The Company maintains directors’ and officers’ liability insurance covering liability, including defense costs, of its directors and officers and other employees (as defined in the policy), arising out of a wrongful act committed while performing their duties in such capacity, provided they acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company. The current limit of insurance is US$5 million (approximately $6.3 million in Canadian dollars) for each loss and US$5 million (approximately $6.3 million in Canadian dollars) for each policy period. An annual premium of US$172,500 (approximately $228,000 in Canadian dollars) was paid by the Company for the limit of insurance in its last completed financial year with respect to the period from April 1, 2021 to April 1, 2022. Claims payable to the Company are subject to a retention, for the primary limit, of US$250,000 (approximately $315,000 in Canadian dollars) per occurrence applicable to indemnifiable loss only.
Executive Officers Compensation
At the commencement of fiscal year 2021, the Company had five executive officers. During the fiscal year 2021, Lanita Layton, the Company’s former Vice President, Chief Omni-Channel Sales and Marketing Officer, left the Company on July 3, 2020 following a senior management reorganization resulting in the elimination of her position. The aggregate compensation paid by the Company to these five executive officers in fiscal year 2021 was approximately $1,506,000 (annual salary), including the salary reductions due to COVID-19.
Set out below are the biographies of the Company’s current four executive officers:
Jean-Christophe Bédos, age 57, is the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior thereto he was the Company’s Chief Operating Officer from January 2012 to March 2012. He has been a director of the Company since April 19, 2012. He has over 25 years of experience in merchandising, marketing, branding and product development in the global retail luxury sector. Mr. Bédos was President and Chief Executive Officer of French jeweller Boucheron from May 2004 to September 2011. Prior to that, he was the Managing Director of Cartier France from 2002 to 2004, and International Executive Manager alongside the President and Chief Executive Officer of Richemont International from 2000 to 2002. Mr. Bédos started his career in the jewellery industry at Cartier in 1988.
Maryame El Bouwab, age 43, is the Company’s Vice President, Merchandising, Planning and Supply Chain and has been with the Company since March 2013. Prior to her current position, she was the Company’s Vice President, Planning and Supply Chain from June 1, 2018 to September 30, 2018 and Vice President, Merchandise Planning from February 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018 and, the Company’s Director of Merchandise Planning from March 2013 to February 2017. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. El Bouwab was, from 2005 to 2012, with Mexx Canada where she held the position of Merchandise Planning Manager and with Lucky Brand Jeans as Merchandising and Planning & Allocation Manager.
Katia Fontana, age 51, is the Company’s Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and has been with the Company since January 13, 2020. Prior to joining the Company, she was Chief Financial Officer at Avenir Global, a holding company for communications and public relations firms. Prior thereto, she was with Groupe Dynamite Inc., an apparel retailer, from 2004 to 2018 in various positions, including Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, Finance and Administration and Director, Finance. From 1993 to 2004, she was at Deloitte in its audit and assurance practice.
Miranda Melfi, age 57, is the Company’s Vice President, Human Resources, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary and has been with the Company since April 2006. Prior to her current position, she was the Company’s Vice President, Legal Affairs and Corporate Secretary from April 2006 to September 2018. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Melfi was with Cascades Inc., a publicly-traded pulp and paper company for eight years and held the position of Vice President, Legal Affairs, Boxboard Group. From 1994 to 1998, Ms. Melfi was Vice President, Legal Affairs and Corporate Secretary at Stella-Jones Inc., a publicly-traded wood products company, and from 1991 to 1994, practiced corporate, commercial and securities law with Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP.
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