The Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (CVCA) has tapped Benjamin Bergen as its next chief executive officer, ending a months-long vacancy in the role after former CEO Kim Furlong departed earlier this year. 

Bergen, the outgoing president of the Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI), joins the association at a difficult moment for Canada’s private-capital market. Investors have had a tough time raising new funds and deal activity has slowed down—with the exception of a handful of private equity mega deals and big AI investments. Meanwhile, there’s a growing debate over how to expand domestic sources of later-stage capital. CVCA board chair Jeannette Wiltse said Bergen brings “a sharp understanding of investor priorities” and “what it will take to strengthen Canada’s investment climate.”

Bergen led CCI for nearly a decade, during which time he advocated for policy to support Canada’s tech entrepreneurs. He was a staunch critic of Ottawa’s proposed capital-gains tax increase, which the government ultimately abandoned, and pushed for improvements to the Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax incentive program. Bergen also advocated for domestic scaleups on other issues ranging from intellectual property strategy to digital trade. 

Under his tenure, CCI grew from its initial group of 16 companies to more than 175 members, becoming one of the country’s loudest voices on innovation policy. 

Bergen will take a seat at CCI’s board of directors while he steps down from his operational role at the organization. He said the move marks a continuation of the work he’s done for years at CCI, adding that the roles were complementary to one another. 

Accessing capital is one of the biggest issues raised by CCI companies during his tenure, he said. At CVCA, Bergen will be in a position to advocate for how that capital flows. “We’re in a moment where the economy and the global landscape is rapidly changing, and we’ve got to figure out how to recapitalize the country,” he said.

Bergen said his first priority at CVCA will be a national “listening tour” with members to identify challenges and opportunities across the investment spectrum—from early-stage firm creation to late-stage capital shortages. Both ends of the market are under pressure, he said, with startup creation down and scaling companies struggling to raise the money they need to keep growing. 

Bergen replaces Furlong, who left in July after more than six years leading the association. Her departure left the CEO role vacant since then, as CVCA entered a new strategic-planning cycle for the next three years. Leading that new strategy will be one of Bergen’s first tasks as CEO. His first day at CVCA is Jan. 5.