BMO Financial Group made a series of executive appointments, including moving Tom Flynn from his current role as CFO to vice chair. In addition, Tayfun Tuzun will join BMO as deputy CFO on Nov. 16 and will become CFO on Jan. 1, 2021, following a transition period. Meanwhile, Simon Fish will move from his current role as general counsel and become special advisor to the CEO while Sharon Haward-Laird will be appointed general counsel, reporting to the CEO. All the appointments, save for Tuzun’s temporary role as deputy CFO, are effective Jan. 1, 2021.
In his new role, Flynn will support the growth ambitions of corporate clients and deepen client relationships. He will also continue to support certain enterprise strategic initiatives.
Since joining BMO in 1992, Flynn led the financial institutions group in the investment and corporate bank and served as treasurer before his appointment as chief risk officer in March 2008 and as CFO in 2011.
“Tom helped lead the bank through the global financial crisis, successive acquisitions of the past decade and through my transition to CEO in 2017,” Darryl White, CEO of BMO Financial Group, said. “Tom is one of my most deeply valued partners. He will take his passion for serving clients, his sophisticated knowledge of business performance and capital markets, and his deep understanding of our strategic agenda into his new role.”
Tuzun, who also will join BMO’s executive committee, previously served as CFO of Fifth Third Bank since 2013. He has experience in the U.S. financial services market across banking and other areas. He has held senior positions in finance and treasury and has spent time working in technology-related areas, including digital investment and payments.
“Tayfun is a strategic business leader who has successfully led bank-wide transformation efforts focused on delivering efficiency, improving returns and sustaining winning performance,” White said. “Tom will work closely with Tayfun to ensure a smooth transition.”
Fish has been a contributor to BMO’s efforts in ESG and will advise on the continued development and implementation of the bank’s sustainability strategy and ESG programs.
“Simon has been an outstanding general counsel for the bank and has developed one of the strongest legal and regulatory compliance groups in our industry,” White said. “He has also repeatedly elevated our ESG posture and played a leading role in the rapid elevation of this field.”
In addition to her new role, Haward-Laird will join the bank’s executive committee. She is currently the head of North American treasury and payment solutions, and previously served as deputy general counsel and head of corporate communications and investor relations.
“Since joining BMO in 2000, Sharon has earned deep respect both inside and outside of BMO for her leadership,” White said. “Her broad business acumen and exceptional attention to detail needed for precision execution make her a perfect fit for general counsel.”
