition, and organizational development. Guided by her philosophy of "caring enough to get it right," Janet ensures sustainable growth and impactful results.

Originally from Toronto, Janet relocated to British Columbia to pursue both her bachelor's and master's degrees and holds a CPHR designation. With over 20 years of HR leadership experience, she has been recognized as a finalist for Canadian HR Leader of the Year and HR Team of the Year at the Annual Canadian HR Awards. Janetbrings a wealth of experience across diverse industries, including film and animation, technology and game design, and education, before finding her perfect fit at MEC.

An outdoor enthusiast, Janet recharges in the waves off Tofino's incredible beaches, trail running through BC’s forests, and exploring alpine routes in the winter months.

Michele Guimond

VP Marketing

Michele leads the group that’s responsible for sharing the MEC brand with the world. A dedicated people leader, she’s known for her ability to build strong culture as well as strong teams. She’s been a proud MEC member for ages, and she brings a depth of skills in brand strategy and operations to her role.

Before MEC, Michele led marketing at top-tier retail brands going through periods of rapid growth (including Arc’teryx and Aritzia). As a leader who’s also a creative at heart, she believes in the power of good storytelling and leading with high-quality creative to elevate a brand.

One of her favourite aspects of her work is how it links with her love for the outdoors. She’s an avid backcountry skier, downhill mountain biker and trail runner, and she spends every opportunity planning adventures outdoors.

Sylvia McLoughlin

VP Retail

MEC stores are the start of so many adventures, and Sylvia’s role is to help make sure your experience at our stores is a great one. She drives awesome member service and staffer engagement by supporting and improving store processes and procedures.

Sylvia hails from South Africa and lived in Ireland for 15 years before settling in Canada. With over 20 years of retail experience, she has worn many hats, including area controller, regional manager and store manager.

Sylvia is always up to go trail running, hiking and bouldering, but she’s happiest in the water – either paddling, surfing or kayaking. She loves that every day she gets to live the dream and be inspired by the amazing adventures our staff have.

Leah Nielsen

VP Digital and eCommerce

Leah leads the eCommerce and digital group that’s responsible for providing a seamless omni-channel shopping experience. She brings 15 years of eCommerce experience to MEC with a focus on the outdoor industry and has a passion for connecting members with the gear they need to get outside.

Before joining MEC, Leah led digital teams with other well-known brands including Arc’teryx, Patagonia and SAXX.

Leah has been a proud MEC member for 25 years. Fun fact: Leah’s journey in the outdoor industry began at MEC, where she started as a cashier and clothing team member at the Toronto and Vancouver stores! When she is not at work, Leah can be found running, cycling, sea kayaking and exploring new trails in and around her home in Squamish.

Kristin Paul

VP Merchandising

Kristin leads the product teams to help make the key decisions about the gear MEC members rely on for all of their outdoor adventures. Across all categories, Kristin ensures that every piece of gear we sell meets the high standards of performance, durability and sustainability that outdoor enthusiasts expect.

With over eight years of successive merchandise leadership experience at MEC and product development with other large-scale retailers beforehand, Kristin brings extensive product and retail insight to her role.

Outside of MEC, Kristin spends her time road and gravel biking, canoeing with her family and hiking around her home in Squamish. Her passion for the outdoors drives her dedication to providing members with the best gear to fuel their own adventures.

Mark Richards

VP Learning & Member Experience

Mark leads the Learning & Member Experience team, whose purpose is to equip MEC staff and leaders with the skills, knowledge, and outdoor experiences necessary to relate to our members, anticipate their needs, and earn their trust.

Starting his retail journey on the ski shop floor at Hogarth’s Sport & Ski in Vancouver, Mark went on to discover a passion for inspiring others through training and development. In total, Mark brings over 30 years of outdoor retail and sporting goods experience to his role.

An avid skier and aspiring trail runner, Mark grew up on the West Coast and can be found testing MEC Label products on the endless trails around his home in Squamish.