Every year, Canadian organizations lose roughly $30 billion to technology waste, project failures, and cyber breaches. Drawing on decades of technology leadership experience and the latest research, this program reveals a consistent pattern: when technology fails, it almost always traces back to one of five predictable mistakes.
In this session, Peter Aceto moderates a conversation with Charlie Feld and David Trent on the five things CEOs need to get right before making significant bets on any technology including AI.
What You’ll Walk Away With
- A clear lens for assessing your organization’s readiness for Technology
- The most common failure points in large-scale transformation
- Practical insight into aligning your leadership team and operating model
- A framework for making better technology investment decisions
- A sharper understanding of where to focus in the next 90 days
Who Should Attend
CEOs, Executives, and Business Owners navigating:
- AI and digital transformation decisions
- Organizational change and scaling complexity
- Leadership alignment and execution challenges
About our Panel
David Trent, Founder, Technology Done Well | Forum Chair, MacKay CEO Forums
David Trent brings more than 30 years of experience leading technology, digital innovation, and enterprise transformation across complex, asset-intensive organizations. His career has been defined by translating strategy into measurable business outcomes ensuring that technology investments deliver real operational and financial impact.
He has held senior executive roles at Canadian National Railway, where he served as Chief Digital Officer and Vice President of Operating Technologies, and at Canadian Forest Products, where he was Senior Vice President of Business Development and Senior Vice President of Supply Chain and Digital. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at Methanex and Intrawest, consistently driving performance improvements through disciplined execution.
As Founder of Technology Done Well, David works with boards and executive teams to plan, implement, and operate technology effectively, with a focus on governance, accountability, and long-term value creation.
David holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Simon Fraser University and earned his CPA CMA, graduating top of his class. He is also an Accredited Board Director with the Chartered Governance Institute of Canada and has served on multiple boards, including Railinc and Canada’s Digital Supercluster.
Charlie Feld, Founder, Feld Group Institute | Former CIO & Transformation Leader
Charlie Feld is a recognized leader in large-scale business and technology transformation, with a career spanning more than four decades advising global organizations on how to execute complex change successfully.
He is the Founder of the Feld Group Institute, where he works with CEOs and executive teams to align business strategy, operating models, and technology investments to drive sustained performance. His work focuses on helping organizations move beyond fragmented initiatives to achieve integrated, enterprise-wide transformation.
Earlier in his career, Charlie served as Chief Information Officer at companies including Frito-Lay and Burlington Northern Santa Fe, where he led major modernization efforts and operational improvements. He has since advised many of the world’s leading organizations across industries, bringing a practical, execution-focused approach to transformation.
Charlie is also the author of Blind Spot: A Leader’s Guide to IT-Enabled Business Transformation, which outlines a structured framework for aligning leadership, operating models, and technology to achieve measurable results.
About our Moderator
Peter Aceto, President, Ontario and Atlantic Canada and Forum Chair | MacKay CEO Forums
Peter Aceto is a three-time CEO and currently is President, Ontario & Atlantic Canada, and Forum Chair at MacKay CEO Forums. He works closely with CEOs navigating complexity, growth, and leadership inflection points. In parallel, he provides select CEO- and board-level advisory and consulting services through Aceto Leadership Performance, supporting organizations during periods of transformation, scale, and strategic reset.
Peter was a founding member of Tangerine Bank’s (formerly ING Direct) senior leadership team and served as President and CEO from 2008 to 2017. During his tenure, he helped transform ING Direct from a monoline savings institution into Canada’s most trusted “everyday” bank, culminating in its $3.1 billion acquisition by Scotiabank in 2012. Prior to becoming CEO, Peter held senior roles including Chief Risk Officer, Chief of Staff, Chief Lending Officer at ING Direct U.S., and General Counsel at ING Direct Canada.
Following Tangerine, Peter has remained deeply engaged in Canada’s financial services and fintech ecosystem as an operator, investor, board member, and advisor. He has served as CEO on three occasions, including leading the successful turnaround of one of Canada’s largest mortgage brokerage businesses, Mortgage Alliance, restoring performance, stability, and strategic focus.
Most recently, Peter joined the executive leadership team at KOHO Financial, where his mandate was to lead the federal banking strategy. Within 11 months, he developed the full business case, secured board approval, and submitted a complete Schedule I bank application to Canada’s regulator (OSFI).
Peter is a board member of Fintechs Canada and is widely recognized for his leadership in customer-centric transformation, culture, governance, and risk. He is the author of Weology: How Everybody Wins When We Comes Before Me, a Globe and Mail bestseller, and has received numerous awards for leadership in business, design, communication, and human resources, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for contributions to Canada and community service.