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Bill Downe

b. 1952

Canadian banker

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About Bill Downe

Born 1952. Bill Downe is a Canadian banker and entrepreneur.

William Arthur Downe (born 1952) is a Canadian banker who was chief executive officer (CEO) of Bank of Montreal (also known as BMO Financial Group) from 2007 to 2017.

Early life Downe earned a bachelor's degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. He later obtained a Master of Business Administration from the University of Toronto.

In 2003, Downe was granted the Rotman Distinguished Business Alumni Award from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

Career Downe joined Bank of Montreal in 1983

In December 2016, Downe was named a Member of the Order of Canada.

In April 2017, it was announced that Downe would retire as CEO effective October 2017. He was to be succeeded by current COO Darryl White, who was previously group head of BMO Capital Markets.

Board memberships and philanthropy Downe is the only Canadian member of the International Business Leaders Advisory Council of the Mayor of Beijing, and a member of the International Advisory Council of Guanghua School of Management at Peking University. He is a director of Catalyst, and a member of Catalyst's Canadian board of advisors.

Downe has previously served as chair of St. Michael's Hospital.

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Important facts

Born
1952, Montreal
Birth century
Nationality
Education
University of Toronto, Wilfrid Laurier University, Rotman School of Management
Awards
Member of the Order of Canada
Also known as
William A. Downe, William Downe

People in Bill Downe's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Bill Downe's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Bill Downe?

Canadian banker

When was Bill Downe born?

Bill Downe was born in 1952 in Montreal.

What is Bill Downe's occupation?

Bill Downe is a banker and entrepreneur.

What nationality is Bill Downe?

Bill Downe is Canadian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Bill Downe

· Wikidata: Q635102

· DBpedia: Bill Downe

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bill Downe. https://biography.guide/bill-downe/

MLA: "Bill Downe." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bill-downe/.

Chicago: "Bill Downe." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bill-downe/.

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