Our Team

We are passionate company builders that have dedicated our careers to partnering with owners and operators in British Columbia. We are supported by a group of investors and advisors we have worked directly with for years. Click here to see select members of our broader team.

Aaron Kennedy
Principal

Prior to founding GSP in 2022, Aaron was a Vice President at DW Healthcare Partners in Toronto making growth equity investments into US and Canadian healthcare companies. At DWHP he was responsible for leading all aspects of the deal process including sourcing, diligence, transaction execution and post-closing portfolio management. At DWHP Aaron helped lead the deployment of over US$170 million in equity across six platform investments and over thirty add-on acquisitions. Aaron took active roles with each of these companies in order to support and accelerate their growth including as a board member to three companies. Of the six platform investments, four have gone through successful sale processes after growing at an average rate >30% annually and two investments remain active.

Prior to DWHP, Aaron worked in investment banking with Barclays Capital in Toronto and is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario’s Richard Ivey School of Business where he graduated with distinction while playing Varsity Rugby and winning a Rugby Provincial Championship.

In 2021, Aaron along with his wife Cal packed up a U-Haul and drove west to their new home in North Vancouver. As outdoor enthusiasts, Aaron, Cal and their dog Kona can frequently be found on the trails of the North Shore mountains and enjoy running, mountain biking, skiing and kayaking.

Nik Paukkunen
Managing Partner

Nik is a founding member and Managing Partner of GSP. Also born and raised in Vancouver (a few blocks from Aaron) Nik spent the last 10 years working in investment banking, private equity and management consulting based out of Vancouver, Toronto, and London (UK).

Prior to founding GSP Nik was a Principal at the Boston Consulting Group in their private equity and transformation practice areas. He’s worked with clients across Europe and North America within consumer, industrial goods, financial institutions, and  private equity. His functional expertise resides in topline growth, go-to-market strategy, sales, HR, M&A, operational complexity, and cost reduction.

Prior to BCG, Nik was a private equity investor at The Clairvest Group in Toronto where he led transactions from deal origination to investment to monetization in the midmarket. Sectors of expertise included environmental services, waste management, media (outdoor and digital), services, and entertainment. Nik also seconded with a portfolio company in Chile for three months.

Prior to BCG, Nik began his career in investment banking at RBC Capital Markets in Toronto and he is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario’s Richard Ivey School of Business where he played Varsity Rugby for the same Provincial Winning team as Aaron.

Having returned to Vancouver in 2020, Nik spends his weekends exploring the mountains with his wife, daughter, and dog either running, cycling, or skiing. As a retired rugby player Nik still loves to compete in marathon and triathlon events.

 

Nik Paukkunen
Principal

Prior to founding GSP in 2022, Nik was a Principal at the Boston Consulting Group in their private equity and transformation practice areas in London (UK) and Calgary/Vancouver.

From 2014 to 2017 Nik was an investor at The Clairvest Group in Toronto where he led transactions from deal origination to investment to monetization in the midmarket.

Nik began his career in investment banking at RBC Capital Markets in Toronto and he is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario’s Richard Ivey School of Business where he played Varsity Rugby for the same Provincial Winning team as Aaron.

Having returned home to Vancouver in 2020, Nik spends his weekends exploring the mountains with his wife, two kids, and dog either running, biking, or skiing. As a retired rugby player Nik still loves to compete in marathon and triathlon events.