Talk Auto
Presented by Canadian Black Book
Yolanda joined Canadian Black Book in November 2019, two months after 12 team members won the lottery. Yolanda had the pleasure of briefly working with people who laid the foundation for CBB and instilled the 60 year legacy of the company. She is excited to be part of the team that is charting the course for the next generation of CBB by redesigning, reintroducing, and solidifying our place in the Canadian automotive industry.
Biswah is passionate about mentorship, industry diversity and inclusion, and service leadership. Biswah was named one of ten “Notable Champions of Diversity” by Auto News Canada in 2022. She volunteers with Accelerate Auto, a non-profit in the automotive industry working to increase representation & diversity, and Gilda’s House. Biswah also serves as a volunteer for Hearst’s Level Up Ventures, which provides cash investment and services to early-stage, tech-enabled startups led by Black and Latinx founders.
Yolanda joined Canadian Black Book in November 2019, two months after 12 team members won the lottery. Yolanda had the pleasure of briefly working with people who laid the foundation for CBB and instilled the 60 year legacy of the company. She is excited to be part of the team that is charting the course for the next generation of CBB by redesigning, reintroducing, and solidifying our place in the Canadian automotive industry.
Biswah is passionate about mentorship, industry diversity and inclusion, and service leadership. Biswah was named one of ten “Notable Champions of Diversity” by Auto News Canada in 2022. She volunteers with Accelerate Auto, a non-profit in the automotive industry working to increase representation & diversity, and Gilda’s House. Biswah also serves as a volunteer for Hearst’s Level Up Ventures, which provides cash investment and services to early-stage, tech-enabled startups led by Black and Latinx founders.
With 16 years of industry experience in the areas of automotive finance, sales operations, distribution, and aftersales, Daniel has a vast knowledge within many important facets of the automotive retail and wholesale markets. Working for multiple OEMs over the course of his career, Daniel resides as a key member of the Canadian Black Book Leadership team, of which he’s spent the last 7 years in various roles. Starting with the forecasting of Residual Values back in 2017, he’s stayed on the bleeding edge of the quickly evolving car market, and now holds the title of Senior Manager, Industry Insights & Residual Value Strategy. As part of CBB, Daniel works closely with OEMs, Banks, Captives, other Lenders, as well as Dealer Groups to help educate, inform, and understand his business partners by way of Canada-specific data analytics and industry trends.
With 16 years of industry experience in the areas of automotive finance, sales operations, distribution, and aftersales, Daniel has a vast knowledge within many important facets of the automotive retail and wholesale markets. Working for multiple OEMs over the course of his career, Daniel resides as a key member of the Canadian Black Book Leadership team, of which he’s spent the last 7 years in various roles. Starting with the forecasting of Residual Values back in 2017, he’s stayed on the bleeding edge of the quickly evolving car market, and now holds the title of Senior Manager, Industry Insights & Residual Value Strategy. As part of CBB, Daniel works closely with OEMs, Banks, Captives, other Lenders, as well as Dealer Groups to help educate, inform, and understand his business partners by way of Canada-specific data analytics and industry trends.
Cyril Dimitris is President and CEO at Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI), following a successful time as Vice President, Sales and Marketing.
Prior to his V.P. role, Cyril was Director of Lexus and Scion Divisions, responsible for all aspects of those operations including sales, after sales and marketing. Prior to his responsibilities relating to vehicle sales, he was Director of Finance & Administration, including responsibility for Finance and Accounting, Corporate Strategy, Information Services, Legal, Human Resources and Administration. Over the course of his long career at TCI beginning in 1988, he has led several other areas including Dealer Technology and Business Innovation.
Cyril has served as a volunteer Board Member on several NPOs during his tenure at TCI, including that of The Corporation of Massey Hall & Roy Thompson Hall (of which he continues to serve as Honorary Governor), Scientists In Schools and The Gestalt Institute of Toronto (of which he is a current Board Member). He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Economics degree from the University of Toronto and is a designated CPA, CMA.
Cyril Dimitris is President and CEO at Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI), following a successful time as Vice President, Sales and Marketing.
Prior to his V.P. role, Cyril was Director of Lexus and Scion Divisions, responsible for all aspects of those operations including sales, after sales and marketing. Prior to his responsibilities relating to vehicle sales, he was Director of Finance & Administration, including responsibility for Finance and Accounting, Corporate Strategy, Information Services, Legal, Human Resources and Administration. Over the course of his long career at TCI beginning in 1988, he has led several other areas including Dealer Technology and Business Innovation.
