The Queen’s Board of Trustees has appointed alumnus David Court (Com’79) as its next chairperson. Court, a Senior Partner Emeritus with McKinsey & Company, and current trustee at Queen’s, will assume the role on June 1, 2024, for a term of four years. 

The board’s Governance and Nominating Committee recommended him for the role after a careful review and selection process. The full board approved his nomination at its recent meeting on March 9, 2024. He will succeed current chair, Mary Wilson Trider, who will conclude her four-year term as chair on May 31, 2024. 

“David’s extensive experience and dedication have been invaluable to the Board of Trustees and its work,” says Patrice Walch-Watson, who led the committee’s review. “We’re confident that his experience and demonstrated leadership make him the right choice for this important role at this time.” 

Court joined the Board of Trustees in 2020 and has since served as both Vice-Chair and Chair of its Finance, Assets, and Strategic Infrastructure Committee. He is also former chair of the Smith School of Business Advisory Board. 

Court graduated from Queen’s with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1979, after which he obtained a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. He joined McKinsey & Company in 1983. During his long career with McKinsey, Court founded and led the company’s global advanced analytics and marketing/sales practices. He has worked with business leaders across North and South America, Europe, and Asia on digital transformation of major corporations. He retired from the company in 2016. 

“I’m honoured to have been chosen for the role of Chair of Queen’s Board of Trustees,” says Court. “Queen’s holds a special, enduring place in my life, first as an alum and more recently in my current capacity as a trustee. I look forward to taking on this added leadership responsibility and am eager to support the university in its mission to deliver research excellence and an exceptional education to its students.” 

His governance leadership experience also includes current and past board positions with Canadian Tire Corporation, Brookfield Business Partners, Public Service Pension Investment Board, National Geographic Partners, Women’s College Hospital, and Plan Canada, among others. 

“David brings a depth of experience and spirit of innovation to his role as Queen’s next board chair,” says Patrick Deane, Principal and Vice-Chancellor. “I look forward to working closely with him and our board colleagues as we navigate our way through this period of change, with our focus fixed squarely on creating an even brighter future for our university in the years ahead.” 

Learn more about the role of the Board of Trustees on the University Secretariat’s website.