On Thursday, February 20, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario announced that Jean Major will be retiring from his roles as Registrar and Chief Executive Officer by the end of August 2020.

Lalit Aggarwal, Chair of the AGCO Board of Directors, announced the news. The contents of Aggarwal’s announcement appear below.

Jean Major to retire as Registrar and CEO of the AGCO

Tom Mungham will take on roles by end of August

With mixed emotions, I inform you today that after 35 years of public service and 16 years at the helm of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), Jean Major will be retiring from his roles as Registrar and Chief Executive Officer by the end of August 2020.

Since 2004, Jean has been leading the AGCO on a deliberate modernization journey that has benefited every sector regulated by this organization. Under Jean’s leadership, the AGCO completely revolutionized its approach to regulation. It moved from a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, in which all had to follow the same set of rigid rules, to a model where stricter conditions are only applied to areas of higher risk and where licensees have flexibility to choose how they will meet their regulatory obligations. Jean also established a culture of burden reduction, industry collaboration and customer service that are now driving principles behind all the AGCO’s work. This has all been accomplished while ensuring the regulator remained a strong defender of the public interest and a responsible steward of both public and industry funds. We all owe Jean a great debt of gratitude for his exceptional years of service as Registrar and CEO. On behalf of the AGCO’s Board of Directors, staff and the Ministry of the Attorney General, I would like to extend our deep appreciation to Jean and wish him all the very best for this next, well-earned chapter.

The passing of the baton is always a solemn time but also an opportunity to rededicate and re-energize an organization under new leadership. While the captain may be changing, the ship sails boldly on towards its destination.

I’m therefore delighted to announce that the AGCO’s Board of Directors has chosen Tom Mungham to be Jean’s successor. Many of you will already know Tom well. As Chief Operating Officer, Tom has been an invaluable member of the AGCO’s C-Suite for the last 14 years and one of the primary architects behind the AGCO’s transformation as a modern regulator. His inspired service and people-focused leadership has earned him the confidence and respect of stakeholders, the Board, and staff alike. Before joining the AGCO in 2006, Tom held numerous roles in government including 11 years with the Ontario Provincial Police as Business and Financial Services Bureau Commander and Education and Development Services Bureau Commander. We are exceptionally fortunate to have Tom continue the remarkable legacy established by Jean and are looking forward to him placing his own principled and indelible stamp on the roles of Registrar and CEO. In order to ensure a smooth and seamless transition, Tom will officially take on his new leadership role by the end of August 2020.

Changes in organizational leadership are both inevitable and an opportunity for renewal. Under Tom’s leadership, the AGCO will boldly move forward with its ambitious objectives, which include modernizing all aspects of its regulation, reducing regulatory burden, enhancing service to customers and citizens, and remaining a responsible employer that attracts and retains the highest caliber talent.

As Chair of the Board of Directors, you have my commitment that although the AGCO’s leadership may be changing, its dedication to government policy, to citizens and to the sectors we serve will not. I’m sure you will all join me in thanking Jean for his outstanding tenure at the AGCO and wishing Tom every success when he steps into his new role later this year. We look forward to our continued collaboration with you through this transition and beyond.

Lalit Aggarwal

Chair, AGCO Board of Directors