February 2, 2026
Following BCI’s recent announcement of his appointment, Jon Salon officially begins his role today as Executive Vice President and Global Head of Private Equity. With more than three decades of private equity and executive management experience, Jon brings a proven record of leadership, strategic vision, and operational discipline to his new role.
Jon joins BCI’s executive leadership team with a clear mandate: to advance BCI Private Equity’s high‑conviction, globally diversified investment strategy that creates sustainable, long‑term value for pension fund and institutional clients. He now leads a team of more than 75 professionals based in Victoria, New York, and London, overseeing a C$36 billion+ portfolio across fund, direct, and co‑investment strategies.
We sat down with Jon to hear his views on private equity, BCI’s evolving priorities, and where he sees opportunity ahead.
Drawing on three decades of diverse experience
Jon’s career spans the full spectrum of private equity and corporate leadership, from investment management and operations to legal and capital structuring and deployment. Before joining BCI, he spent 15 years as a Managing Partner at Bedford Funding, a US$1.4 billion private equity firm specializing in growth equity and buyouts across healthcare and technology. In this role, he developed a deep understanding of technology, growth and transformation initiatives. More recently, Jon served as President and CEO of MDLIVE, an Evernorth company within the Cigna Group and a leading provider of virtual healthcare services across the United States.
“I’ve had the rare opportunity to sit on all sides of the table – as a GP, LP, and corporate leader,” Jon reflects. “That breadth of experience gives me a deep understanding of how alignment and trust drive successful business outcomes.”
Perhaps unexpectedly, Jon began his career in transactional law, where he built deep expertise in corporate risk analysis, structuring and governance, and dealmaking. Those early legal insights continue to inform his approach to complex transactions today.
Lessons from a career in private equity
Reflecting on his career, Jon emphasizes that private equity is, at its core, a relationship‑driven business.
“This is an industry where talent and analysis matter, but long‑term success is built on trust and alignment,” he says. “Strong partnerships – whether with company management teams, co‑investors, or internal colleagues – are what enable us to act with conviction.”
Evolving strategy, building on strength
When asked whether his appointment signals a significant shift in strategy, Jon is clear: “Our direction remains largely consistent, with an emphasis on selective, high‑conviction investing, deep partnership collaboration, and operational value creation at the core. What’s evolving is our ability to effectively execute that strategy on a truly global scale – with the appropriate processes, partners, and team-based approach to drive growth.”
He expects continued emphasis on direct investments with meaningful governance rights, alongside greater geographic diversification. “Our talent is our greatest differentiator,” he adds. “We’ll continue empowering our professionals across regions to cultivate deep relationships and work closely with portfolio companies and partners on the ground to drive meaningful outcomes.”
He adds: “In private equity, we are not in the business of selling products or services. We are in the business of making sound investment decisions. How we support that decision-making is what sets us apart. It’s the combined strength of our deeply talented team, our technology, and our relationships that enables us to make decisions with conviction.”
What sets BCI Private Equity apart
Jon sees BCI’s integrated global model as one key advantage. “Our teams in Victoria, New York, and London collaborate seamlessly to deliver a global perspective and local execution,” he explains. “Even as some of our peers have retrenched, we continue to see quantifiable value from our internationally based offices – especially in terms of origination and asset management.”
Our flexible approach to investment structures also differentiates us. “Our Private Equity team evaluates direct opportunities with a broad view of the capital stack, recognizing that value and risk can often be optimized through thoughtful structuring rather than traditional equity alone. Structured debt and equity solutions are increasingly important components of our toolkit, allowing us to tailor solutions for situations with strong upside potential while also providing additional downside protection and capital preservation.” These types of investments often provide enhanced resilience in an evolving market environment.
Speed, flexibility and decisiveness further define BCI Private Equity’s approach. The program is increasingly adopting a capital allocation strategy that enables us to redeploy liquidity into high-conviction opportunities with very little lead time. “Our ability to move quickly, execute complex transactions efficiently, and invest across the capital structure gives us a real edge in today’s market.”
Where opportunity lies in the next 12–24 months
Looking ahead, Jon emphasizes both disciplined growth and deeper partnerships. A key priority is continuing to build out BCI’s presence in London – an important hub for European deal flow and co‑investor relationships.
“Our London team is integral to BCI’s global connectivity,” he says. “They’re sourcing quality opportunities and strengthening relationships with Europe‑centric companies and co‑investors. That local presence gives us both visibility and agility.”
Jon also highlights the value of deepening strategic partnerships. Going forward, BCI Private Equity expects to direct a greater share of capital commitments towards a more selective group of core GP partners.
“We’re refining our network to focus on GPs who bring differentiated opportunities, demonstrate a strong track record of superior returns, and share our views and principles around collaboration. These relationships, rooted in alignment and trust, allow us to act quickly and decisively on attractive transactions and value‑creation opportunities.”
Over the next several quarters, BCI Private Equity intends to take a strategic approach to fund engagement and rationalization.
Trends shaping the future
In an environment marked by a slower pace of exits, Jon notes that discipline has become more critical than ever. “We’re being highly deliberate about where we deploy capital, ensuring every investment has multiple credible, visible paths to exit and alignment across partners.”
There are also opportunities to differentiate BCI as a flexible capital solutions provider in this environment. “Our flexible capital strategies and broader BCI relationships can often support our portfolio companies as they mature through the capital lifecycle – whether that be through recaps, structured equity, debt financing, or more traditional exit pathways.”
Building on a strong foundation
Jon believes BCI Private Equity’s team should be proud of the momentum they’ve built over the past several years. The team has taken meaningful steps to build value creation capabilities within its investment process, integrating data‑driven tools and AI capabilities to support portfolio company growth.
“We’ve redefined how we work together as one Private Equity team, bringing deep sector expertise and specialized skill sets into a more integrated way of operating,” he says. “It’s positioning us, and our partners, to unlock greater value and seize market opportunities.”
As Jon begins his new leadership role, his message is one of continuity and confidence. “BCI Private Equity’s foundations are built on disciplined investing, trusted partnerships, and a global perspective. My focus is on amplifying what we already do well at greater scale and continuing to deliver for our clients.”
