May 12, 2016 - After 23 years of service, Equitable Life’s Board Chair Douglas Dodds stepped down from the Board following this week’s Annual General Meeting.
Dodds was first elected to the Board in 1994. During his tenure, he served on every committee at one time or another, becoming Chair in 2000.
“This has been a very rewarding experience for me,” Dodds said. “Economic environments in general are never stable. To meet the objective of sustainability requires adaptability and resiliency. The company has continually demonstrated both of these qualities and I believe it has charted a course that will create long-term value for policyholders.”
To acknowledge Dodds’ many contributions, Equitable Life’s President and CEO Ronald Beettam announced that, in partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University, The Douglas Dodds Equitable Life scholarship has been established. This scholarship will be awarded to students entering the full- or part-time MBA programs at the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics. Candidates who receive this award will not only have high academic achievements, but will have demonstrated significant involvement in community volunteer work. The first scholarship will be awarded in September, 2016.
“We are grateful to Equitable Life for establishing this scholarship,” said Micheál J. Kelly, Dean, Lazaridis School of Business & Economics. “Recognizing Mr. Dodds’ commitment to community, this scholarship celebrates MBA students who demonstrate significant involvement in community volunteer work. This scholarship will encourage, empower and equip Lazaridis School recipients to inspire lives of leadership and purpose.”
At the Equitable Life Annual General Meeting held earlier this week, Beettam acknowledged the considerable growth that has been possible during Dodds’ stewardship. “Consider how Equitable Life has grown and prospered during Doug’s tenure on the Board,” said Beettam. “Doug’s contributions were in many areas. To name a few, he provided strong corporate governance, a focus on strategy and execution, and a commitment to building a talented team both on the Board and in management.”
With Dodds’ retirement, Douglas Alexander, currently Vice-Chair, will become Chair of the Board. Alexander was elected to the Board in 2010 and has since served on every committee.
About Equitable Life of Canada
Canadians have turned to Equitable Life since 1920 to protect what matters most. We work with independent advisors across Canada to offer individual insurance, savings and retirement and group benefits solutions to meet your needs.
But we’re not your typical financial services company. We have the knowledge, experience and ability to find solutions that work for you. We’re friendly, caring and interested in helping. And we’re owned by our participating policyholders, not shareholders. So we can focus on your interests and providing you with personalized service, security and wellbeing.
