EQB Inc., the parent company of Equitable Bank, announced the passing of Andrew Moor, long-time president and CEO today. He was 65.
“Andrew’s death is a tragic loss to all of us at EQB and to everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him,” said Vincenza Sera, chair of the board in a media release. “Andrew was a visionary leader and a fierce advocate for change and innovation in banking that benefits all Canadians. As a result of his inspired stewardship of our company, he instilled a culture at EQB that is both forward looking and faithful to the sound principles of prudent banking that engender public trust. He will be missed.”
Moor had been in his post since 2007, making him the country’s longest-serving CEO. Preparations for his retirement had been underway for two years, and were “well-advanced”, according to Sera. The Canadian Press has reported that Moor died unexpectedly over the weekend.
An emergency succession plan has been enacted, with the announcement of Marlene Lenarduzzi interim president and CEO. She had been serving as the bank’s chief risk officer.
“A kind and thoughtful person”
Alex Haditaghi, founder and chairman of Radius Financial and Pacific Mortgage Group, took to LinkedIn on Tuesday to share his thoughts.
“Andrew wasn’t just a brilliant mind in Canadian banking — he was one of the most forward-thinking, principled and innovative executives and leaders our industry has ever seen,” Haditaghi wrote. “Beyond his professional achievements, Andrew was a kind and thoughtful person. I had lunch with him just a couple of months ago, and as always, he was insightful, humble and full of ideas about the future of our industry.”
This story has been updated to include Alex Haditaghi’s post.