Richard Leblanc is a dynamic speaker who has been called upon by the media to give his views on board and individual director effectiveness across all sectors and industries. In demand by corporations and associations across Canada and beyond, Professor Leblanc uses his extensive knowledge and research in governance to assist corporations and individuals alike in understanding and anticipating best corporate governance practices. He has studied the boards and interviewed directors of Fortune 500 companies, as well as training regulators and directors from Central and South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Far East.
Dr Leblanc’s corporate governance findings have been of interest to boards of directors, individual directors, shareholders, governments, regulators, the media and professional advisors to boards (law, accounting, consulting and recruiting). His research and expertise extend across the following areas:
Board effectiveness, including structure, membership, process and tasks;
Director effectiveness, including independence, competence, attributes and tasks;
Women on boards and diversity;
Board governance across all sectors (publicly traded, state-owned, not-for-profit, private, member associations, hospitals) and industries;
Director education and orientation;
Roles and responsibilities of the board (fiduciary, strategic, oversight and governance);
Best committee practices (Audit, Compensation, Nominating/Governance);
Shareholder accountability and corporate governance disclosure;
Strategic planning and risk oversight by the board;
Board succession planning;
Director professionalism, including qualifications, responsibilities and compensation practices;
Ethics and corporate compliance oversight by the board; and
Board, committee and director assessments.
For more information on Dr Leblanc’s public appearances, please click here.
Please click here for printer-friendly select media releases.
Wealth Creation for Business Owners Tactics for building a cohesive, long term strategy
From The Globe and Mail Events: Families of significant wealth have unique needs that are best served with a holistic approach. Building a customized plan for these challenges can account for family dynamics and help mitigate risk. Join The Globe and Mail for a webcast looking at how multi-generational family-owned businesses can build strategies that preserve, scale and manage family wealth while simultaneously growing the family business.
Governance expert on the intersections of control failure and CEO succession planning
Richard Leblanc, professor of governance, law and ethics at York University, joins BNN Bloomberg to comment on TD's current situation and some governance considerations for the board of directors.
9 privately run ServiceOntario outlets moving to Staples stores, province says
Professor Leblanc comments on sole-source procurement by the Ontario government.
BNN Bloomberg: Lessons Learned From Manulife And Loblaws Cancelled Deal
Richard Leblanc, professor of governance, law and ethics at York University, joins BNN Bloomberg to talk about Manulife and Loblaw retracting a deal that was branded anti-competitive.
BNN Bloomberg: When you combine regulation and growth, governance missteps happen
Richard Leblanc, professor of governance, law and ethics at York University, joins BNN Bloomberg to talk about the evolving situation at OpenAI. He goes over some of the lesson learned from Sam Altman's ouster and reinstatement, as well as some considerations for crafting the new board.
Canadian regulators need to catch up, protect investors in these dangerous companies: Professor
Richard Leblanc, professor of governance of Law and Ethics at York University, joins BNN Bloomberg to discuss the arrest of FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried and governance of decentralized exchanges.
CHCH News – Hockey Canada passes new by-laws
Hockey Canada has passed by-laws based on recommendations from a former Supreme Court Justice. Jason Gaidola explains.
CBC News – Hockey Canada to implement bylaw changes following scandal
Hockey Canada and its members voted unanimously to bring in bylaw changes meant to improve how the organization selects a new board of directors as part of efforts to repair its broken reputation.
BNN The Street: We're learning crisis management lessons from the massive Rogers outage
Richard Leblanc, professor of Governance, Law and Ethics at York University, joins BNN Bloomberg and says companies like Rogers have to anticipate a crisis before it happens and make sure the CEO is camera ready.
BNN The Open — It will be hard for minority shareholders to push back Shopify's Founder Share
Richard Leblanc, professor of Governance, Law & Ethics at York University, joins BNN Bloomberg to discuss Shopify's "founder share" proposal, which means Tobi Lutke would receive voting power for as long as he is at the firm. Leblanc mentions that this move could give Lutke a "free pass" on the competition.
CBC The National - Rogers CEO says maintenance update responsible for Canada-wide outage
Rogers says a 'network system failure following a maintenance update' is responsible for a major, Canada-wide outage that left millions without internet or cell service.
BNN The Open: There’s an empirical relationship between share ownership and effective governance
Richard Leblanc, law and ethics professor at York University, joins BNN Bloomberg and says that when board members have direct ownership in shares, it gives investors confidence in the company. He says that boards act better when there is an alignment with shareholders and the directors have 'skin in the game’.
