Dominic Barton

Dominic Barton
Dominic Barton
Born	1962; Mukono, Uganda
Occupation(s)	Business leader, author, diplomat
Years active	1986–present
Known for	Global Managing Director of McKinsey & Company (2009–2018); Canadian Ambassador to China (2019–2021); Chairman of LeapFrog Investments; Chancellor of the University of Waterloo (2018–2024); Chairman of Rio Tinto

Dominic Barton (born 1962), who is referred to as Bao Damin () in China, is a Canadian business leader originally from Uganda, as well as an author and diplomat. He currently holds the position of chairman at the private equity firm LeapFrog Investments and was the chancellor of the University of Waterloo from 2018 until 2024. Barton served as Canada's Ambassador to the People's Republic of China between 2019 and 2021. Prior to this diplomatic role, he was the Global Managing Director of McKinsey & Company from 2009 through 2018, and has also held prominent leadership positions including Chairman of Teck Resources and Non-Executive Director roles at Singtel Group and Investor AB.

In April 2022, Barton took on the role of Chairman at LeapFrog Investments, a firm dedicated to investing in rapidly expanding emerging markets with an emphasis on social and environmental impact. The following month, in May 2022, he was appointed Chairman of Rio Tinto’s Board, which is recognized as the second-largest metals and mining company worldwide. Later in October 2022, the Eurasia Group designated him as Strategic Counselor.

Barton earned a Master of Philosophy in Economics from the University of Oxford, where he attended as a Rhodes Scholar. Throughout his career, he has provided counsel to Canadian governments from various political parties regarding public sector reform and strategies for economic development.

Early life and education

Born in Mukono, Uganda in 1962, Dominic Barton grew up in a family where his father worked as an Anglican missionary helping establish a theology college, while his mother practiced nursing. Their residence was once occupied by General Idi Amin, who later became a dictator. When Barton was seven years old, his family relocated to Canada and settled in Sardis, British Columbia.

He obtained his undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of British Columbia. Subsequently awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, Barton pursued and completed an MPhil in Economics at Brasenose College within Oxford University.

Career

Following his academic studies, Barton briefly held a position as a currency analyst at N M Rothschild & Sons in London.

McKinsey

Barton joined McKinsey & Company’s Toronto office in 1986 and spent eleven years working as a management consultant. He was elected Global Managing Director from 2009 until 2018, after which he assumed the title of Global Managing Director Emeritus while focusing on philanthropic activities and advisory roles. Between 2018 and 2019, he served as chairman of Teck Resources, a leading exporter of steel-making coal in the natural resources sector. During this time, McKinsey’s expanded collaboration with Teck led to at least one staff member resigning over environmental issues. On September 5, 2019, Barton was named Canadian Ambassador to China.

Work in Asia

In 1997, Barton relocated to McKinsey’s Seoul office where he eventually became head of the national practice. He worked closely with South Korean government officials on reforming the financial system aimed at fostering a ‘creative economy.’

From 2004 to 2009, Barton held the position of Chairman for McKinsey’s operations across Asia while based in Shanghai. He co-wrote China Vignettes – An Inside Look At China, providing perspectives on Chinese culture and society. Additionally, he served as an adjunct professor at Tsinghua University’s School of Economics and Management in Beijing and was a member of its advisory board. Barton also chaired the Seoul International Business Advisory Council for six years and participated on Singapore’s Economic Development Board International Advisory Council for a decade.

Managing Director

In July 2009, he was chosen by 400 senior partners to serve as the Global Managing Director of McKinsey & Company. He secured re-election for two additional three-year terms in 2012 and 2015, completing the full nine-year tenure before Kevin Sneader took over in 2018.

During his leadership, McKinsey maintained its position as the leading consulting firm worldwide for nine straight years. In both 2013 and 2016, Glassdoor included him among the top global CEOs based on employee reviews.

From 2009 to 2018, McKinsey encountered multiple controversies, such as scandals involving South Africa, Valeant, insider trading linked to its investment arm, and associations with authoritarian governments. Following his departure, increased attention was directed at McKinsey’s collaboration with Purdue Pharma aimed at expanding opioid sales, which contributed to the opioid epidemic.

Advisory Council on Public Service

Barton contributed to the Canadian Advisory Committee on the Public Service during the tenure of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, providing guidance on revitalizing and enhancing the country’s public service sector.

Advisory Council on Economic Growth

Beginning in 2017, Barton chaired the Canadian federal government's Advisory Council on Economic Growth. This council put forward 13 proposals, including the creation of the Canada Infrastructure Bank, initiation of workforce re-skilling initiatives, sector-specific growth plans such as for agriculture, and establishing the Invest in Canada hub.

The council’s objective was to increase median household income from $80,000 in 2017 to $105,000 by 2030. It also advocated for a gradual rise in permanent immigration levels to 450,000 individuals annually.

