Board of Governors names new executive officers and members
June 9, 2005 — At its final meeting of the 2004-2005 academic year, Concordia’s Board of Governors approved appointments to its executive officers and membership.
Recognition of Chair Alain Benedetti and President and Vice-Chancellor Frederick Lowy:
The Board of Governors rose to express its recognition and gratitude for the outstanding contributions of Chair Alain Benedetti and President and Vice-Chancellor Frederick Lowy.
Alain Benedetti, FCA (Loy, BComm, 1970) has been Chair since July 1, 2003 and a Board member since 1996. He also sat on the Board as a representative of the Loyola Alumni Association from 1990 to 1993. He chaired the Board’s Audit Committee from 1996-2003.
Dr. Lowy is completing 10 years as President and Vice-Chancellor and was recently honoured by Quebec’s National Assembly with its Medal of Honour.
Chancellor, Chair and Executive Officers of the Board:
The term of Eric Molson as Chancellor of Concordia University was extended for a six-month period beginning on July 1, 2005 and ending on December 31, 2005.
Peter Kruyt was appointed Chair of the Board for a one-year term beginning on July 1, 2005 and ending on June 30, 2006.
Charles Cavell, Me Rita Lc de Santis, Brian Edwards and Jonathan Wener were elected Vice-Chairs of the Board of Governors for one-year terms beginning on July 1, 2005 and ending on June 30, 2006.
President Lowy, speaking on behalf of the university, thanked the outgoing executive officers and stressed their key contributions to Concordia: “Alain Benedetti gave strong leadership to the university and kept us on track with our ambitious plans. Supported by Peter Kruyt, Me Rita Lc de Santis and Charles G. Cavell, the work of our outgoing executive committee is an important reason for Concordia’s phenomenal growth and continued development. We owe them our heartfelt gratitude.”
Incoming Chair Peter Kruyt has been a Governor since July 1, 2000 and a Board Vice-Chair since July 1, 2003. He also chaired the University Advancement Committee. Kruyt received his Bachelor of Commerce degree from Concordia University in 1978 (where he served on Senate) and his MBA from INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France, in 1980. Mr. Kruyt is Director and President of Power Technology Investment Corporation, Chairman of Power Pacific Corporation Limited, Director of Bombardier Power (Mauritius) Limited, La Presse Ltée, Picchio Pharma Inc., Adaltis Inc, Neurochem Inc., Canada Life Assurance Company, Great-West Lifeco Inc., London Life Insurance Company, and alternate Director to the Board of CITIC Pacific Ltd. His community involvement has included the advisory board of the school of business at Memorial University and the board of the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation.
Me Rita Lc de Santis has been a Governor since July 1, 1999 and a Board Vice-Chair since July 1, 2003. She also chairs the Appeals Committee and Ethics Committee. She completed an Honours Biochemistry program at McGill University and graduated from the Law Faculty of McGill University in 1981 (University Scholar). Rita Lc de Santis is a partner at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg, specializing in international law, mergers and acquisitions, projects and other financing.
Vice-Chair Charles G. Cavell has been on the Board since 1999 and a Board Vice-Chair since July 1, 2003. He sits on the Board’s Collective Bargaining and University Advancement committees. Retired from his position as President and CEO of Quebecor World Inc., Cavell serves on the boards of several corporate, educational and charitable institutions, including Novelis Inc., a global leader in aluminum rolling and can recycling.
Brian Edwards has been a Governor since July 1, 2000. He holds a B. Comm. from Concordia University. He is an entrepreneur and founder of one of North America’s most successful electronic commerce companies, BCE Emergis, previously MPACT Immedia.
Jonathan Wener, who holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Concordia, has been an active member of the Board since July 1, 1995. He is Chairman of the Real Estate Planning Committee and was a volunteer canvasser for both of Concordia’s capital campaigns. He is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and principal shareholder of Canderel, an acronym for “Canadian Developers of Real Estate”.
The Concordia community is pleased to welcome the new Chair and the Board executive officers who will be leading the university through another year of growth and development.
Extension of the term of the Interim Dean of Arts and Science:
The term of June Chaikelson as Interim Dean of Arts and Science was extended until July 31, 2005.
Election of faculty members to the Board:
William Knitter, a representative of the Faculty of Arts and Science, was re-elected as a member of the Board for a three-year term beginning on July 1, 2005 and ending on June 30, 2008.
Election of undergraduate student representatives to the Board:
Walter Chan, Thomas Price and Mohamed Shuriye were elected as representatives of the undergraduate students to the Board for a one-year term beginning on July 1, 2005 and ending on June 30, 2006.
Graduate student representative to the Board:
The Board welcomed incoming graduate student representative David Bernans who was appointed at the last Board meeting to a one-year term from May 31, 2005 to June 1, 2006.
Election of an administrative and support staff representative to the Board:
Desmond O’Neill was re-elected as the administrative and support staff representative to the Board for a three-year term beginning on July 1, 2005 and ending on June 30, 2008.
Election of a representative of the Concordia University Alumni Association to the Board:
Patricia Lavoie was re-elected as the representative of the Concordia University Alumni Association to the Board for a three-year term beginning on July 1, 2005 and ending on June 30, 2008.
Election of a representative of the Alumni Association of Sir George Williams University to the Board:
Me Gerald Burke was re-elected as the representative of the Alumni Association of Sir George Williams University to the Board for a three-year term beginning on July 1, 2005 and ending on June 30, 2008.
Election of a representative of the Loyola Alumni Association to the Board:
Me John Lemieux was elected as the representative of the Loyola Alumni Association to the Board for a three-year term beginning on July 1, 2005 and ending on June 30, 2008.
The Board thanked the outgoing student Board members, Patrice Blais, Natalie Pomerleau and Tyler Wordsworth and Loyola Alumni representative Alex Carpini, who has served the Board for 10 years.
Other appointments to the Board will be made at a later date.
