Blake Goldring

Blake Goldring M.S.M., LL.D., CFA is a Canadian business leader, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. He is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AGF Management Limited, an independent Canadian-based investment management firm serving retail and institutional investors since 1957. Under Goldring’s leadership, AGF has grown its assets to approximately $33 billion in 2015.^[1][2][3] Goldring is also Chairman of Canada Company: Many Ways to Serve, a non-partisan organization he founded in 2006 to bring together community leaders across Canada to support the Canadian military and their families.

Early life and education

Blake Goldring is the second eldest of five children born to C. Warren Goldring and Barbara (Dowd) Goldring. Goldring attended St. Andrew’s Junior High and York Mills Collegiate Institute in Toronto.

Goldring attended Victoria College at the University of Toronto, graduating from the school with an honours degree in Economics.^[4][5] In his fourth year, he became the National Vice President of AIESEC, a student-led commerce and economics organization, based at the time in Montreal. Following this appointment, he transferred to McGill University to fulfill his duties as President and complete his undergraduate degree. He went on to pursue graduate studies at INSEAD in France,^[6] where he earned a Master of Business Administration [MBA].^[6]

In 1984, he became a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers (FICB).

In 1996, Goldring earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

In 2008, Goldring received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the Royal Military College.^[7]

Career

Early career

Following his graduation from INSEAD, Goldring joined the Bank of Montreal (BMO).^[5] At BMO, Goldring worked in international banking, and later, corporate banking, and was based in Toronto for five years.

Career at AGF

In late 1987, Goldring left BMO to work at AGF.^[5] He started as an analyst working on the firm’s Japanese investment portfolios, and in 1989, he assumed responsibilities for the Quebec and Eastern sales regions.^[5] In 1991, his responsibilities expanded to developing AGF International Advisors Company Limited in Ireland, and in 1994, he was named head of Sales and Marketing for AGF.

In 1997, Goldring was named President and Chief Operating Officer of AGF and three years later,^[5] in 2000, he was named Chief Executive Officer. In 2006, Goldring was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AGF.^[8]

Under Goldring, the firm acquired wealth management firms, including Global Strategy Holdings [2000], Cypress Capital Management [2004], Doherty & Associates Investment Counsel [2004], Highstreet Asset Management [2006], Acuity [2011], and FFCM [2015]. During the same period, the company built a Trust Company, AGF Trust, later [2012] sold to Laurentian Bank for $420 million, and Unisen, a third-party administration firm, sold in 2005 for $114 million to Citibank.

Goldring also oversaw the 2002 merger of NCL Investments into Smith & Williamson, a London, UK based wealth management firm.

As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Goldring has led the development of four strategic investment platforms at AGF to expand the firm's client base to include more institutional and high net-worth investors and diversify from its mutual fund origins.^[9] The four platforms focus on institutional, private client, retail and alternative investment management.^[9]

In addition, AGF has reinforced its roster of international portfolio offerings and is an innovator in the development of environmentally sustainable investment solutions.

Community involvement

Honorary colonel appointments

A life-long history buff, Goldring became associated with The Royal Regiment of Canada in 1996. In 2005, he succeeded Major General (retired) Reginald W. Lewis, then Honorary Colonel of The Royal Regiment of Canada .^[6] Goldring accepted the post and held the role of Honorary Colonel of The Royal Regiment of Canada from 2006 to 2011.

In 2011, Goldring was recognized for his support of the Canadian Army and was appointed as Canada’s first-ever Honorary Colonel of the Canadian Army.^[10] In 2016, the appointment was subsequently extended to 2017.

Canada Company: Many Ways to Serve

In 2006, Goldring founded Canada Company: Many Ways to Serve,^[5] an organization that supports Canada’s armed forces through various initiatives to build a stronger connection between Canada’s military and business leaders.^[5] Canada Company has a number of programs that support the military community, including assisting families of fallen soldiers through its scholarship program and helping veterans transition from military service to the civilian workplace through the Military Employment Transition (MET) program.^[11][12]

Other community involvement

Goldring serves as the Board Chair at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto,^[13] the Vice-Chair of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and as a Director of the Canadian Film Centre.^[1][14] In 2011, he served as Co-Chair for the Toronto Prosperity Initiative report with City Councillor Michael Thompson.^[15]

Additionally, he is involved in the wider Canadian business community as a Director of the C.D. Howe Institute and as a member of the Leadership Council of the Toronto Financial Services Alliance. He is a member of the World Presidents’ Organization (WPO) and the IFIC Ad Hoc Strategic Research Committee. He also sits on the advisory boards for the Lawrence National Centre of Policy and Management at Western University, the Global Water Institute at Carleton University, the Mosaic Institute, and the Conference of Defense Associations Institute. Additionally, he is on the National Advisory Council for The Walrus, a Canadian general interest magazine on Canadian and international affairs.

Recognition

Over the span of his career, Goldring has served on a number of boards and committees and has earned awards both within and beyond the financial industry.

Past appointments include: past Chair of the University of Toronto’s World War I Commemoration Committee, past member of the Board of Governors of The Toronto Club, past Chair of the Bishop’s Company, past President and member of the Board of Directors of the National Club, past Chair of the Bishop Strachan School Foundation, Past Vice Chair and Director of Investment Funds Institute of Canada, past Director of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada, past Chair of INSEAD Alumni Fund (worldwide).

In 2003, he was inducted into AIESEC Canada’s Hall of Fame.

In 2007, he was the recipient of the Person of Influence Award from the Canadian Investment Awards Gala.

In 2009, he received the University of Toronto's Arbour Award.

In 2012, he received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Goldring was honoured by the B’Nai Brith organization at its 2011 Award of Merit Dinner for his significant contributions for the betterment of society. In 2013, he received the Order of the Diocese from the Anglican Diocese in Toronto, recognizing his community service.

For his work supporting the Canadian military, Goldring was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General of Canada in 2009.^[7] In 2014, he was also recognized with the Vimy Award by the Canadian Defense Associations Institute for his contribution to strengthening the ties between the Canadian military and the public.^[16]

Personal life

Goldring lives in Toronto, Canada with his wife and three daughters.^[17]

References