Academia

On June 19, 2018, Barton was named the 11th chancellor of the University of Waterloo and received reappointment on February 25, 2021.

He has also served as co-chair of the Max Bell School of Public Policy Advisory Board at McGill University and participated in the leadership team for the University of Toronto Psychiatry Campaign.

Ambassador of Canada to China

On September 4, 2019, the Canadian Government appointed Barton as ambassador to China. The decision prompted varied reactions; some questioned his previous connections to China while others emphasized his extensive experience in Asia as a significant asset.

In this capacity, Barton spearheaded efforts to secure the freedom of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor—two Canadians detained in China since December 2018 amid diplomatic strains following Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou’s arrest. He carried out frequent consular visits and employed encrypted communication methods to prevent interception.

His involvement began prior to his formal appointment by utilizing his network to facilitate dialogue among Chinese, Canadian, and U.S. officials. He played an essential role in navigating sensitive boundaries established by each nation to identify potential solutions.

In April 2021, Barton met with senior U.S. officials in Washington to strengthen coordinated pressure on Beijing. He also maintained ongoing contact with China’s Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng to manage logistical arrangements toward resolving the impasse.

On September 24, 2021, after weeks of intense negotiations with Chinese authorities, Kovrig and Spavor were released and returned home accompanied by Barton. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly expressed gratitude for Barton’s dedication.

On December 6, 2021, Barton announced his resignation after accomplishing the "core mission" of securing the release of both men.

Writing

Barton is the author of China Vignettes: An Inside Look At China, a work derived from conversations with everyday Chinese individuals, offering perspectives on their daily experiences. He also co-wrote Dangerous Markets: Managing in Financial Crises, which provides guidance for global leaders on steering through unstable financial landscapes. In his book Re-Imagining Capitalism, Barton delves into reshaping capitalism with a focus on long-term sustainability, drawing from his observations of the 2008 financial crisis and promoting a harmonious approach between stakeholder and shareholder priorities.

More recently, Barton collaborated on Talent Wins: The New Playbook for Putting People First, highlighting the vital importance of prioritizing human capital management as a key driver for enduring business success, often surpassing the significance of financial assets.

Board and advisory positions

Barton’s board experience includes membership on the Singapore Economic Development Board’s International Advisory Council, as well as advisory contributions to the Asian Development Bank. He also participates in the steering committee of the China–United States Exchange Foundation.

In April 2022, Barton was appointed to the board of Rio Tinto and ascended to chairman in May of that year. Concurrently, he assumed the role of Chairman of Leapfrog Investments’ Management Board, a private equity firm concentrating on rapidly expanding emerging markets with a focus on social and environmental impact.

By October 2022, Eurasia Group, a worldwide political risk consultancy, designated Barton as Strategic Counselor, recognizing his broad expertise in business and diplomacy.

Century Initiative

Barton co-established the Century Initiative, a non-partisan Canadian coalition advocating for policies aimed at expanding Canada’s population to 100 million by the year 2100. This initiative addresses areas such as immigration, urban growth, infrastructure development, early childhood support, workforce participation, entrepreneurship, and education. Barton has since stepped away from active involvement with this project.

Rio Tinto

After joining Rio Tinto’s board in April 2022, Barton was named chairman in May. He has underscored mining’s essential contribution to climate change mitigation and pledged Rio Tinto’s collaboration with governments and clients to advance the energy transition.

Honours, awards, and civic and philanthropic activities

Barton has contributed as a board member of the Malala Fund, an organization dedicated to promoting girls’ education worldwide, and has engaged with the United Nations HeForShe campaign advocating gender equality. He holds an honorary fellowship at Brasenose College, Oxford, and has served on the board of Oxford’s Saïd Business School.

As a member of the Rhodes Trust Founder's Circle and former trustee of the Brookings Institution, Barton has also chaired Canadian mining firm Teck Resources and acted as commissioner for the Global Commission on Internet Governance. His advisory roles extend to Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.

Among his distinctions are the 2014 Academy of International Business International Executive of the Year Award, INSEAD’s Business Leader for the World Award (2011), South Korea’s Order of Civil Merit (2013), Singapore’s Public Service Star (2014), Foreign Policy Association Corporate Social Responsibility Award (2017), and Canada’s Public Policy Forum Testimonial Award (2017).

Barton co-hosts the St. Gallen Symposium alongside Lord Brian Griffiths and Roshni Nadar. He is currently a member of the International Advisory Board for the Global Finance & Technology Network.

Personal life

Residing in Beijing, Barton was previously married to Sheila Labatt, a Canadian glass artist and former securities attorney, with whom he shares two children. Their marriage ended in divorce in 2014. Subsequently, he wed Geraldine Buckingham, an Australian who once chaired BlackRock Asia Pacific; they have two children together.

Bibliography

Dangerous Markets: Managing in Financial Crises (2002), John Wiley & Sons
China Vignettes (2007), Talisman Publishers

External links