Jim Leech Explained

Jim Leech
Honorific-Suffix:[1]
Office:14th Chancellor of Queen's University
Term Start:July 1, 2014[2]
Term End:30 June 2021[3]
Predecessor:David A. Dodge[4]
Successor:Murray Sinclair[5] [6]
Office2:President and chief executive officer of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Term Start2:1 December 2007[7]
Term End2:December 31, 2013[8]
Predecessor2:Claude Lamoureux
Successor2:Ron Mock
Birth Name:James William Leech
Birth Date:June 12, 1947[9]
Birth Place:Saint Boniface, Manitoba
Nationality:Canadian
Spouse:Deborah Barrett[10]
Children:Jennifer, Joanna and Andrew
Alma Mater:Queen's University
Royal Military College of Canada[11] [12]

James William (Jim) Leech (born June 12, 1947) is a Canadian business executive. Since 2021, he has been chancellor-emeritus of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.[3] From 2014 to 2021, he was the 14th Chancellor of Queen's University.[13] Prior to that, he spent 12 years at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), first for 6 years as a senior vice-president of OTPP head of Teachers' Private Capital, OTPP's private investment arm, and then as president and chief executive officer of the pension plan until his retirement in 2013.[12] [14] [15] [16]

Early life, education and military service

Born in Saint Boniface, Winnipeg into a military family,[1] where his father, George Leech, and uncle, Don Laubman, were senior regular force career officers in the Canadian Armed Forces,[10] [17] During his elementary and secondary school years, Leech moved around Canada living in Ottawa, Kingston as well as Canadian army bases, including CFB Kingston[9] and Camp Petawawa,[18] both in Ontario, and CFB Edmonton, Alberta.[19] He graduated from Queen Elizabeth High School (Edmonton) in 1964.

Leech attended Royal Roads Military College, whose 2-year program bridged with a 4-year degree at Royal Military College of Canada, where he majored in mathematics and physics and obtained his Bachelor of Science in 1968.[9] He joined the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals after graduation and was posted first at the 1er Batailion Royal 22e Régiment (1R22eR), and then at the 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signal Squadron for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces in Werl and Soest, respectively, in then-West Germany.[10] [20] He was promoted to captain at the age of 22[19] and returned to the 1R22eR Regiment in Lahr, West Germany as Signals Officer. He resigned from military service in 1971, and enrolled in Master of Business Administration program at Queen's University, where his father was working as a registrar after his retirement from the military.[19] Leech earned his MBA two years later.[9] [12]

Leech is a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) in 2004.

Early career

After graduating from MBA, Leech joined the Montreal-based financial and real estate firm Commerce Capital Corporation[9] [19] and held senior executive positions in Montreal, Calgary and Toronto until the company's sale to Eaton/Bay Financial Services. In 1979, through founder George Mann, Leech joined Unicorp Canada Corporation, one of the first public merchant banks in the country,[9] [19] becoming its president in 1983[9] by which time Unicorp had built a large US commercial real estate portfolio through the acquisition of US Real Estate Investment Trusts. He led the first major hostile takeover in Canada [21] in 1985,[19] gaining control of Union Enterprises Ltd., the parent company of Union Gas, a Southern Ontario natural gas utility company.[21] [22] He became the president and CEO of Union Energy after the acquisition[9] which became one of the largest integrated energy companies in North America. Subsequently, Unicorp acquired Lincoln Savings Bank, a savings bank in New York, but the deal resulted in Unicorp's US subsidiary losing almost USD$100 million. In 1992, Vancouver-based Westcoast Energy Inc. (now Westcoast Transmission Co.) purchased Union Energy and Leech ended his relationship with the company.[19] [23] Unicorp subsequently changed its name to Wilmington Capital Management Inc.

Leech next joined Disys Ltd. in 1993 as president and CEO.,[19] [23] beginning his career into the technology sector. The main business of Disys was manufacturing smoke alarms, but it also had research in Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, which Leech thought would be funded by the mature smoke-alarm business.[19] To effect this plan, he sold the smoke alarm business and merged Disys and the RFID into Kasten Chase Applied Research Ltd, which Leech moved to as vice-chairman in 1996.