BNN Bloomberg Markets: If a company has any exposure in Russia, a board meeting should be held
Richard Leblanc, professor of governance, law and ethics at York University, joins BNN Bloomberg to discuss the current state of company involvement in Russia. He says, "the notion that we’re going to wait this out and have a second foot in is problematic. There are risks to reputation, brand, employee morale and safety. It’s important for boards to get actionable intelligence on geopolitical risk."
Wiley Society Executive Seminar - Serving on a Non-Profit Board
Watch as Dr. Leblanc covers various aspects of serving on a non-profit board.
GRMA - Board Governance Expert, Dr. Richard Leblanc - Positioning Yourself for NED Board Positions
One of the most consistently requested topics in the GRMA C-Suite Member Community is what we will cover today: How to Position Yourself to Secure a Non-Executive Board of Directors position. Our featured speaker for this session is Dr. Richard LeBlanc, Board Governance expert and author of the book, The Handbook of Board Governance.
CMC Ontario - Governance For Management Consultants
What does it take to consult or serve on a board, and to be effective once you are asked to serve? It may be easier than you think! Learn more from Governance expert, Dr Richard Leblanc, FCMC, CMC-AF in this What's Up Wednesday session, hosted by CMC-Ontario, that's overflowing with great advice.
BNN: The Street - Boards are conducting exit surveys and regular outreach to employees; 2022 trends
Richard Leblanc, professor of governance, law and ethics at York University, joins BNN Bloomberg to discuss the challenges ahead of corporate board members amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He notes top of mind concerns are employee well-being, cybersecurity and ESG.
CBC Newsroom - Rogers fiasco fallout
Richard Leblanc, a professor of governance, law and ethics at York University in Toronto, says the saga of the fight for control at Rogers shows why corporate governance issues don't get the attention they deserve, and why the rules need an overhaul.
BNN The Open - Dysfunctional board 'kryptonite' in Rogers' CEO search: Governance expert
Edward Rogers has gotten his way at the company that bears his name, replacing CEO Joe Natale with Tony Staffieri on an interim basis. For more on this and why he thinks a dysfunctional board could be "kryptonite" in Rogers external CEO search, BNN Bloomberg spoke with Richard Leblanc, professor of governance, law and ethics at York University.
CBC Newsroom - B.C. Supreme Court is considering Edward Rogers case to overhaul company board
Dr. Leblanc speaks with CBC News Network concerning the aftermath of the BC Supreme Court decision involving Rogers Communications.
CBC Newsroom - B.C. Supreme Court is considering Edward Rogers case to overhaul company board
Dr. Leblanc speaks with CBC News Network concerning the aftermath of the BC Supreme Court decision involving Rogers Communications.
BNN The Close - Edward Rogers has the upper hand in this court case: Lawyer
Michael Binetti, partner at Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP alongside Richard Leblanc, professor of governance, law and ethics at York University join BNN Bloomberg to provide their insights ahead of the court verdict for Rogers Communications which will determine who will lead the company.
BNN The Close - Corporate governance in Canada needs some work: Professor
Michael Binetti, partner at Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP, alongside Richard Leblanc, professor of governance, law and ethics at York University provide their insights ahead of the court verdict for Rogers Communications which will determine who will lead the company.
CTV Your Morning - Rogers family legal battle reaches B.C. Supreme Court
Professor of Law at York University, Richard LeBlanc takes a closer look at the arguments each family member has and its merits.
BNN The Open - The facts are not on Ed Rogers side: Governance professor
Richard Leblanc, professor of governance, law and ethics at York University, joins BNN Bloomberg to discuss the latest Rogers Communications governance fallout. He notes Ed Rogers has launched his arguments on technicalities, and despite today’s court hearing, the outcome will be appealed.
Financial Post - Can Edward Rogers replace the board?
Richard LeBlanc Professor of Governance, Law & Ethics York University talks with Financial Post's Larysa Harapyn about whether Edward Rogers can replace the board at Rogers Communications.
CTV News - Judge Reinstates Edward Rogers as chair of Rogers Communications
Fight to control telecom giant gets messier as Edward Rogers reinstated as chair of Rogers Communications.
