RBC Royal Bank of Canada - Corporate Governance

Corporate Governance

Edson Loy Pease (1856–1930), a Quebec native, was a chief executive and managing director of the bank and one of the key people in its history. An employee of the Merchants' Bank of Halifax, he built that bank's Quebec business to where Montreal became its centre of operations. His efforts saw the Bank formally relocate its head office in 1907 to St. James Street in Montreal, following which he induced the prominent Montreal business magnate Herbert S. Holt to accept an appointment as the bank's new president. While at the time Holt's presidency was largely a ceremonial position, his name substantially raised the bank's profile and broadened its business connections.

The title of Royal Bank's top executive has changed several times. Initially it was styled as President. Later, it became Chief Executive Officer and one often carried additional responsibilities as Chairman of the Board, while the second-in-command was the President. Allan R. Taylor was Chairman and CEO from 1986 to 1994, and he was succeeded by John Cleghorn in that capacity from 1994-2001. Gordon Nixon is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer, as the bank decided to appoint a non-executive chairman after Cleghorn's retirement.

Chief Executive

• Thomas Edward Kenny (1879–1908)
• Herbert Samuel Holt (1908–1934)
• Morris W. Wilson (1934–1946)
• Sydney Dobson (1946–1949)
• James Muir (1949–1960)
• W. Earle McLaughlin (1960–1979)
• Rowland C. Frazee (1977–1980)
• Jock K. Finlayson (1980–1983)
• Allan R. Taylor (1983–1986) - Chairman and CEO (1986–1994)
• John E. Cleghorn (1986–2001) - Chairman and CEO (1994–2001)
• Gordon Nixon (2001–present) - President and CEO (2001–present)

Chairman (non-executive)

• Guy Saint-Pierre (2001–2004)
• David P. O'Brien (2004–present)

Current members of the board of directors are: Geoff Beattie, Douglas Elix, John Ferguson, Paule Gauthier, Jacques Lamarre, Brandt Louie, Gordon Nixon, David O'Brien, Robert Peterson, Pedro Reinhard, Timothy Hearn, Kathleen P. Taylor, Victor Young, Michael McCain, Alice Labeige.