Shawn Cooper

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Shawn Cooper advises corporate and governance leaders on strategic leadership decisions. Based in Toronto, Shawn leverages his more than 20 years of experience to conduct assignments on CEO succession and transition, C-suite executive assessment and development and board effectiveness, composition, diversity and culture. Shawn specializes in financial institutions, investment management, financial and risk management, and family-owned enterprises. He previously led the Latin America and Canada regions for Russell Reynolds Associates and served on the firm’s global executive and operating committees.

Before joining Russell Reynolds, Shawn worked in corporate strategy and crisis management roles for more than a decade. He served as vice president of the Canadian Bankers Association and was a director of corporate affairs for Scotiabank. Earlier, he served in planning and legislation, focusing on growth strategy for emerging business lines. He also worked at Standard & Poor’s in New York.

Shawn earned a BCom, with honors, from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University and an MBA in global management and finance from the Stern School of Business at New York University.

Areas of Expertise

Assessment and Benchmarking Board Director and Chair Search Board of Directors CEO Succession Chief Executive Officers Development and Transition Executive Search Financial Services Investment Management Sustainability Officers

+1-416-364-3355

Shawn Cooper

Shawn is a founding board member of the Toronto Financial Services Alliance and previously served on the Canadian Deputy Finance Minister’s Committee on the Reform of the Supervisory and Deposit Insurance System. He has served on the boards of Third Canadian General Investment Trust Limited, Soulpepper Theatre Company, Royal Ontario Museum’s Institute of Contemporary Culture and the Evergreen Brick Works campaign. Shawn is a member of the Smith School of Business Advisory Board.