MNP hires former head of federal public service Michael Wernick
Accounting and consulting firm MNP has hired Michael Wernick, who previously served as the Clerk of the Privy Council from 2016 to 2019. He joins the Ottawa office as a senior strategic advisor associate.
Wernick retired in 2019, capping a 38-year career in the federal public service. As the 23rd Clerk of the Privy Council, he led the federal public service, tabling four annual reports and driving a renewal agenda.
Wernick previously served as Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council, and as deputy minister for the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development from 2006 to 2014. He also held several other roles in the Privy Council Office (PCO) – which supports the prime minister and cabinet – and was assistant deputy minister for the Department of Canadian Heritage, working on cultural policy issues across film, music, and print media.
He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from the University of Toronto.
“MNP is continuing our commitment to the public sector and in particular the growth of our federal government consulting practice,” Adam Ali, a partner in MNP’s public sector consulting practice, said. “We are excited to have Michael join our team in a capacity that will allow us to benefit internally from his strategic insights while also being able to offer our clients access to his experience and advice in support of their specific projects.”
The firm’s public sector practice has worked on legislative, policy, and strategy formulation for nearly every type of public sector department. Wernick will strengthen the practice with his deep knowledge of federal public administration, and his particular expertise in intergovernmental relations and partnerships, governance, Indigenous issues, and cultural policy.
“I am excited to join a dynamic, growing firm recognized for its values and people management and am very excited to continue pursuing a lifelong passion for continuously improving Canada’s world-class public sector as it takes on new challenges and opportunities,” Wernick said.
Based in Calgary, MNP delivers a full range of audit and assurance, tax, and consulting services, with a focus on the middle market. The firm has 5,000 employees across 75+ locations in Canada.
