Jonathan Victor (BCom’99) has been appointed COO of Insurity, a leading provider of cloud-based software solutions for insurance carriers, brokers, and managing general agents. He undertakes this new role with extensive experience at Insurity, where he has previously held roles such as CIO and EVP of Customer Success. In his expanded capacity, Victor will oversee cloud operations, customer success, enterprise security, system integrator operations, and professional services, ensuring streamlined processes and integration across the company.
The first presidency of Donald Trump was nothing if not unpredictable, and as Canada prepares for a second go-around, it needs to expect the unexpected. The U.S. president-elect regularly uses exaggerated rhetoric about the country’s trading relationships, writes Vivek Astvansh in The Conversation. But the first Trump presidency taught us that the most effective way for foreign leaders to respond to Trump’s political theatre is to retaliate with countermeasures, be muted in one’s rhetoric, and hope for a truce.
While 2020 was tough on just about everyone, the Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo) really took it on the chin. Alberta’s public pension fund manager lost billions of dollars in a volatility-based trading strategy during a topsy-turvy year in markets. The losses undermined public confidence in AIMCo, and the province’s Finance Minister Nate Horner recently dismissed AIMCo’s entire board, appointing a veteran public servant to serve as the organization’s interim CEO.
In recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) on September 30, the McGill Desautels Faculty of Management, in collaboration with the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII), hosted a keynote address by Travis Seymour. As part of McGill’s Indigenous Awareness Weeks, now in its eighth year, this event underscored the urgent need to incorporate reconciliation principles within management and corporate frameworks.
On October 2, the McGill Desautels Faculty of Management hosted a panel titled "Addressing Anti-Black Racism: Strategies for Integration in the Classroom" to foster inclusive learning environments and address anti-Black racism.
The archetypal CEO leads with charisma and gregariousness, but not all effective executives share the same personality traits—and there can even be advantages to introversion.
The Parti Québécois' recent 97-page immigration plan suggests replacing workers with automation in sectors facing labour shortages. However, Assistant Professor of Operations Management Rob Glew argues this approach is flawed. He points out that sectors of Quebec’s economy with the most acute labour shortages don’t lend themselves well to automation, like health care and early childhood education. “To just lump it in that robots are substitutes for immigrants totally misses the point,” Glew tells CTV News.
For Quebec businesses, Donald Trump’s planned tariffs are a source of significant uncertainty. The Federation of Quebec Chambers of Commerce nervously awaited the results of the U.S. election. With Trump proposing a 10 per cent tariff on all goods entering the United States, many Quebec businesses could be hit hard. “We are extremely dependent on the United States, and that dependence is not mutual,” says Vivek Astvansh, Associate Professor of Quantitative Marketing and Analytics.
Susan Margles (BA’88, MBA’91) has been appointed President and CEO of the Ottawa International Airport Authority. Like other airports, Ottawa’s suffered during the pandemic, but it’s bouncing back with major infrastructure projects, like a new hotel and a connection to the city’s light rail transit system. Margles joins the Airport Authority after nearly two decades at Canada Post, where she—amongst other roles—served as chief people and safety officer and was responsible for human resources, labour relations and government affairs.

The McGill Desautels Faculty of Management MBA is ranked 26th globally by the prestigious Corporate Knights Better World MBA ranking, proving again to be a leader in sustainability development and corporate social responsibility through teaching and learning methodologies. The Better World ranking, this year evaluating 174 MBAs and spanning 14 countries, is based on the proportion of core courses that integrate relevant sustainable development themes.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures can enhance a company’s public image and contribute to increased sales. However, these benefits may come at a cost. In a study analyzing CSR disclosures from companies in China, where such reporting is mandatory, Associate Professor of Quantitative Marketing and Analytics Vivek Astvansh found that while these disclosures attract customers, they may also discourage new suppliers.
Yelp’s restaurant review platform awards an ‘elite’ badge to top contributors, acknowledging their role in shaping user experiences. However, new research by Associate Professor Warut Khern-am-nuai reveals that the influence of these elite reviewers persists even if they lose their official status.
Students in the McGill Desautels Master of Management in Finance (MMF) program showcased their financial prowess at the 7th Deloitte MMF Synergy Challenge on October 30.
The timing of stock trades can be as important as the choice of equities to buy or sell. When trading volume is low, large purchases can drive up a stock’s price, raising costs for the trader. A working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research by Associate Professor of Finance Ruslan Goyenko finds that returns associated with trade timing are substantial—they can impact returns as much as stock selection itself.
Cynthia Price Verreault (BCom’82) has been appointed McGill’s first Deputy Chancellor. In this new role, she will support the Chancellor, President, and Board of Governors. Throughout her two-year term, Price Verreault will offer counsel and play a key role in representing the University at events and high-level meetings.“We are delighted that someone with as deep a knowledge of the institution as Ms. Price Verreault has will be working alongside our new Chancellor, Pierre Boivin,” says Maryse Bertrand, Chair of the McGill Board of Governors.