While many countries face mounting challenges in funding retirement for their citizens, Canada’s approach has drawn global attention for its resilience and results. Join Canadian Club Toronto on September 29 when John Graham, President & CEO of CPP Investments, will reflect on the factors that have shaped the CPP Fund’s growth, long-term stability and success.
From its origins to its role in today’s economy, Graham will offer an inside look at how CPP Investments manages one of the world’s largest pension funds, and what drives its performance. He’ll also share his perspectives on navigating global markets, the importance of staying focused on the long term, and the challenges and opportunities ahead.
This candid conversation will provide a rare glimpse into how Canada’s national pension investment manager is positioning the Fund for the decades to come.
*For virtual attendees, please note that the live stream will begin at approximately 12:40 pm ET & the link will be provided closer to the event date*
John Graham
President & CEO, CPP Investments
John was appointed President & CEO of CPP Investments in February 2021. He is responsible for leading the organization on its critical mission: to help ensure a strong foundation of financial security in retirement for millions of Canadians. The CPP Fund has over C$714 billion in assets under management and is projected to reach C$3 trillion by 2050.
John’s experience at CPP Investments has spanned the globe, having worked in our Toronto, London and Hong Kong offices. In 2008, he joined the Total Portfolio Management group (now Total Fund Management) before transitioning to Private Investments. He went on to become Managing Director and Global Head of Principal Credit Investments in 2015 and was subsequently appointed Senior Managing Director & Global Head of Credit Investments in 2018. Under his leadership, Credit Investments has grown its exposure globally and developed expertise across the entire credit spectrum.
John champions the delivery of superior investment returns on behalf of generations of Canadians. He has been instrumental in shaping CPP Investments into an organization defined by growth, high performance and a spirit of collaboration. In addition to sitting at the helm of CPP Investments, John has served on the board of FCLTGlobal since 2021 and has been Chair since September 1, 2024. FCLTGlobal is a non-profit organization with a mission to focus capital on the long term to support a sustainable and prosperous economy. CPP Investments is the co-Founder of Focusing Capital on the Long Term, the joint initiative that led to the creation of FCLTGlobal in 2016.
John holds a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Western Ontario and an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. He is a CFA charter holder, is the inventor on 36 patents and has published 16 peer-reviewed journal articles. Before joining CPP Investments, he worked as a research scientist, spending nine years at Xerox Innovation Group in research and strategy roles. John also serves on the board of SickKids, Canada’s most research-intensive hospital and the largest centre dedicated to improving children’s health.
Rita Trichur
Senior Business Writer and Columnist, The Globe and Mail
Rita Trichur is an award-winning journalist. She is a Senior Business Writer and Columnist in the Report on Business. Her previous roles at The Globe and Mail include Senior Editor, Financial Services Editor, and Canadian business columnist for the Report on Business Magazine. Rita returned to Globe in July 2016 after spending about 2 ½ years as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal’s Canada bureau. She primarily covered domestic banks and insurance companies from Toronto, but also wrote a variety of other stories about Canada for the U.S. newspaper. Prior to WSJ, Rita spent more than three years at the Globe, initially working as a general assignment reporter in the Report on Business before covering the telecom beat. Rita has also covered financial services and economics for the Toronto Star, and has held various roles at the Canadian Press and the Ottawa Sun. She got her first byline at age 6 when the Toronto Star published her short story about a fish-stealing cat and paid her $10. Rita, who also speaks French, was born in Toronto. She has a Bachelor of Journalism and Political Science and a M.A. in Canadian Studies – both from Carleton University in Ottawa.
