Consumers Council of Canada announced that on June 28 Don Mercer was re-elected as its President and three new members were appointed to its board of directors.

Ashish Sharma joined the board and was chosen as Council Secretary. Sharma is a community organizer and U.S.-licensed attorney experienced with large-scale litigation involving information governance, consumer protections and electronic discovery. Sharma holds a BA from the University of Windsor and a JD from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

Other new additions to the Council’s board of directors elected by members were Howard Bogach and Agni Shah.

Bogach, who has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services, cooperative and member service sectors, most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ontario’s new home warranty program. He graduated from University of Manitoba, was named to the Canadian Credit Union Hall of Fame in 2009 is presently serving on the board of directors of Home Ownership Alternatives.

Shah has served previously as a Director and Secretary of the Council and returns to board service after a hiatus of several years. Until his retirement, he worked for more than 23 years in the pharmaceuticals industry in quality assurance, systems administration and regulatory affairs. Most recently he has represented consumers on the Pharmaceutical Advertising Advisory Board, and has been active as a mentor to newcomers to Canada.

The balance of the board is comprised of returning members, including Julie Caissie, Council Vice President and a home economist; Trevor Shaw, Council Treasurer and a chartered professional accountant formerly a senior manager within the office of the Auditor General of Canada; Chris Ballard, former Ontario Minister of Housing and of Environment and Climate Change and presently Chief Executive Officer of Passive House Canada; Tracy MacCharles, former Ontario Minister of Government and Consumer Services; and Larry Swartz, a member of the adjunct Faculty at Osgoode Hall Law School, specializing in investments and insurance, administration and risk management, contracts and drafting, restructuring and insolvency, mergers and acquisitions, negotiation and litigation, benefits and tax.

The Council’s board of directors and annual general meeting voted their thanks and appreciation for the service of retiring board members Dorothy Buchanan, Marshall Leslie, Christine Simpson and Simon Wong.