Sacha McLean is Vice Chairman of the McLean Group, a second-generation diversified family holding company active in film and television studios, helicopters, real estate investment, corporate investments and communications. He also leads Gun Lake Pictures, a factual television production company, and 50° North Productions, a scripted television production company.
Sacha joined the business in 1997. In 1999, he was a key leader in the founding of Vancouver Film Studios, Canada’s largest film and television production facility that today includes 12 sound stages and production offices; Canada’s third-largest production equipment rentals company (Pacific Backlot Services); a telecommunications division (Signal Systems); an aerial film unit (Blackcomb Helicopters); and an in-house creative development division. Home to hundreds of international feature films and television series since its inception, Vancouver Film Studios was the recipient of the 2013 BC Export Award for excellence in the category of Digital Media and Entertainment.
Sacha is a commercial helicopter and jet pilot and, in 2006, was the family lead on the expansion of the McLean Group’s aviation interests. The result was Blackcomb Helicopters, a helicopter charter company operating a large and varied fleet of aircraft, out of permanent bases in Vancouver, Whistler, Pemberton, Squamish, Sechelt and Lillooet. The company provides specialized flight operations in powerline construction and maintenance, film and television, forestry, mining and emergency services, and is very active in the tourism sector.
Sacha gives generously of his time to the community and is the Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee and a Director of West Point Grey Academy, a Director of Cascade Public Media in Seattle (KCTS 9 Television), Education Chair of YPO BC, and a Director with the Vancouver Board of Trade. Recent board duties have included several years on the Faculty Advisory Board of the Sauder School of Business. In addition, Sacha is a Director of the McLean McCuaig Foundation, the family’s philanthropy arm.
Sacha has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Urban Geography, Geographic Information Systems and Urban Planning from Queen’s University. In 2008, he completed the Families in Business Program at Harvard University. Sacha was a winner of an EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2014 as well as the Business In Vancouver 40 Under 40 Award.
Sacha and his wife, Melanie, have two children at WPGA, Hazel '26 and Kate '32.