In 1999, Leech joined Infocast Corp.,[24] an application service provider start-up based in Toronto.[23] He left in 2001.[19]

Career at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan

Initially planning to retire, Leech accepted an offer in 2001 from Claude Lamoureux, then-president and CEO of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP), to become the senior vice-president of OTPP and lead the Teachers' Private Capital (TPC) (then named Teachers' Merchant Bank),[25] OTPP's private investment arm.[9] At that time, OTPP was about to change its way of investing, from holding only minority investment positions in publicly-listed companies and bonds to also buying control of private companies.[21]

Under Leech's leadership, Teachers' Private Capital and OTPP completed numerous large and high-profile transactions:

In September 2007, OTPP announced the appointment of Leech as its new president and CEO, succeeding Claude Lamoureux, who was retiring and has been leading OTPP since 1990. He started his new role on December 1, 2007.[7] [14]

As CEO, Leech also oversaw a number of major deals, including four in 2010 (acquisition of Camelot Group, which operates the UK National Lottery[46] [47] [48] and of High Speed 1, then and still the only high-speed railway in the UK,[49] [50] [51] as well as sale of OTPP's stakes in Bell Media Inc. (then named CTVglobemedia Inc.) back to BCE Inc.[52] [53] and of its stakes in Maple Leaf Foods, first to West Face Capital and then to BMO Capital Markets and TD Securities.[54] OTPP also sold MLSE to BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications in 2012,[30] [33] and opened an office in Hong Kong in 2013, the second major regional office after its London office opened in 2007.[55]

Leech has expressed intention to retire at the end of 2013.[56] He retired from OTPP on December 31, 2013.[8] [12] During his tenure, OTPP ranked number one amongst peer plans in the world in Five Year Investment Performance and Service to Members as measured by CEM Benchmarking Inc and reported a funding surplus.

Career after OTPP

Following his 45-year military and business career, Leech has focused on philanthropic leadership and non-partisan public service.

Leech assumed the role of the 14th Chancellor of Queen's University on July 1, 2014.,[57] furthering his involvement with his alma mater, which started with his election to the University Council and the board of trustees in the 1980s, and subsequent chairing the advisory board of Smith School of Business (formerly the Queen's School of Business)[58] [59] on three separate occasions. His term ended in June 2021 and became chancellor-emeritus; he was succeeded by Murray Sinclair.

In the same year, he also became Special Advisor to the Ontario Minister of Finance,[60] a senior advisor at the consulting firm McKinsey & Company in 2014,[61] the chair of the Board of Directors of the MasterCard Foundation,[62] and also Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation. which is now part of the UHN Foundation.[63] His term at these two foundations ended in 2018[64] and 2020[65] respectively, although he continued as a board member at both foundations.[66] [67]

In 2014, Leech participated in a 53-person expedition to ski Canada's North Magnetic Pole, sponsored by True Patriot Love Foundation to raise funds and awareness to support Canadian veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

In 2017, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau appointed Leech Special Advisor on the Canada Infrastructure Bank.[68] He is also chairing the advisory board of Peloton Capital Management since its founding in 2018,[69] [70] and of the Institute for Sustainable Finance at the Smith School of Business since its launch in 2019,[71] [72] [73] and sits on Board of Directors of Historica Canada.[74]

From 2014 to 2021, Leech served as Honorary Colonel of 32 Signal Regiment, Canadian Army in Toronto and was awarded the Canadian Forces' Decoration for his military service.

