News Release

MINNEAPOLIS (April 1, 2014) – John Taft, CEO, RBC Wealth Management-U.S. is featured as a champion of diversity and inclusion in the CEO Leadership in Action issue of Profiles in Diversity Journal.

 “John consistently, and with great commitment, applies his voice, visibility and influence to lead positive change within the industry, our business and the community.,” said George Lewis, Group Head, RBC Wealth Management and RBC Insurance. “His stewardship helps to create a culture where employees want to work and clients want to do business.”

Taft is one of 33 CEOs singled out for being a champion of diversity and inclusion. According to the publication, “(These CEOs) see the advancement of diversity as a truly personal, but ultimately company-wide mission. And they embrace diversity and inclusion, not just because they believe doing so is a competitive advantage, but also because they know it is the right thing to do.”

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 2014 Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index and recognition as one of the “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality.” In 2010, Taft was named the Outstanding Corporate Diversity Leader by the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

Taft is CEO of RBC Wealth Management-U.S., the seventh largest full-service retail brokerage firm. He is the author of Stewardship: Lessons Learned from the Lost Culture of Wall Street, a book that explores the importance of stewardship as a core principle. Investment Advisor magazine named Taft to its 2013 IA 25 list of the most influential people in the financial industry and he was included on the 2014 list of Top 100 Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business by Trust Across America. Additionally, he was recently named as a “Leading Individual” by the Family Wealth Report.

Profiles in Diversity Journal is a bimonthly magazine focusing on diversity and inclusion in business, government, nonprofit, higher education and the military. The focus of the Journal is on senior leadership, best practices, workforce diversity strategies and recognition of employee contribution. Read John’s profile and see the Profiles in Diversity Journal website for all of the CEOs featured.

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-U.S. has more than $260 billion of assets under administration and nearly 2,000 financial advisors operating in 190 locations in 42 states.

RBC Wealth Management-U.S. is part of RBC Wealth Management, which is one of the world’s top 10 largest wealth managers*. RBC Wealth Management directly serves affluent, high-net-worth and ultra-high net worth clients in Canada, the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia with a full suite of banking, investment, trust and other wealth management solutions. The business also provides asset management products and services directly and through RBC and third party distributors to institutional and individual clients, through its RBC Global Asset Management business (which includes BlueBay Asset Management). RBC Wealth Management has more than C$675 billion of assets under administration, more than C$411 billion of assets under management and over 4,400 financial consultants, advisors, private bankers, and trust officers. For more information, please visit rbcwealthmanagement.com.

*Scorpio Partnership Global Private Banking KPI Benchmark 2013. In the United States, securities are offered through RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada. Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.

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

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