John E. Cleghorn is the former Chairman, CEO, and director of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), retiring in 2001 after a distinguished career in Canadian banking. He has served on numerous corporate and community boards, including Molson Coors Brewing Company, and currently holds the titles of Director Emeritus of the Atlantic Salmon Federation, Chancellor Emeritus of Wilfrid Laurier University, and Governor Emeritus of McGill University.

Born in Montreal in July 1941, Mr. Cleghorn earned a B.Comm. from McGill University in 1962 and became a Chartered Accountant in 1964. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario. He is also a Companion of the Canadian Business Hall of Fame, a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, an Officer of YMCA Canada’s Fellowship of Honour, and a recipient of the Honourary Associate Award from The Conference Board of Canada. He holds honourary degrees from Acadia, Bishop’s, McGill, and Wilfrid Laurier Universities.