In 2013, Leech co-wrote, with journalist Jacquie McNish, The third rail: confronting our pension failures, which discusses the crises facing the Canadian pension system.[75] It won the 2014 National Business Book Award[76] [77] and was a runner-up of the 2013 Donner Prize.[78]

Honours and awards

The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship in Entrepreneurship, the Jim Leech MBA Scholarship, the Leech classroom, the Chancellor Jim Leech Bursary for Indigenous Students and the Jim Leech Ceilidh Centre at Queen's University are named after Leech.[84] [85]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Get to know University Councillor – Chancellor Jim Leech . . June 18, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210726154144/https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/sites/uslcwww/files/uploaded_files/Councillor%20Profile%20-Chancellor%20Jim%20Leech.pdf . July 26, 2021.
  2. News: Leroux . Craig . Jim Leech named the next chancellor of Queen's University . June 15, 2021 . Queen's Gazette . October 18, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210621141626/https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/content/jim-leech-named-next-chancellor-queens-university . June 21, 2021.
  3. News: Mazur . Alexandra . Murray Sinclair named as Queen's University's 15th chancellor . August 7, 2021 . . April 28, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210807165234/https://globalnews.ca/news/7817124/murray-sinclair-queens-university-chancellor/ . August 7, 2021.
  4. News: Bowden . Olivia . Jim Leech named next Chancellor . June 19, 2021 . . October 25, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200928180732/https://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2013-10-25/news/jim-leech-named-next-chancellor/ . September 28, 2020.
  5. Web site: In Conversation with The Honourable Murray Sinclair, 15th Chancellor of Queen's University . . August 7, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210807165423/https://podcast.cfrc.ca/2021/05/in-conversation-with-the-honourable-murray-sinclair-15th-chancellor-of-queens-university/ . August 7, 2021 . May 2, 2021.
  6. News: Former Sen. Murray Sinclair appointed as Queen's University chancellor . August 7, 2021 . . April 28, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210807165702/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/murray-sinclair-former-senator-appointed-queen-s-university-chancellor-1.6006261 . August 7, 2021.
  7. News: Leech named CEO of Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan . June 15, 2021 . . September 5, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210615143710if_/https://www.reuters.com/article/ontarioteachers-ceo/leech-named-ceo-of-ontario-teachers-pension-plan-idUSN0523171120070905 . June 15, 2021.
  8. May 14, 2013 . OTPP names Ron Mock President and CEO effective January 1, 2014, succeeding Jim Leech, who retires at year-end . . https://web.archive.org/web/20210615144410/https://www.otpp.com/news/article/a/otpp-names-ron-mock-president-and-ceo-effective-january-1-2014-succeeding-jim-leech-who-retires-at-year-end- . June 15, 2021 . June 15, 2021.
  9. Web site: Kucharsky . Danny . June 9, 2020 . Jim Leech . . June 15, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210615145307/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jim-leech . June 15, 2021.
  10. Web site: 7771 Honorary Colonel James William Leech, CM . September 12, 2016 . . June 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210617155444/https://www.rmc-cmr.ca/en/college-commandants-office/james-william-leech . June 17, 2021.
  11. News: Pickering . Alan . New chancellor Jim Leech is a graduate of both Queen's and RMC . June 17, 2021 . . August 30, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210617154734/https://www.thewhig.com/2014/08/30/new-chancellor-jim-leech-is-a-graduate-of-both-queens-and-rmc . June 17, 2021.
  12. Web site: Jim Leech C.M., O.Ont., LL.D, CD . . June 17, 2021 . https://archive.today/20210617155047/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-leech-c-m-o-ont-ll-d-cd-9a799b66/ . June 17, 2021.
  13. Web site: Chancellors . Queen's University . August 7, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210807164844/https://www.queensu.ca/encyclopedia/c/chancellors . August 7, 2021.
  14. News: New CEO tapped for Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan . June 18, 2021 . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . September 5, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210618155221/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/new-ceo-tapped-for-ontario-teachers-pension-plan-1.668301 . June 18, 2021.
  15. News: New York, Canadian ports sold for $2.4 billion . June 18, 2021 . . November 24, 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210618155530/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15876977 . June 18, 2021.
