Fred H. McNeil
Frederick Harold McNeil | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Saskatoon, Canada |
| Died | September 26, 1995 (aged 78) |
| Occupation(s) | Air force officer, journalist, entrepreneur, banking executive |
| Years active | 1940–1987 |
| Known for | President, CEO, and Chairman of Bank of Montreal |
Squadron Leader Frederick Harold McNeil (17 November 1916 – 26 September 1995) was a distinguished Canadian air force officer, journalist, entrepreneur, and banking executive who held the positions of president, chairman, and CEO at the Bank of Montreal. Following his role as a flight instructor during World War II, McNeil embarked on a journalism career in British Columbia. In 1954, he shifted towards leadership and organizational roles, joining Ford Motor Company of Canada in 1960. He entered the Bank of Montreal in 1966 and quickly rose through the ranks to become president in 1973, CEO in 1975, and chairman later that same year. McNeil stepped down as chairman in July 1981 and passed away at his ranch in Alberta in 1995 at the age of 78.
Biography
Born Archibald Harold Frederick McNeil on 17 November 1916 in Saskatoon to parents Harold McNeil and Jean Swan, he professionally adopted the name Frederick Harold McNeil. After completing high school, he attended both the University of Manitoba and the University of Saskatchewan but did not complete a degree.
McNeil enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force on 25 May 1940, training as a pilot and serving as a flight instructor within the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. He achieved the rank of Squadron Leader and was honored with the Air Force Cross in June 1942 for outstanding commitment and valor during his instructional duties. His military service concluded with his decommissioning in March 1945.
Following the war, McNeil worked as a reporter and editor for the Times Colonist and The Province. He then transitioned into management consulting with Braun & Co. in Vancouver starting in 1954, before becoming director of management services at Powell River Company in 1956. In 1960, he joined Ford Motor Company of Canada as Director of Organization, Personnel & Administration Planning.
McNeil began his tenure at the Bank of Montreal on 1 January 1966 as General Manager responsible for Personnel Planning. Within two years, he was promoted to vice-president and subsequently to executive vice-president overseeing administration and operations. By December 1971, he held titles including Executive Vice-president, General Manager, and Chief Operating Officer.
On 20 February 1973, McNeil was appointed president of the Bank of Montreal. He transitioned to CEO and deputy chairman on 1 January 1975 when William D. Mulholland took over as president. Later that year in December, McNeil assumed the role of chairman of the board and moved the chairman’s office to Calgary. Mulholland succeeded him as CEO in January 1979. McNeil retired from his chairman position on 1 July 1981; Mulholland then became chairman while William Elwood Bradford became president. After retirement, McNeil dedicated himself to ranching at his M Bar Ranch near Granum, Alberta. He continued serving as a bank director until January 1987.
McNeil was affiliated with several exclusive clubs such as Mount Royal Club, Saint James's Club, Toronto Club, Calgary Petroleum Club, and Ranchmen's Club. His directorships included prominent companies like Dominion Life, Bowater, Canadian Canners, Seagram, MICC Investments, International Resources and Finance Bank, and Mortgage Insurance Co. of Canada.
He married Marian Doreen Williams on 16 January 1943; together they had three children: Ronald, Marie, and Bruce. McNeil died at his ranch on 26 September 1995. A memorial service was conducted at Calgary’s Ranchmen's Club.