J. William (Bill) Ritchie
Born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, J. William (Bill) Ritchie has raised millions of dollars for governments, businesses, charitable institutions and individuals over a nearly six decade-long career in the investment industry. He has also mentored and assisted many start-up companies and aspiring entrepreneurs during his career.
In 1951, Mr. Ritchie received his BSc (Agr.) from McGill University (Macdonald College) specializing in economics. After his graduation he joined a leading investment firm, A.E. Ames & Co. Limited, where he spent four years being trained in the art of finance. From there he and a partner acquired a small firm in Fredericton, which was later sold to Eastern Securities Co. Limited of Saint John. That firm transferred Mr. Ritchie to Halifax in 1958, where he managed their operations until resigning in 1963 to acquire Scotia Bond Company Limited with a silent partner.
From a relatively modest beginning with only one salesman and two assistants, Mr. Ritchie grew the company to a total of fifty five employees in four offices. Along the way, the company acquired seats on the Montreal and Toronto Stock Exchanges. The company engaged in both institutional and retail business and acted as a fiscal agent for the Province of Nova Scotia.
During the seventies, Mr. Ritchie worked very closely with Michael Donovan helping him with the establishment of the film industry in Nova Scotia. He was a director of Salter Street Films Limited which was subsequently sold to Alliance Atlantic a leading Canadian film production company of that era. Subsequently Mr. Donovan incorporated DHX Inc. which in twelve years has grown to become a leading owner and provider of children’s television programming with a market capitalization of nearly one billion dollars. Mr. Richie assisted with the financing of that entity and served as a director from inception until his retirement from the board in 2014.
Mr. Ritche has been involved in numerous business ventures over the years including his role as Chairman and CEO of Scotia Bond. He was a founder of Keltic Savings Corporation Limited. He served on over forty boards of directors for various periods of time including over twenty-five years on the boards of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc.
Mr. Ritchie is currently active on the boards of Kivuto Inc., SimplyCast and Morien Resources Inc.