THE Aquilini Investment Group (AIG) announced this week that former Vancouver Police Department (VPD) chief constable Jim Chu would be joining their team as Vice President of Special Projects and Partnerships.

After 36 years of service with the VPD, Chu will now turn his leadership experience to managing key AIG investments, by providing regulatory oversight and building partnerships.

“We’re proud to welcome Jim to the team,” said David Negrin, President of Aquilini Development and Construction Inc. “He is a highly-effective leader that has demonstrated a tremendous capacity for consensus building through his work in the community.”

In his new role, Chu will employ his leadership and consensus-building skills to ensure that safety standards are upheld and meaningful partnerships are developed with First Nations across B.C. in relation to various AIG ventures, including agricultural, energy and development projects.

As the first non-white chief constable of Vancouver, Chu was lauded as an innovative and progressive leader. During his tenure, he tackled problems such as gang violence, support for those suffering from mental-health issues, and reducing cost overruns. Chu served as President of the Canadian Association of Police Chiefs, and was awarded the Order of Merit of Police Forces by the Governor General in 2007.

During his time with the VPD, Chu also earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University, and an MBA from the University of British Columbia.

“His proven leadership experience, prominence in the community, and business acumen make him an ideal candidate for the job,” said Negrin.