MONTREAL/December 19, 2005—
Chairman of the Board of Governors Peter Kruyt and Concordia President Claude Lajeunesse are pleased to announce the appointment of David P. O’Brien as Chancellor of Concordia University.
“Concordia is indeed honoured to have a Canadian of the stature of David P. O’Brien as its new chancellor,” said Chairman of the Board Peter Kruyt. “David is a builder and his career is remarkable for the diversity of organizations that have benefited from his vision and guiding hand. He enjoys the highest regard of his peers in industry and is now Chairman of Canada’s largest bank, the Royal Bank of Canada. In my discussions with David, he expressed the desire to actively participate in the University’s strategic reflection and to help us grow. We could not have found a better person to help us do this.”
David O’Brien is Chairman of the Royal Bank of Canada and Chairman of EnCana Corporation – North America’s largest independent oil and gas company. In addition to his duties as Chairman of Canada’s largest corporations, he also serves on the Board of Directors of TransCanada Corporation, Fairmount Hotels & Resorts, Molson Coors Brewing Company and Inco Limited.
“We are delighted that David O’Brien accepted our invitation to become our Chancellor,” said President Claude Lajeunesse. “David is a former Montrealer and a graduate of one of our founding institutions, Loyola College. He is a wonderful role model for our students. Aside from his success in the corporate sector, he has lent his talents to numerous education, community and philanthropic initiatives. We are fortunate to have been able to attract a person of the caliber of David P. O’Brien to continue the wise counsel and commitment that Eric Molson has shown as our Chancellor over the past 12 years.”
Mr. O’Brien started his career as a lawyer at the law firm of Ogilvy Renault in Montreal. He held various management positions at Petro-Canada from 1978-1989 and became Executive Vice-President. He was Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Pacific Limited from 1996 until 2001. He then negotiated the merger of PanCanadian Energy Corporation and Alberta Energy Company Ltd. To create EnCana Corporation in 2002.
Mr. O’Brien was Chairman of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers 1994 – 1995 and was Chairman of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (formerly the Business Council on National Issues) from 1999 – 2001. In addition, he served on the Board of Governors of the University of Calgary for six years from 1997 to 2003.
Mr. O’Brien has received a variety of awards over the years. He has received two honourary degrees – one from Bishops University and one from Mount Royal College in Calgary. In 1998, he received the CESO (Canadian Executive Service Organization) Award for community involvement. More recently, he has been recognized as an Outstanding Business Leader and received the 2001 Distinguished Business Leader joint award of the University of Calgary and the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. O’Brien, along with Gwyn Morgan the CEO of Alberta Energy, was jointly recognized by the University of Alberta with the 2003 Canadian Business Leader Award. In May 2004, Mr. O’Brien was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame and in May 2005, Mr. O’Brien was named a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Directors.
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Source :
Tanya Churchmuch
Senior Media Relations Advisor
Concordia University
