Interac Corp. held its second Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on March 3, 2020, with a program that included management reporting on corporate performance and achievements in the past year; a vision of the future from President & CEO Mark O’Connell; recognition for the outgoing Chair of the Board, Michael E. Roach; and an engaging fireside chat between Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri and Interac’s Chief Legal Officer, Ombudsman and Corporate Secretary, Kikelomo O. Lawal.
“Since we became a single unified corporate entity in 2018, demonstrating and communicating the value of Interac to our shareholders has been a top priority. At our 2020 AGM, I believe we continued on the trend of providing detailed reporting, a view of our strategic pillars for the coming year and inspiring words from an exciting guest speaker.” The program was well received by attendees who came from across Canada. A segment of the employee base also had the opportunity to attend or watch the proceedings via livestream. “Once the official business was done, we were all treated to an enjoyable, free flowing fireside chat between Kikelomo and Masai. So much of what Masai Ujiri embodies reflects the ethos of Interac as a corporate entity, and the winning culture we strive to encourage among our employees”, said O’Connell.
Interac also used the AGM as an occasion to thank its inaugural Chair of the Board, Michael E. Roach and announce that in recognition of Mr. Roach’s exemplary leadership, a scholarship has been established in his name at his alma mater, Laurentian University. The perpetual scholarship will provide financial assistance to a full-time undergraduate student who receives the highest final grade in the Foundations of Community Leadership course.
Michael is a seasoned senior executive and Board member who has held a series of leadership positions with various industry leaders and global champions. He was named the Most Innovative CEO of the Year by the Canadian Business magazine in 2014 and is a member of the National Advisory Board of Canada’s Outstanding CEO of the Year. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science, as well as an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from Laurentian University.
The breadth and depth of his experience in the technology industry and Canadian boardrooms elevated Interac’s Board of Directors and under his leadership, Interac adopted policies and measures similar to those at publicly traded companies. “Michael is a combination of grace and gravitas. These first two years have been a period of monumental transition and change for us, with everything from a new governance regime to new funding models. Michael set the Board on a more strategic path and lent both his experience and his business acumen. Interac has benefited from his standard of excellence, insightful perspectives and wealth of knowledge”, said Chief Legal Officer, Ombudsman and Corporate Secretary, Kikelomo Lawal.
