Exhibit 99.1
NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BMO Financial Group Appoints Cam Fowler as Chief Strategy & Operations Officer and Erminia (Ernie) Johannson as Group Head, North American Personal and Business Banking
TORONTO, February 25, 2020 –BMO Financial Group today announced two executive appointments to build on its competitive advantages, continue to deliver strong performance and position the bank for the future.
Cam Fowler will take on a new role as Chief Strategy & Operations Officer. He currently serves as Group Head, North American Personal and Business Banking. This new role leverages Mr. Fowler’s proven ability to drive strategy, digital innovation and execution in delivering strong financial performance, as indicated by the recent performance of BMO’s Canadian Personal & Commercial business. Consistent with the strategy outlined at BMO’s 2018 Investor Day, the Canadian banking business is delivering top tier market share gains across personal and commercial, as well as leading digital innovation and customer engagement. The business is also delivering significant efficiency improvement, in support of the bank’s overall efficiency objective.
“Cam has a proven track record of results leading our largest business,” said Darryl White, Chief Executive Officer, BMO Financial Group. “He has an extraordinary ability to anticipate and translate trends into customer impacts and embrace innovation to drive performance and support the evolving needs of customers.
“Cam will work closely with me and our Executive Committee to catalyze efforts on both our long-term strategic focus as well as our near-term performance, while concentrating on key areas of future growth – including our digital agenda and partnerships.”
Mr. Fowler will continue to chair the bank’s Operating Committee and continue to report to Mr. White. His accountabilities include strategy, digital, innovation, workplace transformation, marketing and social impact. The effective date of the new appointment is March 1, 2020.
Erminia (Ernie) Johannson is appointed Group Head, North American Personal and Business Banking. This appointment represents an expanded mandate for her as, in addition to current responsibilities, she will now have accountability for Canadian Business Banking. In 2018, she was appointed Group Head, U.S. Personal and Business Banking; her mandate was expanded in 2019 to Group Head, North American Personal Banking and U.S. Business Banking. She will report to Mr. White; the effective date of the appointment is March 1, 2020.
Last year, Ms. Johannson was named one of the Most Powerful Women in Banking by American Banker.
“Ernie is an inspirational leader with an ability to engage employees to deliver results against ambitious objectives. She brings a great operating discipline and has been a key driver of BMO delivering a great customer experience, including new digital technologies,” said Mr. White.
