Martin Byrne

Worth knowing

Martin brings 25 years of experience scaling digital operations and delivering products across SaaS, media, healthcare, fintech and public sectors. Founders building vertical SaaS, scaling teams or improving operations should connect.

Story

Martin came up through the consumer internet, including time at PostMedia, Yahoo, Bell, Rogers and many others, and built a career around digital business and product strategy and getting programs delivered. He is now the Senior Product Manager for AI at BMO where he is leading the internal evolution of AI operationalization.

Canadian story

I jumped from studying film production at York University to founding my first startup, Caught in the Web. I spent the early part of my career in what we would now call digital strategy and consulting, helping organizations like TD, RBC, and BMO navigate emerging digital identity technologies. From there, I moved into digital media and operations, serving as Managing Director of NationalPost.com, Director of Media Operations for Sympatico/MSN, and eventually Country Manager for Yahoo Search. My focus then shifted toward technology leadership as CTO of SJC Group, Canada's largest privately held communications firm. Rogers subsequently recruited me to lead the search for emerging innovations, startups, and technology leaders around the world. Following that experience, I wanted to apply my expertise to work with greater social impact. I spent five years with Washington, D.C. based ICF Group, supporting organizations including USAID, the CDC, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Children's Bureau. More recently, shifts in the U.S. political landscape and the rapid rise of AI brought me back to Canada, where I've focused on helping organizations cut through the hype and identify practical, meaningful ways to adopt and leverage AI technologies.

Highlights

• Sr. Product Manger AI - Bank of Montreal
• Senior Innovation Strategist - ICF Group
• CTO - SJC - Canada's largest privately held communications firm
• Senior Digital leader - PostMedia, Bell, Yahoo, Rogers
• MBA, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
• Certified ScrumMaster