Canadian Corporate Counsel Association

Geoffrey Creighton of Toronto named Chair of Canadian Corporate Counsel Association for 2011-2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASAE - August 15, 2011

HALIFAX – Geoffrey D. Creighton of Toronto has been named Chair of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (CCCA) for 2011-2012, a post he takes over from current Chair Robert Patzelt, Q.C., of Halifax, on Aug. 13.

Mr. Creighton is senior vice-president, general counsel and secretary and chief compliance officer at IGM Financial Inc. He is responsible for overseeing the legal, compliance, and corporate secretarial functions of Mackenzie Financial, Investors Group and Investment Planning Counsel.

“This is an exciting time for CCCA as we embark on new initiatives and expand our advocacy for in-house counsel,” says Mr. Creighton. “I am delighted to take up the position of chair in what is clearly a time of growth of the in-house counsel bar across the profession.”

Called to the bar in 1982, Mr. Creighton has been a member of the CCCA since its inception in 1988. Most recently, he has served as vice-chair of CCCA. In his three decades of volunteer involvement, he has served as chair of the National CBA Membership Committee; as CCCA representative on the Finance Committee of the CBA; participated in various regulatory submissions, including the CBA Business Law Section response to proposed insider trading amendments; and, most recently, the joint CCCA/CBA submission to the SEC on implementation of the Dodd-Frank Legislation in the United States.

“Throughout my career, I have always enjoyed the ability of CCCA to serve our members, while also providing an opportunity for our members to serve the in-house community. While serving on committees, I have also seen firsthand the combined synergies of the CCCA and CBA and the many benefits they bring to each other,” says Geoff Creighton.

He is also a knowledgeable speaker on corporate counsel matters, chairing and speaking on panels at both CCCA and CBA events. In addition, he has been active on committees of the Ontario Bar Association and for twenty years was Ontario Editor of the Canadian Bar Review.

Prior to joining IGM in 2008, Mr. Creighton was a senior corporate partner with Torys LLP. He is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario (B.A.) and the University of Toronto (LL.B.).

He takes over from Robert Patzelt during the CCCA Annual Conference in Halifax, Aug. 14-16. Mr. Patzelt has served as interim chair since January. The new CCCA Vice-Chair is Grant Borbridge, of Calgary, Executive Vice-President, Investments and Chief Counsel of Emergo Group of Companies.

The CCCA Annual Conference takes place at the Halifax World Trade and Convention Centre and Marriott Halifax Harbourfront Hotel, Aug. 14-16. Sessions are open to accredited media. Accreditation may be obtained by contacting Hannah Bernstein.

The Media Centre is located in Suite 201 at the World Trade and Convention Centre, with the Communications Office located in the Show Office on the second level of the World Trade and Convention Centre. Both will be open from Friday, Aug. 12 at noon until Tuesday, Aug. 16 at noon.

- 30 -