Mr. J. Robert S. Prichard has had a career in higher education, law, business and public service.
He serves as Chairman of Tory's LLP and as a Director of Onex Corporation, Wittington Investments Limited and Alamos Gold. He is a member of the International Advisory Board of Barrick Gold Corporation, and he is also President Emeritus of the University of Toronto and Visitor at Massey College.
At the University of Toronto, Mr. Prichard was a professor of law from 1976-2001, the Dean of the Faculty of Law from 1984-1990 and President of the University from 1990-2000. He also taught at the law schools of Yale (1982-1983) and Harvard (1983-1984 and 2000-2001). He served as Chair of the Council of Ontario Law Deans and Chair of the Council of Canadian Law Deans.
Mr. Prichard's business sector experience includes serving as President and CEO of Torstar Corporation from 2002-2009, and Chair of BMO Financial Group from 2012-2020. He has previously served on the boards of numerous other leading Canadian companies including George Weston, Brookfield Asset Management (Brascan) and Four Seasons Hotels. He was made a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Directors in 2016 for his contributions to good governance in Canada.
Mr. Prichard also served as President and CEO of Metrolinx from 2009-2010, and as Chair from 2010-2018, and was the Vice Chair of Canada’s Science, Technology and Innovation Council from 2007-2013.
Mr. Prichard attended Swarthmore College, earned his MBA at the University of Chicago, and earned law degrees from the University of Toronto (LLB) and Yale University (LLM). Recognized by appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada and as a Member of the Order of Ontario, Mr. Prichard has also received honorary degrees from multiple colleges and universities in Canada and the United States.