  16. News: Pension Plan in Ontario Is Buying Ports in U.S. and Canada . subscription . June 18, 2021 . . November 25, 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210618160114/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/25/business/worldbusiness/pension-plan-in-ontario-is-buying-ports-in-us-and.html . June 18, 2021.
  17. Web site: 32 Signal Regiment Advisory Council . . June 19, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210621141832/http://torontosignals.ca/32SigAboutUs.shtml . June 21, 2021.
  18. Leech . Jim . 2015 . HCol Messages . Journal of 32 Signal Regiment: eCommunicator . 15 . 32 Signal Regiment, Canadian Army . June 19, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180920030719/http://www.torontosignals.ca/TorSigs_Photos/Communicator/2015%20Vol%2015%20No%202%20Fall%20Issue.pdf . September 20, 2018.
  19. News: DeCloet . Derek . Teacher's Bet . subscription . June 19, 2021 . . August 29, 2008.
  20. News: Announcement of Honorary Degrees at RMC's 116th Convocation . June 21, 2021 . Royal Military College of Canada . October 9, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210621152941/https://www.rmc-cmr.ca/en/academic-wing/announcement-honorary-degrees-116th-convocation . June 21, 2021.
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  23. News: Pereira . Judith . Whatever happened to...? Jim Leech . June 28, 2021 . The Globe and Mail . subscription . October 26, 2001.
  24. Web site: James W Leech "Jim" . . subscription . July 7, 2021 . https://archive.today/20210707155209/https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/1529953 . July 7, 2021.
  25. Web site: 2001 Annual Report . . July 8, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200313053046/https://www.otpp.com/documents/10179/98547/-/0624f37c-11da-4a66-8ce0-226da19fc4f8/Annual%20Report.pdf . March 13, 2020 .
  26. Web site: Private Capital Portfolio . Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan . July 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210303081309/https://www.otpp.com/investments/asset-groups/equities/private-capital/private-capital-portfolio . March 3, 2021.
  27. News: BCE sells directory business for $3 billion . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . July 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210328170722/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bce-sells-directory-business-for-3-billion-1.347248 . March 28, 2021.
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  31. News: David Beckham To Earn Huge Windfall From New York's MLS Expansion . Ozanian . Mike . May 21, 2013 . . November 23, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210712153648if_/https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2013/05/21/david-beckham-to-earn-huge-windfall-from-new-yorks-mls-expansion/?sh=62ad457a577d . July 12, 2021.
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  33. News: Rocha . Euan . Toronto sports empire sold to Rogers and BCE . July 12, 2021 . Reuters . December 9, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210712160420if_/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mapleleaf-rogers-bce/toronto-sports-empire-sold-to-rogers-and-bce-idUSTRE7B80VN20111209 . July 12, 2021.
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  35. News: UPDATE 1-Ontario Teachers in $2.4 bln marine terminals deal . Reuters . July 13, 2021 . January 20, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210713162241if_/https://www.reuters.com/article/idJPN2330979120061124 . July 13, 2021.
  36. News: Stone . Mike . Roumeliotis . Greg . Exclusive: GCT Global Container Terminals exploring options - sources . July 13, 2021 . Reuters . September 23, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210713155011if_/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gct-global-container-divestiture-idUSKCN11S2NA . July 13, 2021.
  37. News: IFM Investors and BCI to join Ontario Teachers' as equity partners in GCT Global Container Terminals Inc. . July 13, 2021 . Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan . June 7, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210713162128/https://www.otpp.com/news/article/a/ifm-investors-and-bci-to-join-ontario-teachers-as-equity-partners-in-gct-global-container-terminals-inc- . July 13, 2021.
  38. News: Stutts . Jordan . OTPP sells stake in container operator to IFM and BIC . July 13, 2021 . Infrastructure Investor . June 8, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210713162000/https://www.infrastructureinvestor.com/otpp-divvies-stake-container-operator-ifm-bic/ . July 13, 2021.
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  47. News: National Lottery owner Camelot sold to Canada teachers . August 4, 2021 . . March 25, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210118151040/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8588321.stm . January 18, 2021.