CBC News: The National - Edward Rogers's takeover attempt publicly condemned by mother, sister
The Rogers family's corporate civil war escalated over the weekend, with Edward Rogers fighting for control of the board as his mother and a sister condemn his actions publicly.
Global National - Rogers’ family feud spotlights dual-class share structures
As the family feud within Rogers continues, the business world is growing concerned. As Anne Gaviola explains, the telecom giant's corporate drama is spooking investors, depressing stocks, and potentially threatening a big business deal with Shaw.
Global News - Rogers family feud: Why Toronto's mayor is under fire
Toronto Mayor John Tory is facing questions this week after some of the attention in the Rogers family feud shifted to him, given his position as a long-standing advisory member of the family trust that controls the company.
CTV News - Family infighting over who is in charge of Rogers Communication continues
Family leadership dispute continues for Rogers Communications.
City News - Rift at Rogers deepens as two boards claim control
A family power struggle at Rogers Communications has entered uncharted territory as two boards claim control. Caryn Ceolin with why experts say the situation is unprecedented in Canadian corporate governance history.
CTV National News - Family feud at Rogers Communications gets more heated
Dr. Leblanc weights in on the Rogers Communications internal leadership dispute and family infighting.
CTV Your Morning - Battle for control of Rogers heading to court in B.C.
After being ousted as chairman, Edwards Rogers was reinstated by a new board and aims to have the decision verified.
CBC News The National - Rogers Communications plagued with leadership dispute and family infighting
Telecom giant Rogers Communications has been thrown into turmoil over an internal leadership dispute between members of the Rogers family itself. All this while the company tries to finalize a massive $26 billion deal to take over Shaw Communications.
BNN The Open - Edward Rogers acting as 'activist investor', likely will be able to remove the five directors: Governance professor
BNN Bloomberg speaks with Richard Leblanc, professor of governance, Law and Ethics at York University, talks about the power that Edward Rogers has, given his control of 97% of voting shares, and what makes him unlike an average chair of the board.
CBC News - Hundreds of complaints filed about misused wage subsidy funds
CBC News has learned the federal government has gotten hundreds of complaints from Canadians about companies misusing the money from the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.
BNN Bloomberg - We need a Pay Czar in Canada: Governance expert on Air Canada bonuses
Air Canada has bowed to the uproar over bonuses. The airline says its CEO and executive vice-presidents are giving up the payouts that were disclosed in a filing last week and sparked a public relations nightmare for a company that secured a multi-billion-dollar federal backstop. Richard Leblanc, professor of governance at York University, joins BNN Bloomberg to weigh in.
BNN Bloomberg - Vaccines are a public good, 'you can't jump queue': Ethics professor
Richard Leblanc, professor of governance, law and ethics at York University, says CPPIB did the right thing in accepting Mark Machin's resignation this morning. He said the biggest lesson this leaves for other companies is that high-ranking officials should fully disclose details of their travel to the entire board so that an informed decision can be made on whether or not travel is granted.
Office Hours - Evolving Board Issues
Guest Richard Leblanc, the editor The Handbook of Board Governance: A Comprehensive Guide for Public, Private, and Not-for-Profit Board Members 2nd Edition will discuss the challenges faced by boards in a Covid world.
CBC News Network - Prime Minister, WE Charity, and a conflict of interest
Richard Leblanc talks about conflicts of interest by the Prime Minister of Canada amid the WE Charity scandal
BNN: Bloomberg: Government involvement in company boards will be onerous Governance expert
Governance expert and professor at York University Richard Leblanc says aggressive interest rates and government politics should give large companies some pause when considering applying for the new LEEFF bridge loan program.
BNN: TMX CEO Lou Eccleston to retire
Richard Leblanc, professor at York University, joins BNN Bloomberg’s Jon Erlichman to discuss the news that TMX CEO Lou Eccleston will be retiring.
BNN: Entire pot sector getting a pass on their governance: Leblanc on CannTrust board concerns
In a letter obtained by BNN Bloomberg, Peter Aceto, former CannTrust CEO, voiced his concerns on the company's corporate governance practices. Richard Leblanc, professor at York University, says the company shows major governance issues.
BNN – Corporate governance concerns mount at HBC after closed-door meeting
There are corporate governance concerns swirling around HBC as the company's executive chair spearheads a go-private bid. For more on this, BNN Bloomberg spoke with Richard Leblanc professor at York University.
