Ontario has nominated George L. Cooke as the new Chair of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).

Mr. Cooke has decades of senior leadership experience, including more than 20 years as President and CEO of The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company. He is also Chair of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System Administration Corporation and the Canadian National Insurance Crime Services. In January 2015, Mr. Cooke was appointed as a member of Ontario's advisory committee reviewing the mandates of The Financial Services Commission of Ontario, The Financial Services Tribunal and The Deposit Insurance Corporation of Ontario.

His work on major boards and organizations supporting periods of transformative change has provided Mr. Cooke with the skills, experience and perspective to support the OLG as it continues to implement its modernization plan over the next three years.

The government thanks Phil Olsson, the outgoing OLG Chair, for his years of service. Mr. Olsson played a key role in helping to put the horse racing sector on a stable and sustainable track and has positioned the OLG to continue with the modernization of its operations.

“Mr. Cooke is a seasoned and accomplished business leader. His experience and success make him the perfect candidate to lead OLG, including our government’s approach to horse racing, through a period of significant transformation and growth,” said Minister of Finance Charles Sousa. “Modernization is a significant business transformation for OLG, and having the right leadership in place will be critical to successfully see this initiative through.”

“I am honoured to be nominated as the next Chair of OLG,” Cooke said. “I am looking forward to building on the great work already accomplished by OLG, moving forward on its transformational modernization plan and continuing to deliver strong financial returns to the province.”

(OLG)