Cyril has served as a volunteer Board Member on several NPOs during his tenure at TCI, including that of The Corporation of Massey Hall & Roy Thompson Hall (of which he continues to serve as Honorary Governor), Scientists In Schools and The Gestalt Institute of Toronto (of which he is a current Board Member). He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Economics degree from the University of Toronto and is a designated CPA, CMA.
Agnes Di Leonardi’s career in the automotive industry spans several decades. A collaborative, authentic leader with a reputation for adding value and taking initiative, she has been recognized as a leading General Counsel. An advocate for diversity and inclusivity, she was named one of Automotive News Canada’s All Stars.
Her foray into the automotive industry was serendipitous and as a continuous learner she has loved every moment of it. She has served as General Counsel at Mazda Canada, VP Legal at Ford Credit Canada and VP Law at Ford of Canada’s Premier Automotive Group (Aston Martin, Jaguar Land Rover Canada and Volvo Canada). Most recently, she was General Counsel at Sym-Tech Dealer Services leading the company’s in-house regulatory and compliance team.
Agnes was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2018 in recognition of her leadership as a senior executive in the automotive industry and for her commitment to mentoring and advancing Canadian women leaders through her work with the International Women’s Forum of Canada.
Agnes believes in “leader as teacher”. She is President and a Founding Director of The Duke of Edinburgh Commonwealth Study Conferences, a Canadian registered charity, focused on developing leadership capacity. She proudly serves as Advisor to Empowering Auto and is a volunteer director coach for 50/50 Women on Boards, a global organization with a mission to increase the number of women on boards.
Agnes has a business degree from Schulich, a law degree from Windsor Law and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Windsor. She is an avid golfer and gardener and enjoys these hobbies at her family cottage.
Agnes Di Leonardi’s career in the automotive industry spans several decades. A collaborative, authentic leader with a reputation for adding value and taking initiative, she has been recognized as a leading General Counsel. An advocate for diversity and inclusivity, she was named one of Automotive News Canada’s All Stars.
Her foray into the automotive industry was serendipitous and as a continuous learner she has loved every moment of it. She has served as General Counsel at Mazda Canada, VP Legal at Ford Credit Canada and VP Law at Ford of Canada’s Premier Automotive Group (Aston Martin, Jaguar Land Rover Canada and Volvo Canada). Most recently, she was General Counsel at Sym-Tech Dealer Services leading the company’s in-house regulatory and compliance team.
Agnes was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2018 in recognition of her leadership as a senior executive in the automotive industry and for her commitment to mentoring and advancing Canadian women leaders through her work with the International Women’s Forum of Canada.
Agnes believes in “leader as teacher”. She is President and a Founding Director of The Duke of Edinburgh Commonwealth Study Conferences, a Canadian registered charity, focused on developing leadership capacity. She proudly serves as Advisor to Empowering Auto and is a volunteer director coach for 50/50 Women on Boards, a global organization with a mission to increase the number of women on boards.
Agnes has a business degree from Schulich, a law degree from Windsor Law and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Windsor. She is an avid golfer and gardener and enjoys these hobbies at her family cottage.
Amy Fleming, President & CEO of Mazda Canada, has been an executive at Mazda Canada for over a decade.
A 33-year veteran of the automotive industry, Amy began her career at a dealership in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. She started at Mazda in 2006, and throughout her tenure, she has held high-impact leadership roles in key areas of the business, including national sales, marketing, fixed operations, and customer experience, and, most recently, Mazda Canada’s first-ever Chief Operating Officer.
Amy has had a positive effect on the company’s operations. She was instrumental in changing the corporate culture by developing the company’s dealer network performance program, which recognizes Mazda in Canada dealers that focus on sustainable business growth by improving brand and customer experience, helping the company earn the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association’s top two awards - Highest Overall Satisfaction and Most Effective Dealer Communications – for six consecutive years.
Amy was also a founding member of several key aspects of Mazda Canada’s corporate culture direction, including the company’s mission, purpose, organizational values, and key operational priorities, helping the company earn a spot on the Greater Toronto’s Top Employer List for ten consecutive years.
Amy is passionate about developing highly effective teams to drive improvement across the organization and is actively involved with helping employees develop and grow within the organization. Amy also participates in mentoring with the Empowering Auto and Accelerate Auto organizations.
