McLean will bring 30-plus years of international security experience to AFI. In this new capacity, he will lend his wealth of security knowledge and credentials to assist AFI in delivering customer service to its North American clients and guide the course of AFI’s future.

"McLean is a true visionary who will add a seasoned perspective to our board," says AFI CEO Darrell Parsons. "He brings a wealth of experience, from decades as a celebrated RCMP officer to his leading role at TELUS and leading roles on a long list of other boards and committees. We are indeed honoured to welcome him."

"Over the last few years, I’ve watched AFI emerge as a true corporate security and crisis management leader ”“ not only in Canada, but across North America," says Gene McLean. "It is a company on the move, led by an enlightened team of executives that I know I’ll enjoy working with. For all these reasons, I’m extremely pleased to join their board."

Prior to joining AFI, McLean was the former vice-president and chief security officer for Telus Communications. There, his mandate was to protect personnel and physical assets, secure the network, provide for the protection of critical data and intellectual property, and ensure regulatory compliance relating to the release of information. In addition to his VP position, McLean was chair of the Telus Information Security steering committee (directly involved in the setting of the company’s national security policy and procedures).

Prior to Telus, McLean was a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer. His more than 25 years of service included a number of domestic and international investigative operations. He also took on the role of RCMP liaison officer in Europe, Scandinavia and the Middle East. In 2006 he was honoured and recognized as Canadian Security magazine's Security Director of the Year award winner.