{"id":45441,"date":"2017-06-22T17:16:25","date_gmt":"2017-06-22T21:16:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=45441"},"modified":"2017-06-23T09:01:17","modified_gmt":"2017-06-23T13:01:17","slug":"comerford-comes-aboard-as-new-chair-of-the-board","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2017\/06\/comerford-comes-aboard-as-new-chair-of-the-board\/","title":{"rendered":"Comerford comes aboard as new Chair of the Board"},"content":{"rendered":"

International management and financial specialist Gary Comerford was confirmed as the Chair of Brock University\u2019s Board of Trustees during the board\u2019s annual meeting on June 22.<\/p>\n

Comerford begins a two-year term in succession of John Suk, who had been Chair since 2014, seeing the University through a chapter characterized by campus growth and presidential change. Suk will now serve a one-year term as Immediate Past Chair before stepping down from the Board.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been a privilege to serve as Chair these past three years,\u201d said Suk. \u201cAs we turn it over to Gary, Brock is in a strong position academically, financially and with excellent leadership. I only see very positive developments for Brock and Niagara as we move ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom Traves, the University\u2019s Interim President for the past nine months, praised Suk’s leadership qualities.<\/p>\n

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Gary Comerford<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cBeing the board chair is a very demanding job, and John\u2019s service has been outstanding,\u201d said Traves. \u201cHe has been supportive and wise in his counsel, and I see why people across Niagara respect him so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Comerford is a Niagara native who has worked around the world and now divides his time between Oakville and Niagara-on-the-Lake. In the 1970s he was a lecturer at Brock, and was elected to the Board in 2014. This past year he chaired the Advisory Committee on the President, which oversaw the recruitment and hiring of Gervan Fearon, who will take office as Brock\u2019s next president on Aug. 1.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a Niagara native, I am honoured to be given this role,\u201d said Comerford. \u201cJohn and my other predecessors worked hard with the Brock community, getting the University to where it is today. There\u2019s opportunity in front of us, and good people to work with. It\u2019s an exciting time to be at Brock.\u201d<\/p>\n

Comerford has an honours BA in History and an MBA from the University of Western Ontario, as well as Institute of Corporate Directors certification from the Rotman School of Management at University of Toronto.<\/p>\n

Currently the CEO of Comerford Management Consultants, his career has included appointments as Vice-President of Marketing for Canada Permanent Trust, and Senior Vice-President (International) for Sun Life of Canada. He served as Sun Life\u2019s general manager for India, and is past president of the Canada India Business Council. He is also a\u00a0past chair of the Shaw Festival Board.<\/p>\n

The Board\u2019s Governance\/Nominating Committee also approved other nominations:<\/p>\n