With a distinguished career spanning over three decades, Gord McFarlane has been at the forefront of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), business valuations, and transaction advisory services, playing a pivotal role in shaping mid-market transactions across diverse industries.
Passionate about strategic growth and organizational development, Gord has built a reputation for fostering strong, trusting relationships in every transaction. His results-driven approach, combined with expertise in financial, strategic, and operational leadership, has consistently delivered superior business performance.
For the past six years, Gord was a key leader at FYi Health Group, where he spearheaded M&A and Corporate Development, doubling the size of the business from under 200 to over 400 locations. Under his leadership, the team executed over 100 mergers and several platform acquisitions, establishing FYi Health Group as one of North America’s leading healthcare consolidators.
Before his time at FYi, Gord spent 30 years at Grant Thornton LLP, he advised some of Canada’s most successful privately held businesses and worked alongside a team of exceptional professionals. Earlier in his career, he served as a senior financial executive in the transportation industry, helping drive the rapid expansion of a dynamic group of companies.
How has the CBV Program supported your career development?
The CBV designation has played a significant role in my career in several ways. Early on, I was working with a group of transportation companies when the owners decided to expand through acquisitions to take advantage of industry deregulation. At that time, I didn’t have my CBV designation yet, but I was deeply intrigued by the process. We acquired several trucking companies in Manitoba, and while I found it fascinating, I realized I didn’t fully understand what I was doing. That’s when I started taking the CBV courses.
They were incredibly relevant to my work and gave me a strong foundation in valuation and financial analysis. Later on when it was time for ownership to transition the business I was able to support them in preparing the valuations and analysis that led to a successful sale of the group.
Later, when I transitioned back into public accounting with Grant Thornton, I spent 30 years with the firm in various roles. I started as a general practice partner and then specialized in corporate finance including mergers and acquisitions and business valuation
Eventually, I became National Managing Partner for Advisory Services, leading the Corporate Finance, mergers and acquisitions, valuation and corporate recovery practices across Canada. The CBV designation was instrumental in that transition, giving me both credibility and a deep understanding of specialized services. It’s very different from audit and tax, and having the CBV allowed me to engage with other professionals in the field at a high level. Looking back, it created multiple career advancement opportunities for me as I went on to become a member of the National Management Committee and Partnership Board.
Can you share a particularly challenging yet interesting valuation analysis that made you realize you had chosen the right career path?
One of the most unique and complex valuations I worked on was for a professional sports franchise in the U.S. While I can’t name the team, it’s a franchise everyone would recognize. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and incredibly intricate.
The challenge lay in the multiple layers of ownership—there was the team itself, the stadium, and the franchise rights, each with its own valuation complexities. Fortunately, I was able to collaborate with colleagues in the U.S. firm who had prior experience valuing sports franchises. That expertise was invaluable.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the project was comparing our detailed valuation analysis to Forbes’ annual rankings of sports franchises. We put in extensive work to determine fair market value, but ultimately, billionaires buying these teams aren’t necessarily concerned with the underlying valuation. It’s a highly specialized market where market demand often dictates price rather than traditional valuation models.
What differences do you see in your current role as compared to your previous role?
After 30 years at Grant Thornton, I retired—but I quickly realized I wasn’t ready to fully step away from work. I took on two roles:
1. Joining FYidoctors – This is a consolidator of healthcare practices across Canada, mainly in optometry, medical aesthetics and related businesses. It’s a fast-paced environment with a strong focus on acquisitions, which made for an exciting post-retirement challenge.
2. Part time working with CBV Institute – It’s been a great experience collaborating with Catalina Miranda, Vice President, Regulatory & Standards, and contributing to the profession.
At the end of 2024, I officially retired from FYidoctors and launched my own boutique M&A advisory firm. This allows me to slow things down a bit and focus on select mandates, bringing my expertise to businesses looking to navigate complex transactions.
Do you have any tips for people looking to become a CBV?
Absolutely. The CBV designation has been invaluable for me, and my biggest advice is:
• Don’t just aim to pass the exams—really understand the material. The knowledge you gain will serve you in the long run.
• Explore different areas within business valuation. There’s so much you can do—litigation support, financial reporting, M&A, matrimonial disputes, and more.
Find what excites you the most.
• Immerse yourself in the work. The best way to grow is to take on real-world valuation challenges and apply what you’ve learned.
#FunFact: I just became a grandfather, which is something I never imagined myself saying! My granddaughter is about eleven months old, and I just got a video of her climbing the stairs in their home. It’s been a really special experience.
In my younger years, I was really into endurance sports—long-distance marathon running and triathlons. I even completed three Ironman triathlons! Those were intense but incredibly rewarding experiences.