BNN – Corporate governance issues at SNC in focus as scandal grows
Questions are surfacing about SNC-Lavalin's corporate governance and disclosure practices as the scandal surrounding the company continues to grow. Richard Leblanc, professor at York University joins BNN Bloomberg to discuss.
CBC News – SNC-Lavalin affair: Deferred prosecution agreement still on the table
CBC News update on the status of the deferred prosecution agreement that’s at the centre of the SNC-Lavalin affair, featuring Dr. Richard Leblanc.
ACCA: Tenets Of Good Corporate Governance - Webinar
Leading governance expert Richard Leblanc and Jo Iwasaki of ACCA discuss themes and issues that commonly recur across the debate on corporate governance.
BNN – Outlook for Hydro One's new board of directors
Richard Leblanc, professor at York University, joins BNN Bloomberg to react to the newest board members of Hydro One. He says it's a much better board consisting of directors who appear have been chosen for merit rather than political reasons.
Hydro One needs directors with on-the-ground utility expertise: Corporate governance expert
Richard LeBlanc, corporate governance expert and a professor at York University, joins BNN Bloomberg to discuss the resignation of Hydro One's CEO and entire board of directors at the hands of new Ontario Premier Doug Ford. LeBlanc says the end result "is very good for ratepayers" and discusses the challenges Ford faces in reshaping the company's leadership.
CBC News Toronto: Hydro One Board Compensation
Listen to Dr. Leblanc's take on recently announced Hydro One board compensation—just before the provincial election.
Corporate governance expert: Wynn Resorts may need to rebrand
Richard LeBlanc, corporate governance professor at York University joins BNN to provide perspective on the Steve Wynn misconduct claims, what could be next for Wynn Resorts, and the company board's role in all of this.
BNN – Corporate governance expert says Loblaw's 'brand will recover' from price-fixing scandal
Richard LeBlanc, corporate governance expert at York University joins BNN to weigh-in on Loblaw's response to its price-fixing scandal as registration for $25 vouchers opens today.
BNN - If things get worse for Morneau, Trudeau should cut him loose: Corporate governance expert
Richard Leblanc, professor of corporate governance at York University, joins BNN to provide perspective on the ongoing duel between the Liberal government and the Tories over ethics-related controversies facing Finance Minister Bill Morneau. Now the Conservatives are calling for his resignation.
Uber’s New CEO Should be an Outsider: Corporate Governance Expert
Richard Leblanc, professor of corporate governance at York University joins BNN to dig into the Uber management debacle, and where the company goes from here.
Inside America's Boardrooms: Will your town at the bottom impact shareholder value?
To tackle this important topic, we’re joined by Dr. Richard Leblanc (professor, lawyer, governance expert, and author of the recently released The Handbook of Board Governance).
Bombardier governance concerns: CBC Business News
Richard LeBlanc, associate professor of governance law and ethics at York University, on Bombardier's dual-class share structure.
BNN: 'A material conflict' if HOOPP is behind Home Capital credit: professor
Bloomberg is reporting the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan is behind Home Capital's line of credit. The CEO of HOOPP is also a Home Capital shareholder and on the board. York University professor Richard Leblanc tells BNN, if the news is true, this presents a clear and material conflict of interest.
BNN: 'A material conflict' if HOOPP is behind Home Capital credit: professor
Bloomberg is reporting the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan is behind Home Capital's line of credit. The CEO of HOOPP is also a Home Capital shareholder and on the board. York University professor Richard Leblanc tells BNN, if the news is true, this presents a clear and material conflict of interest.
Valeant CEO paid $63M in 2016 while stock plunged
Valeant CEO Joseph Papa took home US$62.7 million in 2016 as the stock dropped, providing an 85-per-cent negative return for shareholders. York University professor of corporate governance, Richard Leblanc joins BNN to discuss executive compensation.
CTV NEWS:Your Morning – Why are the big five Canadian banks being investigated?
A federal investigation is being launched into business practices of the big five Canadian banks. York University's Richard LeBlanc explains.
CBC NEWS:Canadian 'dummy' corporate directors: tools for tax avoidance
Watch Dr. Leblanc discuss how Canada's rules permit figurehead directors.
Dr Leblanc on The Conference Board: Governance Watch webcast
Watch Dr. Leblanc discuss his new book, the Handbook of Board Governance.
BNN - ‘These guys got nailed’
Richard Leblanc, talks about Former Valeant, Phildor execs arrested on fraud, conspiracy charges.
