BMO's former general counsel Simon Fish is appointed as advisory board member at Alexa Translations

Alexa Translations has announced the appointment of Simon Fish as a member of the board of advisors. As special advisor to the chief executive officer of BMO Financial Group, Fish is an accomplished executive with three decades of international experience at global companies.

Fish joined BMO in 2008 as executive vice president and general counsel. In January 2021, he moved to his current role in which he spearheads the development of the bank’s sustainability and climate change strategy and advises the bank on environmental, social and governance matters and matters involving external disclosure and engagement.

Fish has served as general counsel at Vale and Royal Dutch Shell; as a corporate and securities lawyer at Dechert LLP; as a board member of SSR Mining Inc., where he was chairperson of the nominating and governance committee and a member of the compensation committee; as director of the Environmental Law and Policy Centre, a Chicago-based environmental advocacy think-tank; and as director of the Canadian Centre for Ethics and Corporate Policy.

His areas of experience include complex regulatory environments, sustainability strategy, climate-related financial risk, reputational risk, multi-jurisdictional compliance issues, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, securities and transaction structuring in the financial services, mining, energy and other industries.

“He brings a breadth of knowledge and experience that aligns perfectly with our corporate strategic objectives,” said Gary Kalaci, chief executive officer of Alexa Translations.

“I look forward to bringing my experience in the legal, financial and resources sectors to the board,” said Fish.

Fish has been distinguished as one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers of 2014 by Canadian Lawyer, as Canada’s General Counsel of the Year, as one of the individuals in Legal 500’s GC PowerList and as a Catalyst Canada Honours Champion for his efforts to promote the role of women in the workplace.

Fish earned degrees from the University of Cape Town, from the Washington College of Law and from Harvard Business School.