Our People

John C. Kerr - Managing Partner

John (Jake) C. Kerr is the Managing Partner of Lignum Forest Products LLP and Chairman of Lignum Investments Ltd., a privately-held investment company.

Kerr was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lignum Ltd., a privately-held forest products company founded by Leslie J. Kerr in 1946. He ran Lignum for 35 years prior to a merger with Riverside in March 2004. Lignum operated sawmill facilities in the Cariboo and had 32 building material distribution locations around North America.

He was previously employed by the International Paper Company, New York, New York and was engaged in the advertising business at Botsford Advertising in San Francisco, California.

Kerr was educated at the University of British Columbia and received his MBA degree in Economics and Finance from the University of California at Berkeley. In October 2000, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws Degree from Simon Fraser University, Burnaby. He is a recipient of the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia in recognition for his significant contributions to the province and the country.

Kerr is a Director of the Bank of Nova Scotia, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation and the Vancouver Foundation. In addition, he is Past Chair of the Canadian Forest Industries Council, the BC Softwood Lumber Trade Council and the Council of Forest Industries of British Columbia. He was also Chief Negotiator for Canada in the 1996 softwood lumber negotiations.

Kerr is a former Director of Bombardier Inc., Cominco, the Bank of British Columbia, BC Rail, Pacific Forest Products, Trans Mountain Pipelines Corporation, and Forest Renewal British Columbia. He was also Co-Chair of the B.C. Unity Panel.

He has been active on numerous community and charitable boards.

Kerr is a member of the Chief Executive Organization and Past Chairman of the International and B.C. Chapters of the Young Presidents' Organization.

Kerr is married and the father of five children and grandfather to four children. His hobbies include art collecting, fly fishing, tennis, golf and the San Francisco Giants.