THE FIRM
Governance advice from people who have sat in the chairs.
Cosgrove & Co. is a governance and strategy practice based in Halifax, working with organizations across Canada. We advise boards, chairs and chief executives in the public and Crown sector, in non-profits and charities, and in private and family enterprise — usually at a moment when the way an organization is governed has stopped matching the work in front of it.
We stay deliberately small. Our clients get the people they met in the first meeting: senior advisors who have served as directors, corporate secretaries and executives themselves, and who know the difference between advice that reads well and advice a board can actually carry out.
Where a mandate needs more hands — a large review, a training cohort, a bilingual engagement — we bring in executive-level advisors we have worked with for years and who are who have served as directors, corporate secretaries and senior executives themselves.
Founded
1999
Location
Halifax - Toronto
Working
Across Canada
WHAT WE VALUE
Not what we say.
What we do.
Governance work is personal. It touches how people work together, how they handle disagreement, and decisions get made.
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How we show up in our work, matters as much as what we recommend.
An impartial, objective and independent lens.
Independence
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Candour
Straight but sensitive talk, with direct recommendations.
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Practicality
Realistic guidance that fits where you are today.
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Capability
Progress that sticks after we leave.
MEET OUR PRINCIPAL
Kathryn Cosgrove
Founder & PRINCIPAL · MBA · FCMC
Kathryn Cosgrove leads Cosgrove & Co. and has over 25 years experience in management consulting.
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She brings a unique style to all client engagements. Her deep experience in 'all things board-related', laser-sharp questions, and sense of humour bring value for every client and business situation.
Before founding Cosgrove & Co. in 2019, Kathryn was Chief of Staff and Partner of Firm Governance at Canada's largest professional services firm. ​Today she engages with boards and senior leadership teams and leads all our projects. She is also a guest speaker on a range of governance-related topics and brings a unique skillset in the areas of governance assessment, modernization, and fractional corporate secretarial services. Â
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On a personal level, Kathryn has served on various Boards of Directors including a 150-year old arts organization in Toronto. She is currently an Independent Director for a Toronto-based 'green energy' corporation serving remote indigenous communities.
With a lifelong passion for good governance, my mission is to achieve the highest levels of expertise, client support and satisfaction in our chosen field.
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I personally value excellence in our work, collaboration, and always having a sense of humour.
CREDENTIALS
- FCMCÂ - Fellow Certified Management Consultant
- TRIUM Global Master of Business Administration
- Bachelor of Arts
Other Professional experience
- Founder, Board Leapfrog
- Founder, Board Healthscore
- Deloitte LLP (Toronto) - Partner & Chief of StaffÂ
- Deloitte Consulting (Halifax) - senior consulting leader
- Independent Director for a Toronto-based 'green energy' corporation serving remote indigenous communities.Â
- Guest speakerÂ
OUR TEAM
Who you will actually work with.
We work with a small group of affiliated associates — former directors, corporate secretaries and facilitators.Â
Joëlle Calce-Lafrenière, ASC, C.Dir., MBA
Joelle is a seasoned consultant with extensive governance and executive-level non-profit leadership experience within self-regulatory and professional services.
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Joelle’s focus areas include:
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Advising boards and senior leadership on governance and operational matters
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Strategic reflection and planning , and governance alignment.
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Policy analysis and writing
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Stakeholder engagement, consultation and research
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Program and project leadership, and implementation support
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Public and private sectors
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Certified governance professional, she has deep governance experience in the self-regulatory professional sector. She has served on multiple boards of non-profit organizations.
Roddy Macdonald, CPHR, ICD.D
Roddy is an ICD-certified Board Director bringing a combination of experience in governance consulting, executive human resources advisory, and board effectiveness assessments.
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Roddy’s focus areas include:
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Advising boards on sensitive matters
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Governance reviews of complex corporate structures
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Design of alternative governance solutions and practices
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Board evaluations
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Stakeholder engagement
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Complex senior-level workplace investigations and HR advice
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Public, for-profit, and not-for-profit sectors
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Roddy brings deep governance experience on multiple boards (St. Mary’s University Board and Chair of Governance Committee; Mountain Equipment Co-op, Symphony NS, Feed Nova Scotia, others), in addition to private companies, government entities, crown corporations, and not-for-profits.