News Releases

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 29, 2012) - BMO Capital Markets, the investment and corporate banking arm of BMO Financial Group (NYSE:BMO)(TSX:BMO), today announced that Charles J. (C.J.) Gavsie has been appointed Head, Foreign Exchange Products. In this role, Mr. Gavsie will have responsibility for BMO's global foreign exchange sales and trading activity, which encompasses nearly 100 professionals in 9 cities in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and China. Mr. Gavsie will report to Pat Cronin, Global Head of Trading Products. He will also become a member of the BMO Capital Markets Executive Committee. Mr. Gavsie's appointment is effective March 31.

"C.J. brings a unique combination of deep industry knowledge and exceptional client relationship skills," said Tom Milroy, CEO, BMO Capital Markets. "In addition, he has played a key role in expanding our foreign exchange capabilities outside of North America."

Mr. Gavsie started with BMO Capital Markets in 1996. After a brief period with competitor firms in both Canada and the United States, he returned to BMO in 2005 as Head of Canadian FX Sales and later added China FX Sales to his responsibilities. Mr. Gavsie has overseen the foreign exchange needs of the corporate, institutional and mid-cap client base of BMO Capital Markets' Canadian investment & corporate banking business as well as BMO Financial Group's Canadian Personal & Commercial banking division, including the alignment of advisory services on hedging and investment strategies. In addition, he has managed business development opportunities with BMO Capital Markets in Canada and China.

"Foreign exchange is an area that requires excellence in client service backed up by very strong technology capability and trading expertise," said Mr. Cronin. "C.J.'s mandate is to harness all of these and expand our footprint as the number one platform for the Canadian dollar globally."

Mr. Gavsie holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Ottawa.

About BMO Capital Markets

BMO Capital Markets is a leading, full-service North American financial services provider, offering a complete range of investment and corporate banking products and services to corporate, institutional and government clients. The firm has 2,300 employees operating in 30 offices worldwide, including 17 in North America. BMO Capital Markets is part of BMO Financial Group (NYSE:BMO)(TSX:BMO), one of the largest diversified financial services providers in North America with C$538 billion total assets and more than 47,000 employees as at January 31, 2012.