NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ON, June 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Jim Leech, recently retired President and CEO of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, has been awarded the Niagara Institutional Dialogue's Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding service to the Canadian pension industry. Awarded annually by the Niagara Institutional Dialogue (NID), a symposium of senior Canadian pension officers, the 2014 award recognizes Mr. Leech's significant contributions to the shaping of the Canadian pension industry.
"Mr. Leech's prudent management of the largest pension in Canada during a critical financial period was vital to the fund's continued success," says Niagara Institutional Dialogue co-chair, Tristram Lett. "It's exactly these qualities that the Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes and celebrates."
The Niagara Institutional Dialogue recognized Mr. Leech for his courageous initiative to co-author with Jacquie McNish, The Third Rail, Confronting Our Pension Failures. His public determination to encourage politicians to address critical issues involving pension coverage and funding deficiencies was cited as an invaluable contribution to the retirement welfare of all Canadians.
"I am honoured to receive this recognition from the Niagara Institutional Dialogue, particularly given the contributions that the previous honourees have made to our industry over many years" said Mr. Leech. "Retirement financial security is on most Canadians' minds today. For many years the Niagara Institutional Dialogue has created a stimulating and safe environment for Canada's pension thought leaders to examine issues that are current and relevant. It is a space where the views of pension practitioners, academics and policy makers intersect to incubate practical solutions to enhance our retirement financial security."
Previous honourees have included renowned pension expert Keith Ambachtsheer, Malcolm Hamilton, the former partner with Mercer Consulting whose thought leadership has helped guide many of Canada's foremost pension plans and the Rt. Honourable Paul Martin who as Finance Minister fostered a historic agreement to create the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), now a globally-respected investment agency.
The Niagara Institutional Dialogue is a symposium of senior Canadian pension officers supported by the global asset management community which convenes annually in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Along with academics and policy makers, participants discuss and debate significant issues concerning the management of pension funds and endowments.
Image with caption: ""Founding President and CEO of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Claude Lamoureux interviews Jim Leech at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Niagara Institutional Dialogue." (CNW Group/Niagara Institutional Dialogue)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140617_C7627_PHOTO_EN_41530.jpg
SOURCE: Niagara Institutional Dialogue
Judy Street, Chief Operating Officer
Niagara Institutional Dialogue
[email protected]
416-306-0151 x 2241
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