Alumni couple’s seven-figure bequest supports future business students

Constantine Constandis, BComm 79, and Anne Upton-Constandis, BComm 80, are dedicated to making an enduring impact on the lives of future generations.

Both chartered accountants and Concordia alumni, the couple recently announced a major planned gift towards the Campaign for Concordia: Next-Gen Now to benefit John Molson School of Business students.

Constantine and Anne are designating 25 percent of their estate — a multi-million dollar commitment — to establish an endowed scholarship in support of students enrolled in Concordia’s MBA program or Chartered Professional Accountancy Graduate Diploma program.

The Constandis-Upton endowment acknowledges the profound influence that family had on their journeys.

“We believe in the power of education to transform lives,” says Constantine. “Our parents instilled a strong work ethic and the importance of education, and we want to pass that on.”

Adds Anne: “Creating this scholarship is our way of giving back to the institution that provided us with so many opportunities. We hope it will help students achieve their dreams, just as we were able to achieve ours.”

The idea for their planned gift came after Constantine, a retired global C-level executive, was invited to guest lecture at the John Molson School.

The opportunity to interact with students was transformative. He has since developed a program for an elective course with Matthäus Tekathen, chair of the Department of Accountancy. They will be teaching it for the second time in the summer of 2025.

“It’s similar in focus to my initial guest lectures,” says Constantine. “Largely based on my experience as a CEO and CFO, the course aims to give students a grasp of the real-world application of the classroom theory they have acquired at Concordia, in the business world.”

Spirited and diverse careers

After a stint at accountancy firm Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers), the bulk of Constantine’s career post-Concordia — three and a half decades — was spent in the wine and spirits industry. It was marked by significant roles in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia.

Constantine served as a senior executive with Pernod Ricard, the French multinational behind brands such as Absolut, Jameson, Havana Club and Beefeater.

His distinguished career also included roles as president of Pernod Ricard China, Pernod Ricard Asia Travel Retail, CFO for the North America spirits operation of Allied Domecq and CFO for Seagram’s operations in Europe and Africa.

As CEO of Corby Spirit and Wine Limited, Constantine led the Toronto-based subsidiary of Pernod Ricard and the largest publicly listed Canadian alcohol manufacturer and distributor.

When asked to reflect on his success, Constantine cites the support of his partner.

“I could not have achieved what I did without Anne. Her willingness to embrace new challenges and adapt to our relocations, whether it was New York, London, Shanghai or Hong Kong, was the bedrock we built our life upon.”

Recently, Constantine served as non-executive chairman of the board at Sproutly Canada Inc., a publicly listed company that leverages new technologies for products in the emerging cannabis sector.

Anne’s career was quite diverse as well. It also began at Coopers & Lybrand and was followed by internal audit stints with CN Rail and Via Rail. She then furthered her education in architectural design (International Academy of Design) and theatre design (Concordia and State University of New York-Purchase).

A constructive legacy

Another 25 per cent of the couple’s estate has been set aside for Habitat for Humanity, the non-profit made famous, in part, by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

Anne Upton-Constandis has been involved with Habitat for Humanity as a volunteer builder and fundraiser. She grew up in the Montreal suburb of Châteauguay as the daughter of Charles and Suzanne Upton, who both served with the RCMP for decades and now enjoy a comfortable retirement at 90 and 88, respectively, in Cornwall, Ontario.

Like her parents, Anne has been committed to service. This extends to Sea Island Habitat for Humanity in South Carolina, where she and Constantine live.

The Sea Island outpost that builds affordable homes for those in need is the third oldest affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, globally.

“Habitat for Humanity contributes to communities in such a tangible and meaningful way,” says Anne. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to work closely with an organization like that, and to help create a legacy that will benefit families well into the future.”

The example Anne continues to set, as a volunteer and lifelong learner, inspires her husband every day.

“When we moved to New York, she continued to pursue the theatre design degree that she had started in Montreal and was able to complete her MFA, specializing in set design,” Constantine remarks. “She worked on several theatre productions and even on the set of a Spike Lee feature length film [Girl 6, released in 1996].

“Wherever we moved for my career, Anne pursued ways to grow and find fulfillment.”

‘Education was a cornerstone in our lives’

Constantine’s late parents, Greek immigrants who settled in Côte-des-Neiges, Montreal, and stressed hard work and school, took enormous pride in the accomplishments of their son and daughter-in-law.

“They lived for the success of their children and entire extended family,” says Constantine. “Whenever I was promoted and relocated to a new city, they never quite understood what that meant. But they were thrilled nonetheless.”

Anna, Constantine’s mother, who passed away at 96 in 2023, was a dedicated stay-at-home mom. His father, Kyriacos, a long-time typist for the Montreal Gazette, passed away about a decade ago.

“This scholarship fund is intended to honour the sacrifices of our parents,” says Constantine.

“Education was a cornerstone in our lives. We hope our contribution will help students realize their potential and make a positive impact on their communities and the world.”

Join Constantine Constandis and Anne Upton-Constandis. Consult with our planned giving experts to learn how to build a legacy that supports the next generation of Concordians.