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PRIMACORP

WHERE A STRONG COMMUNITY BUILDS A STRONG PORTFOLIO

For over 30 years, our commitment has been to unite and strengthen communities through our combined efforts in philanthropy and business by leveraging the collective strength of our industries to build resilient and prosperous portfolios. We redefine success of our diversified investments through empowering communities.

Mission & Values

MISSION

At Primacorp Ventures, we change lives through education, service, and care.

VALUES

Accountability
Citizenship
Continuous Improvement
Diversity
Integrity

Over 30 Years of Experience

Established in 1995, Primacorp Ventures embodies the personal immigrant journey of Dr. Peter Chung and his fervent commitment to meet the educational needs of Canadians. Today, our education division is Canada's largest private provider of post-secondary education. We equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to work in fields such as healthcare, hospitality, technology, and beyond. Driven by Dr. Chung's passionate commitment to making a difference both locally and globally, Primacorp Ventures has also expanded its impact beyond education to philanthropic initiatives, including Primacorp Foundation, the Coram Deo Foundation, and Joe’s Table, named in loving memory of his late autistic son. Through these initiatives, Primacorp Ventures has made a lasting impact on marginalized communities around the world.

Meet Our CEO

Dr. Peter Chung

CEO & CHAIRMAN, PRIMACORP VENTURES

Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Dr. Peter Chung is a businessman, educator, diplomat, and philanthropist and serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Primacorp Ventures. He studied mathematics, computer science, and business management at UCLA, Stanford, and Harvard Business School. He holds an Honorary Doctorate in Education and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters for his humanitarian work from Belhaven University.

 

Dr. Chung and his wife, Dr. Stephanie Chung, are devoted to supporting charitable organizations, and have launched several charitable initiatives, including the Coram Deo Foundation, which provides humanitarian aid around the world, and Joe’s Table Cafe, a chain of non-profit cafes based in Canada and South Korea for those with differing abilities.

Our Leadership

Dr. Peter Chung

CEO & Chairman

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Bill Blaney

COO of Coram Deo Foundation

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Yul Kim

President, Education Division

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Andre Souza

Head of Marketing

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Nick Khlystov

Vice President, Information Technology

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Najib Raie

Vice President, Strategy & Business Dev

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Chris Wates

Vice President, Human Resources

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Amanda Cabrera

Associate Vice President, Academics

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Dr. Peter Chung

CEO & Chairman

Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Dr. Peter Chung is a Korean-American businessman and philanthropist and serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Primacorp Ventures. The Education division includes Canada's largest private provider of post-secondary education. He studied mathematics, computer science, business management, and ownership at UCLA, Stanford, and Harvard Business School. He holds an Honorary Doctorate in Education and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters for his humanitarian work from Belhaven University.

Dr. Chung and his wife, Dr. Stephanie Chung, are devoted to supporting charitable organizations, and have launched several charitable initiatives, including the Coram Deo Foundation, which provides humanitarian aid around the world, and Joe's Table Cafe, a chain of non-profit cafes based in Canada and South Korea for those with diverse abilities.

Bill Blaney

COO of Coram Deo Foundation

Bill has been serving as COO of Coram Deo Foundation for over five years and is responsible for managing all operations within the foundation. With a passion for social impact and a drive for operational excellence, Bill brings extensive experience in organizational management and strategic leadership to our foundation.

Bill served as the Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director of Global Aid Network (GAiN) Canada for 16 years.He has over 32 years of senior management experience in the forest industry and has worked in humanitarian aid for over 20 years.He graduated from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Forest Management in 1972.

Yul Kim

President, Education Division

Yul Kim, as President of Primacorp, oversees the Education Division, encompassing Operations, Admission, Marketing, Academics, Human Resources, and Compliance. Having joined the company in 2007, with nearly 17 years of dedicated service, Yul is integral to the organization's success, renowned for consistently delivering excellence in results.

His tenure at Primacorp spans various departments, including Admissions, Student Finance, Marketing, Operations and Strategy & Business Development, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of the private education sector's intricacies.

Yul's strategic expertise has been instrumental in driving Primacorp's growth, revenue generation, and optimizing returns. His practical approach to maximizing ROI and ensuring sustainable growth has consistently enhanced the company's value proposition for all stakeholders and shareholders alike. Notably, his student-centric approach has led to successful partnerships with prestigious institutions like Algonquin College, expanding Primacorp's influence and industry standing. As part Yul's commitment to excellence, he has been steadfast at aligning the Primacorp' focus and goals towards enhancing the student experience and outcomes.

Exemplifying Primacorp's core values of humility, integrity, and innovation, Yul empowers his team to excel in their roles, fostering a culture of success. He holds a BA in Psychology from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from Cornell University, complementing his real-world expertise and solidifying his position as a visionary leader in the education sector.

Andre Souza

Head of Marketing

Andre has over 20 years of experience in the private education business, having held leadership positions in both operations and marketing, ranging from VP of Marketing, VP of Operations and Chief Operating Officer. More recently, Andre has been the Head of Marketing, managing budgets of tens of millions of dollars yearly. Over his career, Andre has fostered deep partnerships with large marketing corporations such as Google and Meta, which led to strong performances.

Andre holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication Networks Engineering from the University of Brasilia and a postgraduate diploma in Sales and Marketing Management from UBC’s Sauder School of Business. Before joining Primacorp Ventures Inc., Andre worked in the telecommunications industry. 

Nick Khlystov

Vice President, Information Technology

Nick has been with the company for over four years and is responsible for Primacorp Ventures Inc.’s IT functions. With over 27 years of experience in the Information Technology field, Nick deeply understands the IT challenges across the industry among organizations of all sizes. 

Nick holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, BC. 

Najib Raie

Vice President, Strategy & Business Dev

Najib Raie is Vice President, Business and Strategy at Primacorp Ventures and overseas non-school divisions, strategic ventures and partnerships across Canada, including the public-private partnerships with federal and provincial governments and nonprofit organizations.

Najib is a creative and growth-focused leader with 20 years of experience structuring, growing, and optimizing enterprises and projects across North America. He is a proud alma mater of University of Victoria, University of British Columbia, and Royal Roads University, where he studied Commerce and Business Administration. 

Chris Wates

Vice President, Human Resources

Chris joined Primacorp Ventures Inc. in his current role in February 2023. Chris brings 25 years of HR experience to the Company and has worked in various industries, including aviation, retail, construction, manufacturing, and high-tech. A lifelong HR Generalist, Chris possesses expertise in all areas of HR, focusing on labour relations, training, and employment law. 

He has an MBA from Sauder School of Business (UBC) and a BBA from Simon Fraser University. He is also a certified Instructor/Facilitator 

Amanda Cabrera

Associate Vice President, Academics

Amanda is passionate about delivering high-quality education. From curriculum and instructional design to teaching and student services, she aims for excellence in the educational programs and services supported and evaluated through her work. 

She holds a Master of Arts in Education and International Development from the University of London, a Management Degree from the University of Lethbridge, and a Marketing Management Diploma from BCIT. Before her work in Education Management, Amanda taught at the post-secondary level for more than 10 years.