News Releases

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 10, 2012) - After a distinguished 30-year career at BMO Financial Group, Dr. Sherry Cooper, Executive Vice-President and Chief Economist, has decided to retire from the Bank, effective January 30, 2013.

An award-winning economist and best-selling author, Dr. Cooper has led BMO's respected team of economists since 2006.

"Sherry has built a reputation throughout North America for her straight-forward, engaging style. She brings clarity to the complexity of global economics and finance – insights that have been invaluable to BMO and its clients, providing consistently accurate forecasts and timely analysis," said Bill Downe, President and Chief Executive, BMO Financial Group. "During her very successful career at BMO, she has brought great credit to her team and the bank. We look forward to working closely with Sherry as she embarks on this new stage."

"I would like to thank my colleagues at BMO for their incredible support over the years," said Dr. Cooper. "I leave BMO with great memories and knowing the team will continue to be leaders in economic research."

Dr. Cooper is in constant demand as a speaker – inside and outside the Bank – because of her ability to simplify and de-mystify economics and finance. She is a member of the Economic Advisory Committee of the American Bankers Association, a highly respected group of 12 bank economists who are regularly called upon by the Federal Reserve Board, the U.S. Congress and the administration to provide perspectives on the U.S. and global economies. In 2010, Dr. Cooper received the Lawrence Klein Award for U.S. forecasting accuracy, beating out a panel of 50 economists. Dr. Cooper's third book – The New Retirement: How It Will Change Our Future – was published in 2008, and became a blockbuster bestseller.

Dr. Cooper began her career in Washington, D.C., where she spent five years with the Federal Reserve Board, later joining the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) as Director of Financial Economics. She moved to Canada in 1983 to become Chief Economist of Burns Fry, one of the largest independent brokerage houses in the country. Dr. Cooper has an M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh.

About BMO Financial Group

Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is a highly diversified North American financial services organization. With total assets of $525 billion as at October 31, 2012, and more than 46,000 employees, BMO Financial Group provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions.