Riyaz Lalani, Bayfield Strategy Riyaz Lalani is the CEO of Bayfield Strategy, which offers specialized communications advice and strategic expertise to public companies, professional activists, private equity firms and individuals. Riyaz has been involved in over 75 proxy contests in the US and Canada, including some headline-capturing boardroom battles. Before founding Bayfield he was the COO of the largest proxy firm in Canada for three years. Prior to that he was the head of research for a multi-billion asset manager based in New York and Toronto for 10 years. Riyaz has also served as a board member of three public companies and is active in Canadian politics.