McMaster grad takes on top job at Canada Pension Plan Investment Board

You could say that this McMaster grad holds our future in his hands.

As the president and CEO of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), John Graham is the caretaker of Canadians’ financial futures. And it’s a job he does not take lightly.

“We are here to contribute to and to support Canadians at the time of retirement, which can be one of the most vulnerable times for a person,” Graham says. “We are here to help Canadians enjoy financial security at that phase of their life.”

Going into business was not in Graham’s original game plan when he graduated from Mac in 1994 with a degree in chemistry.

Five years later, after receiving his PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Western Ontario, Graham found a job that would eventually help situated him at the intersection of science and business.

“I took a job at the Xerox Research Centre of Canada and was able to work on the more technical applications of science,” he says.

“I loved science and I loved what I was doing. But I also found that I loved being in the corporate world as well.”

The combination of working on the industrial applications of science during his PhD and being exposed to business strategy and approaches at Xerox piqued his interest. He eventually pursued an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

“The MBA also allowed me to see things beyond science,” he says. “Shifting from science to business may seem like a jarring transition, but it never felt that way for me. It all felt very gradual and somewhat logical.”

When he was offered his first job at CPP Investments, he describes sitting in a Vietnamese restaurant in Etobicoke with his wife, Melissa, methodically weighing his options.

It was Melissa who suggested he “just go for it,” or he would regret not taking the chance.

“The story I tell my team is that I went through the interview process and met with a lot of really dedicated people and what I could see in the organization was that it had unbelievable potential,” Graham says.

“I was excited to have the opportunity to get in on the ground floor and work for an organization that has such an amazing purpose.”

Foundations for success started in Woodstock Hall

Asked about his time at Mac, Graham pauses and smiles fondly.

“I actually met my wife at Mac. I met some of my best friends there. It really was a great place,” he says.

“It was where I met and developed some long-lasting friendships and relationships that are going on 30 years.”

The lessons learned and knowledge gained at Mac continue to be valuable assets in his current position, Graham says.

“I learned a lot of technical skills in my program that are still very transferable — finance is very data-driven,” he says.

“I came from a very different background than many of my peers. And certainly, at times, I almost felt as if I didn’t have the same pedigree … but you realize after a while that you bring something different to the table and that is part of the value proposition that you bring.”

That unique combination of his experience, knowledge, and education is an asset as he takes on the leadership role at Canada’s largest pension fund, Graham says.

“CPP Investments is one of the greatest Canadian success stories. We truly are a global investment organization and having the opportunity to lead it is something I am honoured to do,” he says.

“I take great pride that this organization is viewed as one of the leading institutional investors in the world.”

When it comes to words of advice for new grads and students, Graham says the key to success is being open and willing to grow your skills and knowledge.

“Be intellectually curious and adopt a learning mindset and keep that with you through your career,” he says. “Always think about increasing your marketability and the breadth of your skillset.

“Have a growth mindset: Think about how you want to continue to grow and grow as a professional.”