Canada’s Top 100
by Sima Matthes (New York City)
On November 25, 2008, The Women’s Executive Network (WXN) announced their picks for the 2008 Most Powerful Women in Canada: Top 100. This list recognizes and celebrates the achievements of women in academia, government and the arts alongside those in corporate leadership. More than a quarter of the women on this year’s list work in banking and financial services.
On the WXN list are thirteen women from eight companies named to the Forbes Global 500 for 2008. The Royal Bank of Canada (#1 Canadian business on the Fortune 500, #194 overall) has three women on the WXN Top 100. All three are Executive Vice Presidents in their divisions.
Francine Blackburn is also the Chief Internal Auditor for RBC. A graduate of McGill University in Ottawa, she was also on last year’s Top 100 list. She has been with the bank for eight years.
Shauneen Bruder is the EVP for Business & Commercial Banking. She holds an MBA from Queen’s University and a BA from the University of Guelph. She has been with RBC since 1984.
Zabeen Hirji who is also Chief Human Resources Officer. According to a recent profile in the Globe and Mail, she joined the bank after completing her MBA at Simon Fraser University. She was recognized for her innovative approach to personnel issues, including flextime, working from home, and internal promotions.
The #2 Canadian business on the Fortune Global 500 is Manulife Financial, which ranked #230 overall. Their Senior VP and GM, Real Estate, Stephani Kingsmill, is on the WXN list this year. She is responsible for the entire global real estate portfolio held by Manulife. She has been with the company since 1988 and with the Real Estate Division since January, 2005. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, with honors, from Queen’s University.
The Bank of Nova Scotia (# 6 in Canada, #336 on Global 500 for 2008) also has three female EVPs on the list, all three of whom made last year’s list as well: Wendy Hannam (Domestic Personal Banking & Distribution); Barbara Mason (Wealth Management); and Kim McKenzie (Information Technology & Solutions).
Ms. Hannam joined the bank in 1983 and is responsible for the growth of retail and small business banking in Canada through the branch network and self-service distribution channels” according to Forbes.com. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, with honors, from Memorial University and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Toronto.
Ms. Mason is responsible for the bank’s wealth management franchise in Canada, including brokerage, personal investment and advisory activities, asset management and private client services. She joined the bank in 1982 and holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies with honors from the University of Waterloo, as well as a certificate from the Queen’s University Executive Program.
Ms. McKenzie is based in Toronto, and provides IT services throughout the Scotiabank Group. She has been with the company for twelve years. She was also on the 2006 WXN list. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Computer Science and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Queen’s University.
The Bank of Montreal ranked #13 in Canada and # 454 on Global 500 for 2008 and also boasts two female EVPs who are making their second annual appearance on the WXN Top 100: Sandra Hanington and Wendy Millar.
Ms. Hannington is the Executive Vice-President, Customer Strategies & Marketing, Personal & Commercial. She is responsible for the creation and implementation of customer strategies, and joined the Bank of Montreal in 1999. Ms. Hannington holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from the University of Toronto.
Ms. Millar is Executive Vice- President & Senior Risk Officer, Personal & Commercial/Private Client Group. She holds a BA from University of Guelph, and a MA Economics, University of Guelph.
The following Global 500 companies each have one woman on the WXN list: Magna International for Hon. Belinda Stronach, Executive Vice-Chairman; EnCana Corporation for Sherri Brillon, Executive Vice-President, Strategic Planning & Portfolio Management. (She was also on the 2007 Top 100 list); Toronto Dominion Bank for Teri Currie, Executive Vice-President, Human Resources; Sun Life Financial for Greta R. Cusworth, Senior Vice-President, International Initiatives.
