F. Anthony Comper
Encyclopedia
F. Anthony Comper, CM
(born April 24, 1945), known as Tony Comper, is a Canadian banker. He served as president and chief executive officer of Bank of Montreal
, which currently operates under the brand BMO Financial Group, and retired from that position on March 1, 2007.
He served as Chair of the University of Toronto
's fundraising program Campaign for the University of Toronto (1995–2004), as Chairman of the University of Toronto's Governing Council (circa 1995-1998) and as Vice-Chair of St. Michael's Hospital
in Toronto.
He attended De La Salle College (Toronto)
and received a B.A.
in English from the St. Michael's College, Toronto
in 1966. He joined the Bank of Montreal as a management trainee afterwards. In 1990, he became President and Chief Operating Officer. He was promoted to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 1999 after the departure of Matthew Barrett
. As part of a corporate governance trend in 2004, he gave up the title of Chairman of the Board in favor of a non-management director. He has spent four decades at BMO.
Together with his wife, Elizabeth Comper, he founded FAST - Fighting Antisemitism Together
, a Canadian group which opposes anti-Semitism
and which describes itself as "a coalition of non-Jewish Canadian community and business leaders dedicated to speaking out against humanity's oldest hatred."
He has been criticized in the past for his high salary and bonus which, according to some observers, is out of proportion to his value as a president of a fairly standard banking operation. He made $11 million in 2003. His policy of "service shrinkage", or decreasing the number of services offered for the same banking fee, has attracted criticism from customers. In 2006, on his watch, BMO was forced to refund overcharges on mortgage payments of approximately $250 per customer.
Comper stepped down on March 1, 2007, at BMO's annual meeting, but stayed on as an adviser until April 24, his 62nd birthday. This announcement came at the same time as BMO posted disappointing fourth quarter results, though they were record profits for the bank due to lower taxes and bad loans. He was succeeded by Bill Downe
, who had been the frontrunner for the CEO position for the last few years, and formerly Chief Operating Officer of BMO.
In 2010, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
, along with his wife Elizabeth, "for their commitment to the community at large as active volunteers and philanthropists".
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born April 24, 1945), known as Tony Comper, is a Canadian banker. He served as president and chief executive officer of Bank of Montreal
Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...
, which currently operates under the brand BMO Financial Group, and retired from that position on March 1, 2007.
He served as Chair of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
's fundraising program Campaign for the University of Toronto (1995–2004), as Chairman of the University of Toronto's Governing Council (circa 1995-1998) and as Vice-Chair of St. Michael's Hospital
St. Michael's Hospital (Toronto)
St. Michael's Hospital is a teaching hospital and medical centre in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was established by the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1892, with the founding goal of taking care of the sick and poor of Toronto's inner city. The hospital provides tertiary and quaternary services...
in Toronto.
He attended De La Salle College (Toronto)
De La Salle College (Toronto)
De La Salle College "Oaklands" is an independent co-educational Catholic school in Toronto, Ontario. It is operated by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools as a university preparatory institution in the Roman Catholic tradition as founded by Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle in...
and received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English from the St. Michael's College, Toronto
University of St. Michael's College
The University of St. Michael's College is a college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1852 by the Congregation of St. Basil of Annonay, France. While mainly an undergraduate college for liberal arts and sciences, St. Michael's retains its Roman Catholic affiliation through its postgraduate...
in 1966. He joined the Bank of Montreal as a management trainee afterwards. In 1990, he became President and Chief Operating Officer. He was promoted to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 1999 after the departure of Matthew Barrett
Matthew Barrett
Matthew William Barrett, is an Irish Canadian banker who until 2006 was the Chairman of Barclays Bank.Born in County Kerry, Ireland, he attended the Christian Brothers School in Kells, County Meath, and attended the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Programme in 1981.He started his...
. As part of a corporate governance trend in 2004, he gave up the title of Chairman of the Board in favor of a non-management director. He has spent four decades at BMO.
Together with his wife, Elizabeth Comper, he founded FAST - Fighting Antisemitism Together
FAST - Fighting Antisemitism Together
FAST - Fighting Antisemitism Together, is a Canadian human rights activist group which opposes antisemitism. It was founded in 2005 and describes itself as "a coalition of non-Jewish Canadian community and business leaders dedicated to speaking out against humanity's oldest hatred."FAST was founded...
, a Canadian group which opposes anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
and which describes itself as "a coalition of non-Jewish Canadian community and business leaders dedicated to speaking out against humanity's oldest hatred."
He has been criticized in the past for his high salary and bonus which, according to some observers, is out of proportion to his value as a president of a fairly standard banking operation. He made $11 million in 2003. His policy of "service shrinkage", or decreasing the number of services offered for the same banking fee, has attracted criticism from customers. In 2006, on his watch, BMO was forced to refund overcharges on mortgage payments of approximately $250 per customer.
Comper stepped down on March 1, 2007, at BMO's annual meeting, but stayed on as an adviser until April 24, his 62nd birthday. This announcement came at the same time as BMO posted disappointing fourth quarter results, though they were record profits for the bank due to lower taxes and bad loans. He was succeeded by Bill Downe
Bill Downe
William A. Downe is a Canadian bank executive. He became president and chief executive officer of Bank of Montreal on March 1, 2007.- Career :...
, who had been the frontrunner for the CEO position for the last few years, and formerly Chief Operating Officer of BMO.
In 2010, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, along with his wife Elizabeth, "for their commitment to the community at large as active volunteers and philanthropists".