BNN - TD board's most important responsibility is CEO succession
Richard Leblanc, associate professor of law, governance and ethics at York University joins us to discuss what TD Bank and TD Ameritrade's acquisition of Scottrade may signal regarding potential succession plans at the bank.
Inside America’s Boardrooms: Key Steps to Building an Effective Board
Richard Leblanc is put on the hot seat to discuss key steps to creating a great board—and how investors can know how effective their board really is.
BNN Pay Check: Canada's Top-Paid CEOs
The numbers are in. Richard LeBlanc, Associate Professor, York University, joins BNN to stoke the executive compensation debate with the annual ranking of Canada's highest-paid CEOs.
CBC Exchange: Proxy Access
Watch Dr. Leblanc talk about Proxy Access for boards and how it could be a corporate governance game-changer.
CBC News: Networking CEOs a Tight Club
York University’s Richard LeBlanc on the tight networks of friends on corporate boards.
CBC Exchange: SNC-Lavalin Faces Charges
Law professor Richard Leblanc on the governance dilemma over corruption.
BNN CEO Pay Under Scrutiny — Corporate Canada
Richard Leblanc, Associate Professor, Law, Governance and Ethics, York University joins BNN to offer insight on corporate Canada's CEO debate.
McCuistion: Board Diversity
Watch Richard Leblanc discuss the importance of board diversity and how a diverse board can be beneficial to a company.
BNN - The Confidence to Invest Special
Watch Richard Leblanc on BNN provide insights on the world of investing and markets as key investment locations.
BNN: The Price We Pay: Executive Compensation Special (Pt. 1)
Watch Richard Leblanc on BNN talk about executive compensation. This is part 1. Part 2, 3, and 4 are in the related videos section.
BNN - Stronach's Sky High Pay Days Numbered at Magna
Watch Richard Leblanc on BNN talk about Stronach's consultancy fee at Magna.
U of T Rotman School of Management: CANCON 2014 - Introduction to Corporate Governance
Watch Dr. Leblanc present an Introduction to Corporate Governance at CANCON 2014. Link has video and slideshow.
Alberta Prime Time: The Sunshine List
Watch Dr. Leblanc discuss Alberta's recently released sunshine list that reveals the salaries of all public employes earning over $100,000/yr.
McCuistion: What Good Board Members do to Help Organizations Succeed
Watch Dr. Leblanc appear on McCuistion for a talk on the current state of Boards and what strategies can be used to make them successful.
BNN: Telus Debate: What is Best for Shareholders?
Watch Dr. Leblanc appear on BNN's August 29th episode all about the Telus shareholder debate.
Building Your Board Up and Keeping it Strong
Part of the Nonprofit Risk Management Conference. It talks about recruiting, developing and assessing the right directors for your board.
Directors Source Webinar Series
Webinar to 1,800 directors on not for profit governance, including recruitment, development, assessment, questions and answers.
Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA)
Keynote presentation on a model of board effectiveness, including structure, membership, process and tasks.
Witness for the Board of Directors Gender Parity Act
Board of Directors Gender Parity Act (S-206) at the Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce.
BNN: Jamie Dimon’s future at JPMorgan
Watch Dr. Leblanc on BNN with Allan Small as they talk about the recent vote to keep Jamie Dimon at JPMorgan.
How to Create Effective Nonprofit Boards: The Necessity of Governance and Leadership
Presentation given through the University of Texas at Dallas, (IECG) Institute for Excellence in Corporate Governance.
CTV Lang & O’Leary Exchange: CPP Strike - What to do with the Board
Television interview on the CPP Strike and the board’s structure change. (Richard appears at the 6:30 mark).
50 Nuggets in 60 Minutes: Excerpt from Conference Speech
Spoke on fifty Corporate Governance related points in a one hour session.
Canadian Society of Corporate Secretaries’ Annual Conference
Trends and Issues in Corporate Governance Since The Financial Crisis.
Hennick Centre for Business & Law: Women on Boards
Plenary discussion on strengthening diversity initiatives in the workplace and on boards of directors.
ROB TV’s SqueezePlay: Directors With Personality
Television interview on board leadership, industry knowledge, teamwork, the capacity to challenge and other attributes.
The Agenda with Steve Paikin: Keeping Ontario Accountable
Television panel discussion on governmental accountability, oversight, compliance and best practices.
