A senior executive from one of the big Canadian proxy services firms is leaving to start his own firm advising companies on communications in mergers, proxy contests and other key transactions.

Former Kingsdale Shareholder Services chief operating officer Riyaz Lalani is opening Bayfield Strategy Inc., having left Kingsdale after three years and numerous high profile transactions, including proxy contests at Canadian Pacific Ltd. and Agrium Inc. and takeovers battles such as the hostile bid for Potash Corp.