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David Simmonds, Lifeco’s Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer recognized with BBPA Harry Jerome Leadership Award


Winnipeg, MB, May 2, 2022
. . . Great-West Lifeco is pleased to congratulate David Simmonds, the company’s Global Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer, for being awarded the 2022 Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) Harry Jerome Leadership Award.

“The Harry Jerome Awards are an important recognition of the many contributions being made by Black Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast. A valued colleague and member of our executive leadership team, David’s voice and contributions are helping us continue our focus both on business acceleration and our work on building an inclusive workplace that works better for everyone” said Paul Mahon, President and CEO, Great-West Lifeco and Canada Life.

David is recognized in the category of Leadership for his achievements both at work, and as a passionate volunteer.

Throughout his career, David has been a champion of accelerating diverse talent and driving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a business priority. Since joining Great-West Lifeco in the spring of 2021, David has played a critical role in developing, designing and executing the company’s first enterprise-wide environmental, governance and social (ESG) strategy and framework. He also oversees communications, external affairs, media relations, reputational risk management, ESG and corporate social responsibility.

“I am honoured to be the recipient of the 2022 BBPA Harry Jerome Leadership Award,” said Simmonds. “While I am proud of my work to advance DEI throughout my career, I know there is more work to be done to break down systemic barriers that remain in our society. I look forward to working with my colleagues at Lifeco and with allied organizations like the BBPA to continue breaking down these barriers as we move forward.”

Outside of work, David is a recognized community leader. This includes his previous role as President of Western University’s Alumni Association, President of the Canadian Club of Toronto, and a member of Western University’s Board of Governors. David also served as a member of the Ontario Government’s External Implementation Advisory Committee on efforts to combat Anti-Black Racism. In 2015, he was recognized as one of the Top 100 Black Canadians by the Diversity Advancement Network. In addition to these accomplishments, he also serves his community as Chair of the Communications and Marketing Committee at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

The BBPA Harry Jerome Awards is a prestigious celebration of achievement in the Black community. It showcases, recognizes, and honours excellence within the African-Canadian community and acknowledges African-Canadian professionals who have had a widespread, positive effect on Canadian society.

About Great-West Lifeco Inc.

Great-West Lifeco is an international financial services holding company with interests in life insurance, health insurance, retirement and investment services, asset management and reinsurance businesses. We operate in Canada, the United States and Europe under the brands Canada Life, Empower, Putnam Investments, and Irish Life. At the end of 2021, our companies had approximately 28,000 employees, 215,000 advisor relationships, and thousands of distribution partners – all serving over 33 million customer relationships across these regions. Great-West Lifeco trades on the Toronto (TSX) Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GWO and is a member of the Power Corporation group of companies.

For more information:

Media Relations
Liz Kulyk
204-391-8515
media.relations@canadalife.com

Investor Relations
Deirdre Neary
647-328-2134
deirdre.neary@canadalife.com