F. Anthony Comper
Francis Anthony Comper | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 24, 1945 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation(s) | Banking executive, philanthropist |
| Known for | President, chairman, and CEO of Bank of Montreal |
Francis Anthony Comper CM (born April 24, 1945) is a retired Canadian banking executive who held the positions of president, chairman, and CEO at the Bank of Montreal.
Early life
Comper completed his education at De La Salle College and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from St. Michael's College, Toronto in 1966.
Banking
Following graduation, Comper entered the Bank of Montreal as a management trainee. He was appointed president and chief operating officer in 1990, during which time he chaired The Task Force on the Advancement of Women in the Bank. This initiative successfully raised the proportion of women in senior positions to over 40%.
In 1999, after Matthew Barrett left the company, Comper advanced to chairman and CEO. Reflecting evolving corporate governance standards, he stepped down from the chairman role in 2004, passing it to an independent director. Throughout his more than forty-year career at BMO, Comper more than doubled its market capitalization, reaching nearly $35 billion by fiscal year 2006, highlighted by a record profit of $2.7 billion. His leadership was marked by cautious risk management that helped the bank avoid exposure to scandals like Enron that affected other institutions.
In 2020, ECW Press published his memoir titled Personal Account: 25 Tales About Leadership, Learning, and Legacy from a Lifetime at Bank of Montreal. Within this work, Comper underscores the importance of prudent risk controls as a defining characteristic of Canadian banking.
Despite his achievements, Comper faced scrutiny over his substantial remuneration—earning $11 million in 2003—and criticisms related to "service shrinkage," where fees remained steady despite reductions in customer services. Under his tenure, BMO reimbursed mortgage customers approximately $250 each due to overcharges totaling $7.1 million.
Comper retired as CEO on March 1, 2007, continuing as an advisor until April 24. His exit coincided with BMO posting record profits but also disappointing quarterly results influenced by tax reductions and loan losses. He was succeeded by Bill Downe, the former COO and long-standing candidate for the CEO position.
Philanthropy
Comper led the University of Toronto's fundraising initiative, Campaign for the University of Toronto, from 1995 to 2004, held the position of chair of its Governing Council around 1995 to 1998, and acted as vice-chair at Toronto's St. Michael's Hospital.
Together with his wife Elizabeth, Comper established FAST – Fighting Antisemitism Together, a Canadian alliance composed of non-Jewish business and community figures committed to addressing anti-Semitism.
In recognition of their significant volunteer service and philanthropic efforts, both were named Members of the Order of Canada in 2010. Comper was also honored with the Human Relations Award by the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews and received B'nai B'rith Canada's Award of Merit. He has been granted honorary degrees including an LL.D. from the University of Toronto, a D.Hum.L. from Mount Saint Vincent University, a D.Litt. from the University of New Brunswick, and one from the University of Haifa. The couple was awarded the Scopus Award by Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and in 2009, Concordia University conferred upon them honorary Doctor of Philosophy degrees.
In 2020, FAST joined forces with the Canadian Institute for the Study of Antisemitism to broaden its reach. Even in retirement, Comper remains actively engaged in promoting awareness against intolerance and systemic discrimination.