Institute of Corporate Directors appoints Dr. Gail Cook-Bennett Chair-Elect of the Board of Directors

Donna Soble Kaufman stepping down after 10 years of dedicated service

TORONTO, Oct. 1, 2014 /CNW/ - The Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) is pleased to announce that Dr. Gail Cook-Bennett, former Chair of the Boards of Manulife Financial and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, has been appointed Chair-Elect of the Board of ICD. Dr. Cook-Bennett joined ICD's Board in 2009 and serves on the Governance and Human Resources Committee.

Current Board Chair, Donna Soble Kaufman, will step down from her role at the Annual General Meeting on October 29, 2014, following ten years of dedicated service to the ICD Board, four of which were spent as Chair.

"Donna has led the board of directors at a very important period in its evolution, guided by her deep experience as a corporate, Crown and not-for-profit director," said Dr. Cook-Bennett. "The Board and Management are most grateful for her many contributions to the organization, particularly as Board Chair for the last four years."

Dr. Cook-Bennett added: "I look forward to working with our directors and CEO, Stan Magidson as the ICD fosters excellence in governance in order to improve corporate and organizational performance."

Background Information

Dr. Gail Cook-Bennett, CM, PhD, F.ICD
Gail Cook-Bennett has served on many corporate, Crown and not-for-profit boards over the last 36 years. She is the immediate Past Chair of the Board of Manulife (2008 to 2013) and was the first Chair of the Board of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board from 1998 to 2008. Currently, she serves on the Government of Canada Audit Committee, Bridgepoint Active Healthcare Board of Directors, and the Salvation Army National Advisory Board. She is a Member of the Order of Canada. She holds Doctor of Laws degrees (honoris causa) from Carleton University and York University and was honoured as a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Directors in 2000.

Visit www.icd.ca/governance for a full list of the ICD Board of Directors.

About The Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD)
The Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) is the definitive 'go-to' resource and voice for Canada's directors and boards in the for-profit, not-for-profit and Crown sectors.  As the national community for directors, the ICD is a not-for-profit, member-based association with more than 8,800 members and a network of 11 chapters across Canada. Representing the interests of directors, the ICD fosters the sharing of knowledge and wisdom through education, professional development programs and services, and thought leadership and advocacy to achieve the highest standard of directorship. For more information, please visit: www.icd.ca.

Image with caption: "Dr. Gail Cook-Bennett, Chair-Elect, Institute of Corporate Directors (CNW Group/Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141001_C1343_PHOTO_EN_6193.jpg

SOURCE: Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD)

Media Contacts: Maliha Aqeel, Director, Communications, Tel: [phone], ext. 229, Email: [email protected]