skip content
Loading indicator

Language switcher

Alumni Spotlight: Catching Up with Yann Robard

CPP Investments tenure: My first tenure was 2001-2006. I took a leave of absence, and then returned from 2007- 2015. I worked out of Toronto and London.

Famous for: Introducing the beard to the organization (sorry, Mark Machin); being a champion of private equity secondaries (shameless at times); leaving CPP Investments in 2006 only to come back in 2007 (see above); and consistently getting sayings wrong (and not knowing that I did).

Current situation: Managing Partner, Whitehorse Liquidity Partners, a private equity firm focused on providing preferred equity to private equity portfolios. Established in 2015, we’ve grown to 24 people and raised over $1.5 billion. In 2018, we were voted Top 3 Private Equity Firms in Canada by Private Equity International.

Can’t stop reading about: Mindfulness (happiness is a mindset); coping with high growth organizations (to deal with the rocket ship that Whitehorse has become); and Yukon rivers (canoeing them refreshes my soul).

People aren’t paying enough attention to: Positivity (the world has gone negative, it needs more love); the present (the here and now); and giving back (it’s the right thing to do).

Podcast/Long read obsession: Principles by Ray Dalio (a must read); The Economist Radio podcast (a good summary of the world events); and stand-up comedy on Spotify (everyone needs a good laugh).

2019 #Goals: Self-care (life is a marathon not a sprint); retaining a grounded culture at Whitehorse (celebrating milestones while staying humble); maintaining momentum (driving further growth and evolution at Whitehorse); giving back (it helps to remain grateful); and taking vacations (the Arctic, and adventure, is calling!).

Favourite Guiding Principle: Integrity: do good things for the right reason and in the right way. This feeds partnership and leads to high performance. CPP Investments taught me that you can be a good person and win—the most important lesson I have learnt.

CPP Investments tenure: My first tenure was 2001-2006. I took a leave of absence, and then returned from 2007- 2015. I worked out of Toronto and London. Famous for: Introducing the beard to the organization (sorry, Mark Machin); being a champion of private equity secondaries (shameless at times); leaving CPP Investments in 2006 only to come back in 2007 (see above); and consistently getting sayings wrong (and not knowing that I did). Current situation: Managing Partner, Whitehorse Liquidity Partners, a private equity firm focused on providing preferred equity to private equity portfolios. Established in 2015, we’ve grown to 24 people and raised over $1.5 billion. In 2018, we were voted Top 3 Private Equity Firms in Canada by Private Equity International. Can’t stop reading about: Mindfulness (happiness is a mindset); coping with high growth organizations (to deal with the rocket ship that Whitehorse has become); and Yukon rivers (canoeing them refreshes my soul). People aren’t paying enough attention to: Positivity (the world has gone negative, it needs more love); the present (the here and now); and giving back (it’s the right thing to do). Podcast/Long read obsession: Principles by Ray Dalio (a must read); The Economist Radio podcast (a good summary of the world events); and stand-up comedy on Spotify (everyone needs a good laugh). 2019 #Goals: Self-care (life is a marathon not a sprint); retaining a grounded culture at Whitehorse (celebrating milestones while staying humble); maintaining momentum (driving further growth and evolution at Whitehorse); giving back (it helps to remain grateful); and taking vacations (the Arctic, and adventure, is calling!). Favourite Guiding Principle: Integrity: do good things for the right reason and in the right way. This feeds partnership and leads to high performance. CPP Investments taught me that you can be a good person and win—the most important lesson I have learnt.
Privacy Preferences
When you visit our website, it may store information through your browser from specific services, usually in form of cookies. Here you can change your privacy preferences. Please note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our website and the services we offer.