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  54. News: Nickel . Roy . August 4, 2021 . Ontario Teachers' sells stake in Maple Leaf Foods . August 4, 2021 . Reuters . November 24, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210804154403if_/https://www.reuters.com/article/cbusiness-us-maple-leaf-idCATRE6AM6I420101123.
  55. September 5, 2013 . Teachers' celebrates opening of Asia office in Hong Kong . Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan . https://web.archive.org/web/20210804155016/https://www.otpp.com/news/article/a/teachers-celebrates-opening-of-asia-office-in-hong-kong . August 4, 2021 . August 4, 2021.
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  58. News: Honouring Chancellor Leech's legacy . July 29, 2021 . Queen's Gazette . June 23, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210629092319/https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/stories/honouring-chancellor-leech-s-legacy . June 29, 2021.
  59. Benita Warmbold new Chair of QSB Advisory Board . Smith Magazine . . Smith School of Business, Queen's University . August 4, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210804135657/https://smith.queensu.ca/magazine/issues/summer-2014/news/benita-warmbold-new-chair-qsb-advisory-board.php . August 4, 2021.
  60. Web site: Jim Leech, C.M. . . August 1, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210801141658/https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2017/02/10/jim-leech . August 1, 2021 . February 10, 2017.
  61. Web site: Jim Leech, C.M. . . July 30, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210730164408/https://www.ivey.uwo.ca/media/1595503/leech-bio.pdf . July 30, 2021.
  62. June 24, 2014 . The MasterCard Foundation Appoints Jim Leech as Chair of the Board . . https://web.archive.org/web/20210730165053/https://mastercardfdn.org/the-mastercard-foundation-appoints-jim-leech-as-chair-of-the-boa/ . July 30, 2021 . July 30, 2021.
  63. Web site: Honour and Celebration . UHN Foundation . August 1, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210801140133/https://support.tgwhf.ca/site/Donation2?1487.donation=form1&df_id=1487 . August 1, 2021.
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  65. June 25, 2020 . Mastercard Foundation Appoints Zein M. Abdalla as Board Chair . Mastercard Foundation . https://web.archive.org/web/20210730165509/https://mastercardfdn.org/mastercard-foundation-appoints-zein-m-abdalla-as-board-chair/ . July 30, 2021 . July 30, 2021.
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  71. News: Institute for Sustainable Finance Welcomes New Advisory Board Members . August 1, 2021 . Institute for Sustainable Finance, Smith School of Business, Queen's University . April 28, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210801145129/https://smith.queensu.ca/centres/isf/news/new-advisory-board-members.php . August 1, 2021.
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  75. Book: Leech . Jim . McNish . Jacquie . The third rail: confronting our pension failures . 2013 . Signal . Toronto . 9780771046636 . August 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210803141936/https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Em=1&Entt=RDM3006364&R=3006364 . August 3, 2021.
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  78. Web site: PAST WINNERS 2013 . . August 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210803143833/https://donnerbookprize.com/past-winners-2013/ . August 3, 2021.
  79. May 12, 2009 . Teachers' CEO Honoured for Commitment to Public Education . Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan . https://web.archive.org/web/20210804141649/https://www.otpp.com/news/article/a/teachers-ceo-honoured-for-commitment-to-public-education . August 4, 2021 . August 4, 2021.
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  81. News: Chancellor Leech to receive honorary degree from RMC . August 3, 2021 . Queen's Gazette . October 18, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210803151023/https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/stories/chancellor-leech-receive-honorary-degree-rmc . August 3, 2021.
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  83. News: The 2019 Appointees to the Order of Ontario . August 5, 2021 . . January 1, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122191011if_/https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/59858/the_2019_appointees_to_the_order_of_ontario . January 22, 2021.
  84. Wamai . Mark . November 6, 2020 . The Jim Leech MCF Fellowship on Entrepreneurship . . https://web.archive.org/web/20210803144526/https://news.mak.ac.ug/2020/11/the-jim-leech-mcf-fellowship-on-entrepreneurship/ . August 3, 2021 . August 3, 2021.
  85. Largest MBA scholarship honours Jim Leech, incoming Queen's Chancellor . Smith Magazine . . Smith School of Business, Queen's University . August 4, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210804140107/https://smith.queensu.ca/magazine/issues/winter-2014/news/largest-mba-scholarship-honours-jim-leech-incoming-queens-chancellor.php . August 4, 2021.