Each week, we summarize notable moves across the financial industry.
Denis Dubois has been appointed president and CEO of Desjardins Group, effective Sept. 2. Dubois joined the bank in 2003 and has been executive vice-president of wealth management and life and health insurance for the past six years. He’s credited with leadership of three of Desjardins’ five business sectors and as being a key player in the acquisitions of State Farm’s Canadian operations and of Guardian Capital Group’s insurance, mutual fund and securities distribution businesses.
“Denis Dubois is an outstanding leader. His extensive experience and clear, inspiring vision for Desjardins’ future puts people first and will give us a renewed push forward,” Desjardins chair Louis Babineau said in a release.
Dubois, who said that he’s “deeply grateful for the trust the board has placed in me,” will succeed Guy Cormier, saying “it’s a privilege to follow in Guy Cormier’s footsteps.” Cormier was named CEO in 2016, and has filled multiple roles at Desjardins over a three-decade career with the firm. He will stay on as a director and strategic adviser until next March.
Other changes:
- Marc-André Blanchard has left Caisse de dépot et placement du Québec to become chief of staff to Prime Minister Mark Carney. Blanchard was with the Quebec pension fund for nearly five years, the last three as executive vice-president and global head of sustainability. Blanchard’s extensive resume includes a four-year stint as Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations, and 18 years at McCarthy Tetrault, including six as chair and CEO.
- BMO Financial Group announced a number of appointments, including Aron Levine who will be group head and president, of BMO’s U.S. division as of July 7. Levine has had multiple executive and senior roles during his more than 30-year career with Bank of America, where he’s currently president, preferred banking. In Canada, Nadim Hirji will take on the role of vice-chair, U.S. and Canadian Commercial banking. Hirji has been with BMO for nearly two decades and is currently group head, BMO commercial bank for North America. Ernie (Erminia) Johannson will retire early next year, after leading BMO’s North American Personal & Business Banking group since 2020. She will continue as a senior advisor. Sharon Haward-Laird, a nearly 25-year veteran of the bank and currently general counsel, has been named group head of Canadian commercial banking and North American shared services, and co-head of Canadian personal and commercial banking, effective July 7. And Mat Mehrotra, who’s been with the bank since 2010, will become group head of Canadian personal and business banking and co-head of Canadian personal and commercial banking on the same date.
- Angelita Graham, a partner and Toronto market leader at Mercer, has been elected president of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, effective July 1. Daniel Pellerin will be president-elect for the 2025-26 term, moving into the president role in 2026-27. In addition, four board members have been elected, and will start July 1: Christopher Cooney, Karen Lockridge, Ana Nunes and Diana Pisanu.
If you know of other people moves in the financial industry and/or would like us to consider your announcement, email Alisha Hiyate at alisha.h@newcom.ca.