A major figure in the business world for the last twenty-five years, he is the director and chairman of many successful national and international companies. As the former President and CEO of the C.D. Howe Institute, he provided national leadership in the area of public policy research and development. He is currently the Chairman and CEO of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, where he contributes to the promotion of basic research in the natural and social sciences. He is also the Chairman of the Toronto International Leadership Centre for Financial Sector Supervision.