CCCE Expresses Condolences on the Passing of R. John Lawrence

August 4, 2009

The Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) today expressed its bereavement at the loss of longtime member R. John Lawrence.

“Jack Lawrence will be deeply missed by friends and colleagues alike,” said Thomas d’Aquino, the CCCE’s Chief Executive and President. “Beyond his contributions as an influential member of Canada’s business community, his passion for good public policy was one of his most notable characteristics. He was a champion of Canadian competitiveness and fought tirelessly for responsible fiscal policy. In addition, he was a generous supporter of academic excellence. My colleagues from across the country join me in extending our condolences to the Lawrence family in the face of this tragic loss.”

The CCCE is a non-partisan organization composed of 150 chief executives and entrepreneurs heading Canada’s leading enterprises.  CCCE members lead companies that collectively administer $4.5 trillion in assets and have annual revenues of more than $850 billion.

In addition to Mr. d’Aquino, the members of the CCCE’s Executive Committee are: Chair, Gordon M. Nixon, President and Chief Executive Officer, Royal Bank of Canada; Honorary Chair Richard L. George, President and Chief Executive Officer, Suncor Energy Inc.; and Vice Chairs Laurent Beaudoin, Chairman, Bombardier Inc., Paul Desmarais, Jr., Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, Power Corporation of Canada, J. Bruce Flatt, Senior Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer, Brookfield Asset Management Inc., Hartley T. Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer, James Richardson & Sons Limited, and Annette Verschuren, President, The Home Depot Canada and Asia.