Corporate finance, treasury, strategic development, acquisitions, risk management, investor relations, due diligence and financial analysis are all second nature to Lucas Pontillo, executive vice-president (EVP) and global chief financial officer (CFO) at Fiera Capital.
Following roles at KPMG and Chubb, Pontillo joined Manulife, where he served as CFO and head of business development for Manulife Investment Management - Asia (Hong Kong), and then global CFO of Manulife Asset Management (Toronto). Pontillo’s extensive professional experience is rivalled only by his academic training, which includes degrees from the Rotman School of Management, the HKUST Business School and the Stern School of Business.
In 2018, Pontillo came full circle and returned to Montreal to join Fiera Capital, the asset management firm founded by investment legend Jean-Guy Desjardins, with global ambitions to be recognized as one of the most efficient allocators of capital.
Keys to success
"I come from immigrant parents, so work ethic is first and foremost. Without integrity there cannot be trust. Actively listening to your peers to benefit from their collective wisdom is also paramount."
Milestone
"Early in my career, some people took a chance on me — it was my first CFO role. It was like drinking from a fire hydrant, but I would not trade that experience for the world."
Challenges
"Watching markets in freefall because of the global financial crisis and the economic impact from COVID-19. The notion of being the custodian of the balance sheet — the buck does stop at your desk, literally."
The Concordia playbook
"My first merger deal took place while I was still in student government. I didn’t see the point of having two finance associations on campus, so I merged them and wrote the charter for today’s Finance and Investment Students’ Association at Concordia."
After work
"My three children keep me busy with their ski racing and horse jumping, which is a fun way to be a part of their own journeys of self-discovery. I also ride motorcycles, something I have done since I was very young. It’s a great way to clear my mind."