William Arthur Downe

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Banking & Finance, Business, CEO

© BMO CEO Bill Downe on millennial leadership, BMOCommunity
William Arthur Downe is a former executive in the Canadian banking industry. Most of his career was spent at the Bank of Montreal (BMO), where he held several senior executive positions for 34 years. During his tenure at BMO, he greatly contributed to strengthening its position as one of North America’s leading financial institutions, with a strong focus on customer experience, operational discipline, and cross-border growth in the United States.

William Downe is well-known for guiding the bank through the global financial crisis of 2007-2008, and the ensuing credit crunch in the years that followed, while maintaining that institution’s fiscal stability and long-term growth.

Early life

William Downe was born in Montreal, Quebec, in 1952. His exact birth date is not publicly disclosed.

William’s early life primarily focused on education and professional development. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wilfrid Laurier University before completing a Master of Business Administration at the University of Toronto. He was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity while in school.

William’s academic background set the stage for a career focused on leadership and finance.

Career

Downe joined the Bank of Montreal (BMO) in 1983 and was steadily promoted into greater leadership roles over the following two decades. His early career included positions in Canadian and American operations, giving him solid exposure to the major North American banking markets.

In 1999, he was appointed Vice-Chairman of BMO. He subsequently served as Deputy Chairman of BMO Financial Group and as Chief Executive Officer of BMO Nesbitt Burns. In 2006, Downe was named Chief Operating Officer of BMO Financial Group, where he managed enterprise-wide operations and strategy.

He became President and Chief Executive Officer of BMO Financial Group in 2007, leading the bank through a period of significant and tumultuous change in global banking. His leadership emphasized risk management, improving the customer experience, and disciplined expansion of the bank’s presence in the United States.

Beyond BMO, Downe has served on various international advisory councils, corporate boards, and nonprofit entities.

Net Worth

William Downe’s net worth is not publicly disclosed.

Achievement

Receiving the Rotman Distinguished Business Alumni Award in 2003, as presented by the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

Leading BMO Financial Group as President and Chief Executive Officer for a decade, and guiding BMO through the global financial crisis while maintaining institutional stability.

Chairing the 2009 Campaign Cabinet for United Way of Greater Toronto.

Expanding BMO’s U.S. banking operations and strengthening its North American footprint during his CEO tenure.

Serving as the only Canadian member of the International Business Leaders Advisory Council of the Mayor of Beijing.

Advising Peking University as a member of the International Advisory Council of the Guanghua School of Management.

Participating in Catalyst as a director and as a member of its Canadian Board of Advisors.

Overseeing governance as Chair of the Board of Directors of St. Michael’s Hospital.

Supporting academic and healthcare initiatives as a member of the Rotman School of Management Campaign Cabinet and the Board of St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation.

Participating as a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and serving as Past President of the Federal Reserve Board’s Federal Advisory Council.

Receiving the Rotman Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto in recognition of his leadership and contributions to business and community in 2017.