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Toronto businessman Joseph Rotman to chair Canada Council

09.08.2008 21:02 Arts - Source: cbc.ca

Canadian business mogul Joseph L. Rotman is set to take on the Canadian arts world after being named the new chair of the Canada Council for the Arts.

Heritage Minister Jose Verner announced the appointment of the entrepreneur, philanthropist and merchant banker on Wednesday.

"I am positive that his wealth of experience and dedication to the arts will greatly benefit the organization," Verner said in statement.

The Toronto-born Rotman's background includes a career as an oil trader and experience establishing a host of companies, including merchant bank Clairvest Group. The 73-year-old businessman's name is also often tied to the University of Toronto, one of his alma maters, which re-christened its management school in his honour.

He has also served in leadership roles or on the boards of many groups and corporations, including the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Rotman, who was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada in 1995, previously served as president of the AGO, president of its board of trustees as well as other board positions.

Rotman will replace former prima ballerina and National Ballet of Canada artistic director Karen Kain, who announced her resignation in March in order to devote more time to running the Toronto-based dance company.

Kain, who was appointed in 2004, oversaw the council's 50th anniversary celebrations last year as well as the development of a new strategic plan for the national arts funding body. She also saw the federal government increase its contribution to the council by $30 million annually.

As chair, Rotman's duties will include presiding over the Canada Council board as well as managing its relations with the federal government.

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