John Risley

Founding Partner, CDL-Atlantic | Chairman and CEO, CFFI Ventures

Role: Fellow

Sites: CDL-Atlanta, CDL-Atlantic, CDL-Paris, CDL-Toronto

Streams: Oceans, Prime, Space

John Risley is Chairman and CEO of CFFI Ventures Inc., a diversified holding company operating internationally. The company has a majority or significant stakes in a portfolio of young companies ranging from financial services, renewable energy and the tech sector. He is also the Chair of Northern Private Capital, a Toronto-based fund which invests in high-growth opportunities, and Chair of MDA Corporation, Canada’s iconic space company.

John is very active in community affairs, sitting on the board of a number of charitable organizations. He is a Director of Futurpreneur Canada and Chair of the Ocean Supercluster. He regularly engages in public policy debate and is a member of the World President’s Organization, The Chief Executives Organization, the Business Council of Canada and the Trilateral Commission. He is also a graduate of Harvard University’s President’s Program in Leadership.

John was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1997 and is a member of the New York Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club.