Paul Richardson, CEO & Co-Founder

Paul is CEO of the Renewal Funds.  Prior to launching Renewal2, Paul co-managed the Renewal Partners’ venture portfolio from 2003-2009. In that time, Renewal was active in over 20 significant transactions with companies in its portfolio.  From 2004 to 2006, Paul also led an international consortium of philanthropic foundations and private investors in successful negotiations with the Federal and Provincial governments and the Coastal First Nations to structure a financing deal that supported the conservation of the Great Bear Rainforest, the largest intact, coastal temperate rainforest left in the world.

Paul brings both legal and business experience to Renewal Funds. He practiced law at Fasken Martineau in Toronto for four years before leaving to become a senior partner at Strathy & Richardson, a leading Canadian litigation firm in Toronto, where he continued his legal practice for eight years. Paul is a graduate of Queen’s University (Biology) and the University of Toronto (Law) and is active on a variety of Renewal2 investee company boards, including Better Energy Systems, Elevation Brands and Sensible Organics, as well as the boards of the Coast Opportunities Funds (Vice Chair), and is the past President of Ecojustice Canada.

Joel Solomon, Chairman & Co-Founder

Joel is Chairman for Renewal Funds and President and CEO of Renewal; he brings a vast network and wealth of deal experience to Renewal2. Joel was instrumental in the development of Renewal Partners and the Endswell Foundation and has led them since their inception in 1994. Renewal Partners has invested in over 75 companies that share its commitment to socially responsible growth.

Prior to founding Renewal, Joel spent ten years building businesses in Nashville’s decayed urban core where he co-founded Village Real Estate, CORE development, the Bongo Java chain of coffee houses and roasters and 32 West Corp. (a chain of three independent restaurants). Joel is a founding member of Social Venture Network (SVN), Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), and Tides Canada. He is Board Chair of Hollyhock Foundation, and sits on numerous other boards and civic engagements. He is a Senior Advisor to RSF Social Finance in San Francisco and is a member of the SVN Hall of Fame.  Joel represents Renewal2 on the board of Spud.

Carol Newell, Co-Founder

Carol Newell, C.M. is the investing founder of the Renewal family of companies, which includes Renewal Funds.

Carol’s vision has long been to utilize great wealth boldly to help restore natural balance.  To this end, Renewal’s evolution is a calculated, long-term experiment to deploy her discretionary capital in a specific region. This strategy integrates business, philanthropic, and collaborative-inducing investments to address common purpose. Over the past 20 years she has deliberately activated the vast majority of her wealth – well over $60 million - to help catalyze organizations, individuals and businesses working toward sustainable economic development, social and environmental justice, and local resiliency.
 
Carol is the co-founder and co-host of Play BIG, a series of informal conferences to share insights and encourage other wealth holders to activate their resources for social change. She also speaks publicly across North America to promote whole portfolio activation and innovative approaches to social investing.  Carol has received many honours including a Lifetime Achievement award by Vancouver Women in Finance, the Women in Philanthropy award from Minerva Foundation, and a Doctor of Humane Letters from St. Lawrence University. In 2007, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada.

Nicole Bradbury CFA, Vice President

Nicole joined Renewal Funds in 2008 as a member of the investment team from Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management Ltd. (PH&N), where she managed private client portfolios and was responsible for building their external distribution channel. Nicole brings over 15 years experience as a portfolio manager for institutional and private clients with Merrill Lynch in London and Geneva, AllianceBernstein in New York, and PH&N in Vancouver. Nicole is a CFA charterholder, holds an MBA from Columbia Business School (Finance focus on Value Investing), and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours, Co-op) from Memorial University. In her personal time Nicole volunteers on the Finance Committee of Canadian Memorial United Church and the Pacific Parklands Foundation and is a past member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Family Services of Greater Vancouver. Nicole is a Board Observer for Renewal2 investee Rustic Crust and is a board member of Elevation Brands.