Demeure Board of Directors Profile

By: Destination Club News
Date: October 26, 2010

Yesterday we documented Demeure's view on destination club regulation. Today we look at Demeure's Board of Directors, a pillar in the club's overarching vision.

Peter SchwartzThe Chairman and CEO of Demeure and President of Laurence Capital Corporation, Peter Schwartz is the outspoken leader of the exchange based destination club. "The Demeure Club is positioned as a smarter alternative to destination clubs because Demeure doesn’t have a membership deposit and is a more predictable alternative to the many vacation home rental-listing services," said Schwartz in an interview with us last month. "The bonus that Demeure adds that further separates it from listing services and local property managers is access to boutique resorts and a real estate portfolio that spans North America, South America, Europe and Caribbean."

Schwartz is the former Chairman and CEO of Descartes Systems Group Inc., a software company created in 1981. Descartes is developing the world's largest multimodal electronic logistics messaging network, called the "Global Logistics Network." This on demand network processes more than a million messages every day for companies with transport operations. Schwartz joined the firm in 1990 and would be appointed as a member of the Board of Directors and CEO in 1995 and Chairman of the Board in 1997, growing revenues from $1 million at the start of his tenure to over $80 million.

Holding an HBA from the University of Western Ontario, he currently sits on several Boards with multiple prominant technology companies.

Tonight, Schwartz will host a webinar with Ultimate Escapes members where he will more thoroughly outline the benefits of his new club and field questions from members along with others on the Demeure executive team.

John BoweyJohn Bowey is the Senior Counsel and the past Chairman of the Board of Deloitte & Touche. Receiving his BA in Economics from Colby College, he would go on to obtain his MBA from the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, joining Deloitte in Toronto upon graduation. Bowey would become a Chartered Accountant and eventually transfer to the Kitchener Office before serving as the Tax Practice Leader for South Western Ontario from 2000 to 2004 and Regional Managing Partner from 2001 to 2006.

In 2002, Bowey was elected to the Deloitte Board of Directors in 2002 and appointed to the role of Chairman of the Board Governance Committee in 2004 and elected by partnership as Chairman of Deloitte in 2006 until retiring from that position in May of this year.

Bowey was also a member of the global Board of Deloitte and the global Governance Committee and Audit Committee as well as being recognized as a "fellow" of the Institute of Chartered Accountants on Ontario. The Institute of Corporate Directors has also given Bowey his ICD.D designation.

Paul McLeanBowey may be the big name on the Board of Directors, but Paul McLean might be the most interesting to Ultimate Escapes members. McLean was a long time Private Escapes and Ultimate Escapes member, purchasing multiple memberships with the club and brings an intimate understanding of the destination club model to the Board.

McLean is the Co-Founder and President of Maxium, establishing the venture as one of the leading, privately-held leasing companies in the world with assets in excess of $600 million. Prior to Maxium, McLean was the President of Triathlon Equipment Leasing where he also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Financing & Leasing Association.

Attending McMaster University on a Chancellor's Scholarship, McLean completed his Honors Bachelor of Science Degree in Statistics and Computer Science, followed by completion of a Masters in Business Administration.

These three are also joined by several other experienced individuals, including:

  • Patrick Brigham: Founder of Sunquest Vacations and current Director of Energenius Inc., ClubLink Corporation, and multiple charitable, not-for-profit organizations.
  • Mark Rider: The Founder of The Rider Travel Group, Rider has developed new businesses in technology, travel, and entertainment.
  • Rob Fraser: Co-CEO of G3 Capital Corp., Fraser also as Co-Founder of GMP Capital Corp and served as Vice Chairman of Investment Banking, serving on the organization's Executive Committee until May of 2007.
  • Paul Laufert: A technology expert, Laufert's experience includes stops in the biotech, financing, investor relations, and other fields.

The Ultimate Escapes bankruptcy has made many club members weary about the destination club concept, even clubs outside the traditional destination club mold, largely because of the mismanagement at Ultimate Escapes, Tanner & Haley, and others. Having a Board as well versed as Demeure's is a solid foundation to rebuild that trust.