# Bryan de Lottinville

> Bryan de Lottinville is the Calgary-based founder and former CEO of Benevity, now publicly listed as Founder & Chief Enthusiast. After corporate finance law and leadership roles at SMED International and iStockphoto, he founded Benevity in 2008 to make charitable giving and volunteering easier and more personal within companies. He handed the CEO role to Kelly Schmitt in 2021 and received Calgary’s 2025 Inspiring Business Leader Award.

- **Role:** Founder & Chief Enthusiast at Benevity
- **Organizations:** Benevity, American Online Giving Foundation, iStockphoto (former), SMED International (former)
- **Nationality:** Canadian
- **Education:** University of Ottawa, Carleton University
- **Known for:** Founded Benevity in 2008 and led it through the development of a global corporate giving and volunteering business., Served as COO of iStockphoto before its 2006 acquisition by Getty Images., Named the 2019 Calgary Awards Commerce recipient; recipients were announced in June 2020.

## Career timeline

- **Before the mid-1990s** — Practised corporate finance law in Toronto after legal training in Ottawa.
- **Mid-1990s** — Joined SMED International in an executive role.
- **Before 2006** — Served as chief operating officer of iStockphoto; Getty Images acquired the company in 2006.
- **2007** — An angel investment in a giving-related loyalty business exposed him to charitable-sector inefficiencies.
- **2008** — Founded Benevity in Calgary.
- **2010** — Benevity launched its SaaS employee engagement solution.
- **2013** — Nike became a Benevity client.
- **2020** — Hg announced a majority investment in Benevity; reporting put its valuation at US$1.1 billion.
- **2021** — Transferred CEO duties to Kelly Schmitt effective February 1 and became executive chairperson.
- **2024** — Received the Calgary Influential Women in Business Male Champion award.
- **2025** — Received the Inspiring Business Leader Award from Haskayne and the Calgary Chamber.

## Achievements

- Founded Benevity in 2008 and led it through the development of a global corporate giving and volunteering business.
- Served as COO of iStockphoto before its 2006 acquisition by Getty Images.
- Named the 2019 Calgary Awards Commerce recipient; recipients were announced in June 2020.
- Received the 2024 Calgary Influential Women in Business Male Champion award.
- Received the 2025 Inspiring Business Leader Award.

## Latest updates

- **2025-05** — Honoured as the 2025 Inspiring Business Leader by Haskayne School of Business and the Calgary Chamber at the May 6 gala.
- **2024-07** — Appeared on Collisions YYC episode 446 to discuss Benevity’s growth, investors and leadership succession.
- **2024-04** — Recognized as Male Champion at the Calgary Influential Women in Business Awards.

## Links

- Website: https://benevity.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-de-lottinville-7054666/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/bryan-de-lottinville
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22