Outside of Mazda, Amy is a founding member of Be Uninterrupted, a member of the International Women’s Forum, and is an alumna of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conference.
Amy has twice been recognized as one of Automotive News 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry, and earned a spot on Automotive News Canada's 2025 Canadians to Watch list.
Amy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Schwartz School of Business and Information Systems, from St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia.
Amy Fleming, President & CEO of Mazda Canada, has been an executive at Mazda Canada for over a decade.
A 33-year veteran of the automotive industry, Amy began her career at a dealership in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. She started at Mazda in 2006, and throughout her tenure, she has held high-impact leadership roles in key areas of the business, including national sales, marketing, fixed operations, and customer experience, and, most recently, Mazda Canada’s first-ever Chief Operating Officer.
Amy has had a positive effect on the company’s operations. She was instrumental in changing the corporate culture by developing the company’s dealer network performance program, which recognizes Mazda in Canada dealers that focus on sustainable business growth by improving brand and customer experience, helping the company earn the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association’s top two awards - Highest Overall Satisfaction and Most Effective Dealer Communications – for six consecutive years.
Amy was also a founding member of several key aspects of Mazda Canada’s corporate culture direction, including the company’s mission, purpose, organizational values, and key operational priorities, helping the company earn a spot on the Greater Toronto’s Top Employer List for ten consecutive years.
Amy is passionate about developing highly effective teams to drive improvement across the organization and is actively involved with helping employees develop and grow within the organization. Amy also participates in mentoring with the Empowering Auto and Accelerate Auto organizations.
Outside of Mazda, Amy is a founding member of Be Uninterrupted, a member of the International Women’s Forum, and is an alumna of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conference.
Amy has twice been recognized as one of Automotive News 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry, and earned a spot on Automotive News Canada's 2025 Canadians to Watch list.
Amy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Schwartz School of Business and Information Systems, from St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia.
Jamie Johnston is Managing Partner of Orangeville Honda, part of The Humberview Group, one of Canada’s largest dealer groups with 20 stores and 17 brands. With more than 25 years in retail automotive, he is known for driving growth, developing high-performing teams, and delivering outstanding customer experiences.
Jamie has played a key role in strengthening the Orangeville community and building a strong, people-first culture at the dealership.
Jamie Johnston is Managing Partner of Orangeville Honda, part of The Humberview Group, one of Canada’s largest dealer groups with 20 stores and 17 brands. With more than 25 years in retail automotive, he is known for driving growth, developing high-performing teams, and delivering outstanding customer experiences.
Jamie has played a key role in strengthening the Orangeville community and building a strong, people-first culture at the dealership.
Sarah Budd has worked in the auto industry for nearly 20 years. She started her automotive journey with BMW Group, spending three years with the manufacturer in admin and training roles.
In 2010, Sarah went to work full time for her family’s third-generation dealer group based in Oakville, Ontario.
Since then, she has held roles across many dealership departments. She is currently VP of Operations for the group, which consists of eight new vehicle franchise dealerships and five collision centres.
Sarah currently serves on two manufacturer-dealer advisory boards, for Mazda and Subaru. Most Sunday mornings, Sarah is up early to cheer on her favorite Ferrari Formula One team.
Sarah Budd has worked in the auto industry for nearly 20 years. She started her automotive journey with BMW Group, spending three years with the manufacturer in admin and training roles.
In 2010, Sarah went to work full time for her family’s third-generation dealer group based in Oakville, Ontario.
Since then, she has held roles across many dealership departments. She is currently VP of Operations for the group, which consists of eight new vehicle franchise dealerships and five collision centres.
Sarah currently serves on two manufacturer-dealer advisory boards, for Mazda and Subaru. Most Sunday mornings, Sarah is up early to cheer on her favorite Ferrari Formula One team.
Miranda Pyette is the Founder and CEO of Purpose Automotive, where her all-female team of 22 delivers high- performing organic and paid social media strategies for dealerships, vendors, banks, and OEMs across North America.
With over 25 years of experience in automotive marketing, Miranda is recognized for driving measurable growth, building trusted partnerships, and shaping the future of how the industry connects with consumers.
Miranda Pyette is the Founder and CEO of Purpose Automotive, where her all-female team of 22 delivers high- performing organic and paid social media strategies for dealerships, vendors, banks, and OEMs across North America.
With over 25 years of experience in automotive marketing, Miranda is recognized for driving measurable growth, building trusted partnerships, and shaping the future of how the industry connects with consumers.