Olivier H. Rivas

Olivier has led a dual career as a lawyer and trusted business advisor, working closely with senior leaders, founders, and investors across sectors. His background spans economic development, international business, and legal practice, giving him a pragmatic understanding of how organizations grow, govern, and sustain momentum.

Professional Focus

Licensed lawyer with 10 years’ experience in business and economic development
Executive- and board-level recruitment for not-for-profits, SMEs and large corporations, as well as PE-backed and emerging ventures
Proven business expertise including business development, foreign direct investment, partnerships, international expansion, legal compliance, program and project management
Broad functional know-how including finance, legal, HR and communications
Fluent in French and English

Business Expertise

Director of Business Development at Montréal International, a leading economic development agency; prior roles included FDI Project Director and Project Manager
Lawyer at Galileo Partners, a boutique firm focused on business immigration law
Articling placement at Miller Thomson, a national full-service business law firm (part of legal licensing process)
Earlier roles at a venture-backed startup, a tech transactional law firm, and an early-stage venture capital fund

Additional Expertise

Social Impact
Not-for-Profit
Travel, Hospitality & Leisure

Areas of Expertise

Education & Certifications

License to practice law, Québec Bar
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Université Laval
Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) in finance from Concordia University
Major in media and communications from Université de Montréal

Montréal

Suite 1018
1 Place Ville Marie
Montréal QC
Canada

Case Studies

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Driving Liquidity Strategy Leadership for a Transforming Private Credit Platform

Boyden partners with a leading private credit asset manager to appoint a Director of Fund Liquidity to support complex global fund structures and evolving investor demands.

Building Institutional Investment Operations Leadership for a Mission-Driven Family Office

Boyden partnered with a leading family office and its affiliated foundation to appoint a Head of Institutional Investment Operations capable of designing and implementing a scalable operational platform to support a growing investment portfolio and long-term philanthropic objectives.

Strategic Turnaround: A CFO’s Role in Rebuilding Culture and Financial Leadership

Boyden supports a major charter school network with the recruitment of the right CFO to bridge strategy, execution, and collaboration.

Thought Leadership

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Boyden Report Series

As social impact organisations stir our conscience, where does your organisation stand?

Social Impact Report: Analysing the trends and companies reshaping the role of enterprise in society, with expert insights from Boyden's Global Social Impact Practice Members

Blog

The High-Stakes Season of Hiring

A clear-eyed look at today’s nonprofit hiring landscape, where heightened risk, talent shortages, and cautious candidates are reshaping how organizations approach retention, recruitment, and long-term workforce strategy.

Blog

Destigmatizing Coaching: A Call to Leaders

Explore how leaders can destigmatize executive coaching by reframing it as a strategic investment in growth, performance, and organizational culture rather than a signal of poor performance.

Blog

Middle Managers: The Untapped Growth Engine in Mid-Market Firms

Discover why middle managers are the hidden growth drivers in mid-market firms and how investing in their development can unlock strategic execution, team cohesion, and long-term performance.

Media

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Breakfast with Boyden: Rita B. Allen

Video

Breakfast with Boyden: Jeanie Kim & Kathy Ash

Video

Breakfast with Boyden: Jamie Graceffa

Video

Boyden with Texas A&M: What we Celebrate and what we Tolerate

Podcast

News & Events

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