John Manley, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, has appointed Jean-Guy Desjardins to the board of directors of the Bank of Canada.

Desjardins, currently president and CEO of Fiera Capital Inc., takes his position on the board effective immediately.

Desjardins began his career at Sun Life Insurance Co. as a financial analyst and portfolio manager. He moved to TAL in 1972 as a portfolio manager. He became president and COO in 1978, and president and CEO in 1987.

Desjardins served as chairman and CEO of Talvest Fund Management Inc. from 1985 to 2001, and as chairman and CEO of TAL Private Management Ltd. from 1989 to 2001.

He is also co-President, Major Donors Division of Centraide of Greater Montreal, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Foundation.