An Interview With G. Scott Paterson: Building Companies, Investing, and Giving Back

Scott Paterson has spent decades building companies, advising boards, and shaping capital markets across technology, media, and financial services. From his early days as a hard-driving stockbroker to his role today as a seasoned entrepreneur and investor, his career exhibits a mix of calculated risk-taking, discipline, and long-term thinking. In this interview, Paterson discusses some of the defining elements of his work, from entertainment and fintech to philanthropy and education, and the values that continue to guide him.

Q: You were an early investor in Lionsgate Entertainment and served on its Board for many years. How did that begin, and what was your role?

Scott Paterson: My stock brokerage firm partner Frank Giustra retired from Yorkton Securities in 1997 and shortly thereafter he founded Lionsgate. I came in as one of the first investors in the company and I joined the Board of Directors where I served for 21 years until 2018, including 15 years as Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee. What a privilege it has been to watch the company grow into what it is today, a prolific global entertainment business. Hunger Games, John Wick, Now You See Me, Saw, Mad Men are amongst the franchises that Lionsgate has championed. The dynamic and accomplished Lionsgate management duo of Jon Feltheimer and Michael Burns often acknowledged that building the company has been a marathon not a sprint. Their strategy was to focus on hitting singles and doubles while being poised for a home run when the sun and the stars line up while at the same time avoiding striking out. Smart. My involvement continues to this day as Director of Lionsgate Canada.

Q: You led JumpTV through its IPO with Morgan Stanley in 2006. What was your experience working with them, and what was that process like?

Scott Paterson: At JumpTV, we pioneered streaming international television content over the internet. Someone from India based in New York could watch Zee TV and SET Asia live via JumpTV. In 2006, I was Chair & CEO and Morgan Stanley led our $71 million IPO. Morgan Stanley was regarded as the #1 technology underwriter in the world which brought tremendous credibility to JumpTV and consequently, we were delighted that they brought in many world class institutions as shareholders in JumpTV. They were very professional and did an amazing job for us. Morgan Stanley bought into my thesis that video streaming was destined to become the centerpiece of all media companies. Our successful IPO catapulted JumpTV to the next level and positioned the company to soon thereafter power the streaming for over 170 NCAA Schools including Notre Dame, Old Miss, University of Miami, Nebraska and Ohio State. We then merged with NeuLion in 2008 which led to delivering GameCenter Live for the NHL globally, Game Pass for the NFL and League Pass for the NBA globally except for the US. We sold to Endeavor Group for US $250 million in 2018. 

Q: As Co-Founder and Executive Chair of FutureVault, what are your main focuses at the company?

Scott Paterson: I co-founded FutureVault in 2015 to address a very specific need: organizations are drowning in documents and compliance requirements. FutureVault solves this challenge as our intelligent document processing digital vault construct puts the data embedded in documents at the fingertips of the constituents who need it. The platform is used by financial institutions where compliance and security are critical while at the same time we complement both data and AI strategies. I focus on founder-led growth while supporting the leadership team, developing long-term strategy, and opening the executive suite doors of major FIs. Many SaaS companies are under threat from AI, but in our case, we have a moat that becomes even stronger as AI is deployed ubiquitously. Our view is that AI is the engine and FutureVault is the car. Our Client Life Management digital vaults are a world first. Every financial institution on the planet is now discovering that the AI-driven digital vault construct can be and should be central to their tech stack and their business model. It is a very exciting time at the company as the digital vault construct is becoming a category in its own right. 

Q: You serve on the Board of the Canadian Olympic Foundation. What does that involvement entail?

Scott Paterson: The Canadian Olympic Foundation plays an important role in supporting athletes across the country by funding coaching, training, travel, and competition, which are all essential but rarely fully covered by the current funding paradigm. My role is to help identify Canadians that are candidates to support our athletes. Promoting sport in Canada is a noble calling in my view and, when we do produce Olympic winners we are playing an important role in national pride. I’ve come to appreciate how important steady, long-term support is for athletes. It gives them the opportunity to focus on their performance. 

Q: You’ve had a long-standing connection with Ridley College. You are now the longest Board member with over 28 years of service. What has that commitment looked like over time?

Scott Paterson: I attended Ridley College for my final years of high school and was able to do so with the help of a bursary. The School changed my life. Since then, I have served as a Governor for over 28 years, during which I have supported the school through governance, fundraising, co-chairing two capital campaigns and cheering students on during athletic events including one of my daughters who played field hockey and one of my sons who is at the School now playing rugby. I have contributed to bursaries and donated to build the Varsity hockey team dressing room and the Paterson Performance Hall. Staying connected and giving back has always felt natural to me given the significant role the school has played in my life.

Q: You and your wife Sarah sponsor lots of events and causes such as ComKids, War Child, Dixon Hall, Butterfly Ball and Human Rights Watch. Is there a common theme ? 

G. Scott Paterson: Sarah and I try to support organizations where the need is clear, and the work being done has a direct impact. Many children-focused charities fit this bill. We are most involved in ComKids as Board members and Sarah chairs a highly successful Masquerade Ball fundraiser for the charity. Another example is War Child which focuses on helping children living in very difficult, often unimaginable circumstances. We are always looking for opportunities to support organizations making a proven impact, especially in education and youth initiatives.

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