A return to Concordia for new CFO

Concordia’s new chief financial officer (CFO) will return to familiar surroundings when she takes on her role in the new year.

Kathleen Lizé (GrDip 97) brings more than 25 years of experience in audit, internal controls implementation, risk management and governance in large organizations, including at Concordia, where she led internal auditing from 2014 to 2020. In that role, Lizé was responsible for financial, operational and IT audits. She helped Concordia run efficiently and responsibly, ensuring rigorous compliance with regulations and standards.

The Board of Governors approved Lizé’s appointment as chief financial officer for a five-year term beginning January 12, 2026, at its December 11 meeting.

“I am delighted to welcome Kathleen back to Concordia,” said Concordia President Graham Carr. “Kathleen did outstanding work in her previous role at the university. She has unmatched experience combining work in higher education with impressive management and leadership roles in the private sector.

"Concordia is at a critical juncture, and our next CFO will be a key figure in helping us not only navigate the unprecedented financial context we are currently in but also chart a successful, sustainable path forward for the university’s future," Carr added.

"I’m heartened that we will be able to count on someone of her calibre who has a great track record of working collaboratively as well as a deep understanding of Concordia and Québec."

A member of the senior administration team, the CFO provides strategic and operational leadership in planning, implementing and managing all finance-related activities of the university, overseeing all units that make up Financial Services.

As Concordia embarks on a transformation of its business model to pave a new way toward financial stability, the CFO will be key in helping define and implement strategies to ensure Concordia’s continued growth. For this reason, the selection committee sought someone skilled at both making decisions for the immediate term and leading change over the longer term.

“I’m thrilled to return to an institution I care deeply about,” Lizé said. “I am inspired by the innovative decisions that enabled the university to make such great strides in the past couple of decades and look forward to working with the community to continue building on these at this pivotal moment for Concordia.”

Lizé left Concordia in 2020 to join Logistec, a leader in marine and environmental industry and services, where she is senior director of corporate programs and governance. She also led internal auditing at Logistec, as well as at Cirque du Soleil and Énergir before that. She began her career at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, the largest independent accounting firm in Québec.

Lizé holds a graduate diploma in chartered professional accountancy from Concordia and a Bachelor of Commerce in accounting from McGill University.

She will take over from Denis Cossette, who is retiring at the end of the month after serving nine years in the role.