News Release

John Taft Receives Business Leader Award From Project 515 
RBC Wealth Management-U.S. CEO recognized for his commitment to diversity

MINNEAPOLIS (June 16, 2013) – John Taft, CEO, RBC Wealth Management-U.S., was recognized with a Business Leader Award from Project 515 for being a strong voice and advocate for diversity in the Minneapolis business community. Project 515 is a Minneapolis nonprofit organization with the mission to ensure that same sex couples and their families have equal rights and considerations under Minnesota law.

In 2012, Taft joined other Minnesota business leaders in the fight against the state’s proposed amendment that would have rewritten the constitution to say that marriage is only between a man and a woman. When put to a vote in November, Minnesotans voted “no.”

“The defeat of the Minnesota Marriage Amendment confirms that the state’s progressive, welcoming and inclusive culture— the brand promise of Minnesota —is still alive and well. This is good news for the long-term competitiveness of our business community,” said Taft. “I’m proud of the role I was able to play in making that happen.”

Under Taft’s leadership, RBC Wealth Management-U.S. has advanced diversity policies and benefits, modified the non-discrimination policy to include gender identity and gender expression, and added transgender medical benefits as well as benefits for employees’ same and opposite sex domestic partners. As a result of these efforts, the firm achieved its third 100 percent rating on the 2013 Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index and recognition as one of the “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality.”

Taft is executive sponsor of the company’s Gay, Lesbian, Allied and Diverse Employees (GLADE) Resource Group. In 2010, he was named the Outstanding Corporate Diversity Leader by the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

About RBC Wealth Management – U.S.
In the United States, RBC Wealth Management operates as a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC. Founded in 1909, RBC Capital Markets, LLC. is a member of the New York Stock Exchange, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, and other major securities exchanges. RBC Wealth Management has more than $250 billion of assets under administration and nearly 2,000 financial advisors operating in 200 locations in 42 states. Recently RBC Wealth Management was ranked “Highest in Investor Satisfaction With Full Service Brokerage Firms” in the J.D. Power & Associates 2013 Full Service Investor Satisfaction Study^SM. For more information, visit jdpower.com.

For more information please contact:
Ann Wasik, RBC Wealth Management, 612-313-1275, ann.wasik@rbc.com 

Important disclosure information about Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and RBC Capital Markets, LLC