School of Accounting and Finance Fellowship Honourees

Kevin Elop, MAcc, CA, CMA

Kevin Elop was born and raised in Ancaster, Ontario. He is a graduate of the University of Waterloo’s School of Accounting and Finance, earning a Bachelor of Arts (Co-op Accounting) degree in 1988, and a Masters of Accounting degree in 1989. Kevin obtained his CA designation in 1989 and his CMA designation in 1990.

Throughout his co-op work terms and upon graduation Kevin worked in Hamilton for Touche Ross, a predecessor firm to Deloitte & Touche. Shortly after receiving his CA designation, he accepted a position with Nortel in their Corporate Accounting Department. Kevin worked at Nortel through 1998, where he progressed rapidly through a variety of positions, including ones within their Enterprise Networks division, global finance systems, accounting research, corporate control and external reporting. During his tenure at Nortel, Kevin was fortunate enough in 1994 to marry the love of his life and fellow MAcc (1989) graduate, Tracy Barnes, and together they took a six-month, around the world, backpacking adventure.

In 1998 Kevin moved to Atlanta, USA to become the Director of Finance and Administration for Elastic Networks, a start-up telecommunications venture. While there, he closed on multiple rounds of venture capital financing, built the required corporate finance infrastructure, and managed the HR and IS functions within the company. In 2000, Kevin was elevated to CFO, Treasurer, and Corporate Secretary of Elastic Networks, and he then led them to a successful IPO (NASDAQ) later that year. In 2001 he was elected to the Board of Directors of Elastic Networks.

In 2002, Elastic Networks was acquired by a larger entity and Kevin returned to Kitchener-Waterloo to become the CFO of Christie Digital Systems Canada, a world-leading manufacturer of digital projection solutions, offering diverse applications for business, entertainment, and industry.

Easily overshadowing any professional endeavours, Kevin lists among his most important accomplishments watching his son, Michael, regularly play hockey and soccer, having tea parties with his daughters, Laura and Sarah, and having a glass of wine and a good conversation at the cottage with his soul mate, Tracy.

2010 Fellow: Min Che