Independent Director & Advisor
Andrew McFarlane
Sitting COO, twice a CEO, two successful exits.
For more than 20 years I've built, run and sold businesses in fleet leasing, cleantech and SaaS. I've also put AI to work, inside a company and in my own day-to-day operations. That's the edge I bring to a board: I've run the systems management is describing, so I know which second question to ask.
I take on a small number of board and advisory roles alongside my operating work.
Where I'm useful
Operator judgment, board-level altitude
Growth and go-to-market
SaaS and B2B services companies moving from founder-led selling to something repeatable: pricing, margin visibility, sales operations and the data to steer by.
Electrification and mobility
Hands-on experience deploying EV charging networks, and an operator's read on what fleet and infrastructure transitions actually take.
AI in operations
Separating real operating leverage from expensive theatre. I've shipped AI into production, including live compliance monitoring, rather than watched a demo.
Governance and transitions
Oversight of strategy, risk and execution, plus leadership and succession transitions, including founder-led and family businesses.
Track record
What I've delivered
- Leading Readymode's shift to AI-assisted, and now agentic, software development, with more releases coming from a leaner team. I also built two live AI compliance systems.
- Nine years as President & CEO of Zeemac Vehicle Lease. Grew it into one of BC's leading commercial fleet lessors, with $40M in assets under management, then led the sell-side exit.
- Co-founded STOREX & APEX Self Storage. Built it to four locations as Co-Founder & CEO and sold to one of Canada's largest independent operators.
- Led the commercial scale-up at 7Gen, an EV charging company, through its fastest growth period to date.
- $22M in financings closed and two M&A processes run end to end, from valuation preparation through integration.
Current roles
Where I sit today
- Chief Operating OfficerReadymode B2B SaaS, contact-centre software
- Advisory BoardVolterra Technologies EV battery and fleet technology
- Advisory BoardIon8 Business systems and software consultancy
- Board DirectorWhistler Lakes Conservation Foundation Nominations committee
- Advisor7Gen EV charging infrastructure
Previously President & Board Chair, Tyrol Investments GP (2012 to 2020).
Governance training & education
- ICD / Rotman Not-for-Profit Governance Program
- CCI Innovation Governance Program
- MSc, London School of Economics
- BCom, UBC Sauder
Sectors
- SaaS
- E-mobility & cleantech
- Fleet & transportation
- B2B services
- Conservation
In their words
"Andrew's superpower is his ability to dive deep into operational detail while keeping full visibility from 10,000 feet. He bridges execution and strategy better than anyone I've worked with."
JW Hoh, Co-Founder & CEO, EV.PRO
"Andrew connected the dots between finance, operations, and growth in a way we hadn't seen before. His analysis unlocked a new lending path that changed the trajectory of our company."
George Easton, CEO, Ion8+
Contact
Comparing notes is always welcome
If you're a chair, CEO or investor looking for an independent director or advisor, the easiest way to reach me is to book a call, or find me on LinkedIn.