The Toronto Global Mayors’ and Chairs’ Strategy Council introduced its new Board of Directors today, a diverse and enthusiastic group of community and business leaders tasked with selling the Toronto Region as an ideal location for foreign direct investment (FDI).
“We’ve recruited an all-star team of influencers and ambassadors to introduce the world to the investment opportunities in the Toronto Region, and to the benefits of working with our incredible range of talent and businesses,” said Mark Cohon, Chair of the Board of Toronto Global.
“I know I’m not alone when I say we can’t wait to hit the ground running, and look forward to working with my fellow Board Members to show the world what we all know to be true – this is where they want to be.”
With 14 community and business figures at the table, the Toronto Global Board of Directors draws from a deep pool of diverse professional and cultural backgrounds from across a variety of economic sectors.
The Board will provide both professional and experienced strategic oversight to the management of Toronto Global, steering the agency’s efforts to enhance the reputation of the Toronto Region and driving its success in promoting a premiere global business destination.
Launched in February 2017, Toronto Global is the product of all three levels of government coming together with a shared vision: to create an engine of growth for the Toronto Region by leveraging the multi-sector strengths of Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton and the municipalities of Halton, York and Durham.
It marks the first time municipalities in the Toronto Region have come together to promote themselves to international investors as one region, under on Board, with one brand, and its work will help the region remain competitive on a global scale. Nations are competing fiercely to attract FDI and grow their economies, and now is the time for the Toronto Region to showcase its compelling business value proposition to the world.
“We have a very strong leadership foundation in place and we couldn’t be more pleased with these appointments,” said John Tory, Mayor of Toronto. “Each of these individuals’ professional experience and passionate commitment to business in the Toronto Region will bring insightful perspectives to our Board.”
Passionate and prominent business leaders from across the Toronto Region have stepped up to volunteer their time, knowledge, experience and contacts to drive the success of Toronto Global.
They include Chair Mark Cohon, who transformed the CFL during his eight year stewardship as League Commissioner; Vice-Chair Janet Ecker, named a Member to the Order of Canada in 2016 for her leadership in the financial industry; Richard Florida, one of the world’s leading urbanists and a renowned researcher, professor and author; Bilal Khan, founder of scale-up innovation hub OneEleven; Nitwin Kawale, recognized as Corporate Executive of the year by the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce; and Lisa De Wilde, CEO of TVO, and a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for her support of scientific literacy.
“These individuals are excellent choices for Toronto Global’s inaugural Board of Directors,” said Linda Jeffrey, Mayor of Brampton.
“They bring demonstrated and relevant industry experience and strategic acumen to the table. We believe their combined experience will further support our goal to promote investment and sustained growth in the Toronto Region.”
“The Directors’ diverse backgrounds and wide-ranging experience across important industries will add valuable perspective to our Board,” said Wayne Emmerson, Chairman and CEO of The Regional Municipality of York.
“We appreciate their willingness to serve as ambassadors of Toronto Global and the Toronto Region, and we’re looking forward to benefiting from their counsel and extensive expertise.”
THE NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS COMPRISED OF THE FOLLOWING APPOINTEES:
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- MARK COHON, CHAIRExecutive Chairman, Georgian Bay Spirit Co and Chair of the Juno Awards
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- JANET ECKER, VICE-CHAIRPresident and Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Financial Services Alliance
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- GENEVIÈVE BONIN, DIRECTORPartner, Management Consulting, PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada
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- LISA DE WILDE, DIRECTORChief Executive Officer, Ontario Educational Communications Authority (TVO)
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- TED EGAWA, DIRECTORPresident and Chief Executive Officer, Canon Canada
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- RICHARD FLORIDA, DIRECTORDirector, The Martin Prosperity Institute, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
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- STEVE HOWSE, DIRECTORPresident, Millington & Associates
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- SRIRAM IYER, DIRECTORPresident and Chief Executive Officer, ICICI Bank Canada Ltd.
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- NITIN KAWALE, DIRECTORFormer President, Enterprise Business Unit, Rogers Communications
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- BILAL KHAN, DIRECTORManaging Director, OneEleven
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- TINA LEE, DIRECTORChief Executive Officer, T&T Supermarkets Inc.
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- LINDA MAXWELL, DIRECTORFounder and Managing Director, Biomedical Zone, Ryerson University
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- SATISH RAI, DIRECTORChief Investment Officer, OMERS
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- CATHERINE ROCHE, DIRECTORHead, Office of Strategic Management, Bank of Montreal
The Toronto Global Board of Directors and their profiles are also available online at https://torontoglobal.ca/boardofdirectors
A message from Chair Mark Cohon can be found at the following link: https://youtu.be/enPpCjTATBE
ABOUT TORONTO GLOBAL
Toronto Global is an arms-length, not-for-profit corporation representing municipalities in the Toronto Region. Its mandate is to market the entire region to international investors by promoting the Toronto Region’s diversity of services, sectors and industries, diverse and innovative workforce and strong and stable economy to attract FDI from targeted industries around the world.
Toronto Global’s work will build upon the federal and provincial government’s commitment to growing Canada’s innovation and knowledge-based economies by driving targeted, region-wide economic growth to generate quality skills, jobs and opportunities for Canadians.
Toronto Global’s team of experts will provide a comprehensive, customized service to ensure a smooth transition for international companies wishing to do business in the Toronto Region.
Toronto Global will make investing in the region simpler by actively researching and targeting growth sectors such as advanced manufacturing, life sciences, financial services, technology and food and beverage, with a goal of bringing companies to the region to generate economic growth and create high value jobs.
ABOUT THE TORONTO REGION
Comprised of the Cities of Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton and the Regions of Halton, York and Durham, the Toronto Region is the economic engine of Canada, generating 20 percent of the country’s GDP and housing 40 percent of Canada’s business headquarters.
The region is a major player on the international stage, attracting business investment from all over the world. There has never been a better time to come together to build on this momentum and to bolster the region’s stellar global reputation as a safe, stable and profitable place to invest.
The region is the most multicultural in the world and home to the most skilled and highly educated workforce among countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
With our strong and diverse economy, competitive business costs, exceptional talent pool, strategic location and unmatched quality of life, the municipalities that make up the Toronto Region present a global business offering that is second to none. Each municipality within the Toronto Region is world renowned for its distinctive strengths in sectors that matter to global business leaders.