Jim Leech  

Advisory Board Chair

Jim is Chair of PCM’s Advisory Board and plays a key role in advising PCM’s leadership team on firm strategy, operations and talent development.

In 2014, Jim retired as President and CEO of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, one of the world’s largest pension plans, currently with over $270B assets under management. During his tenure, OTPP was ranked first in the world for investment returns and member service. Jim previously led the private capital group within OTPP, where he was responsible for originally hiring both Steve Faraone and Mike Murray.

Previously, Jim was president and CEO of Unicorp Canada Corporation, and Union Energy Inc., then one of North America’s largest integrated energy companies.

Jim is Chancellor Emeritus of Queen’s University, Chair Emeritus of UHN Foundation, former Chair of Mastercard Foundation, founding Director of Right to Play International and former Honorary Colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces. He served as Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada to establish the Canada Infrastructure Bank from 2017 to 2019.

In 2013, Jim co-authored “The Third Rail, Confronting our Pension Failures”, a best-selling book that received the 2013-2014 National Business Book Award

He was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for his involvement with the True Patriot Love Foundation, including the 125 km ski trek to the North Magnetic Pole in 2014, in support of veterans suffering from PTSD; was awarded the Canadian Decoration for his military service; is a Member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario; and was recently awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal;

Jim holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours in Math and Physics) and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the Royal Military College of Canada and a Master of Business Administration and an  Honorary Doctor of Laws from Queen’s University. He is also a graduate of the Directors Education Program at the Institute of Corporate Directors at The Rotman School of Management.