Stephen L. Cummings is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Ontario Genomics.
Stephen L. Cummings is CEO and Managing Partner of Rizolve Partners (www.rizolve.ca), a strategic business advisory firm that works with owners and leaders of private companies to build, protect and ultimately realize business value.
Stephen’s work is focused on helping business owners navigate the decisions that matter most to the future of their companies. This includes developing profitable, sustainable growth strategies, building value and transferability, preparing for growth or change, raising appropriate finance, and planning for and executing strategic transactions and liquidity events.
He brings a perspective shaped by more than four decades working across finance, corporate leadership, Private Equity, Venture Capital and strategic advisory. Having worked as a CFO, investor, board member and advisor, Stephen has seen businesses from different sides of the table. He uses that experience to help owners understand their options, challenge assumptions and make informed decisions.
Stephen began his career with Deloitte in London, UK, where he trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant. He went on to become CFO of Harlequin Enterprises, a global publisher, before moving into the investment industry.
He was CFO at MDS Capital managing $800 million of Institutional and Public Funds invested in Biotechnology, Healthcare and Medical Devices ranging from seed stage innovation to listed revenue generating companies. He was a founding partner with Lumira Ventures, Canada’s largest life sciences venture capital firm and later joined DRI Capital, a $3BB private equity investment firm that focused on purchasing royalties from pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms, research institutions, universities and inventors.
At DRI Capital, Stephen served as Chief Administrative Officer, with responsibility for Finance, IT and HR. He was also involved in transaction execution, team rebuilds and the implementation of a new fund accounting system.
Alongside his investment career, Stephen has conducted numerous consulting assignments involving acquisitions, disposals, financings, reorganizations, turnarounds and strategic advisory work for CEOs in both the public and private arenas.
These experiences ultimately led to the creation of Rizolve Partners, where Stephen brings together the financial, investment and strategic perspectives he has developed throughout his career to help private companies build and realize value.
Stephen’s governance experience ranges form working with industry committees, Boards, and Govt relations. From 2008 to 2013, he established and chaired the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association’s CFO Task Force. The group grew to 85 members, representing approximately 50% of the Canadian market, and provided a forum for CFOs to share experience and address technical, regulatory, reporting and best-practice issues across the Private Equity, Venture Capital and Pension Fund sectors.
Stephen served as a member of the Board of Director of Ontario Genomics, where he served as a Director and Chair of the Audit Committee and Special Committee from 2014 to 2023. From March 2024 to April 2025, he served as Interim Chief Executive Officer.
Stephen is a CPA, CA in Ontario and an FCA in England and Wales. He received his Certified Value Builder™ (CVB) designation in 2017 and his CERTIFIED EXIT PLANNING ADVISOR® (CEPA) designation in 2021. He holds a B. Sc. in Economics with honors from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom.