News Release

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Feb. 23, 2015) – John G. Taft, CEO of RBC Wealth Management – U.S., has been recognized as one of 2015's Top 100 Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business by Trust Across America-Trust Around the World (TAA-TWA). This recognition was given to the top 100 global leaders who are making extensive and positive contributions to building trust in organizations globally. This is the second year in a row Taft has received this honor.

This year's recipients again hail from around the globe and include leaders from the public and private sectors as well as authors, consultants, researchers and academics. According to TAA-TWA, “each honoree has made an extensive and positive contribution to building trust in organizations.” 

“As our understanding of trust deepens, so does our pool of exceptional candidates. Many of the honorees are well-known CEOs and leadership experts, while others are quietly working behind the scenes as teachers and researchers,” said Barbara Kimmel, executive director, Trust Across America - Trust Around the World. “We intend to shine the spotlight on both groups, to redirect the focus from the ‘scandal of the day’ to the trustworthy leaders and organizations of the day,” she added.

Taft has been very active in the financial services industry, striving to enact changes to improve the reputation of the industry. As both a CEO of a financial firm and as former chair of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, Taft has advocated for regulatory changes that will re-build trust and confidence in the industry and shape a financial system that better serves society.

Taft is the author of two books. His first book, Stewardship: Lessons Learned from the Lost Culture of Wall Street, published in 2012, looked back at the financial crisis and called on the industry to return to its stewardship principles. The book explores the importance of stewardship as a core principle — for Taft personally; for the financial services industry; for the global financial system; and for society. His latest book, A Force for Good: How Enlightened Finance Can Restore Faith in Capitalism, looks forward and offers innovative ideas on how the financial system can to evolve to help secure a better future for everyone.

Additionally, he has shared his insights nationally with many top news outlets, authoring articles that appeared in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Barron’s, Business Insider and Forbes. Taft also writes thought-provoking blogs as one of a select list of industry leaders who are part of the prestigious LinkedIn Influencer program.

Taft has been honored recently by other organizations, including Investment Advisor magazine who named him to its 2013 IA 25 list of the most influential people in the financial industry, and in 2014 was named as a “Leading Individual” by the Family Wealth Report

Trust Across America-Trust Around the World is a program of Next Decade, Inc., an award-winning communications firm that has been unraveling and simplifying complex subjects for over 20 years. TAA-TAW provides a framework for organizations to improve trustworthy practices, as well as showcasing individuals and organizations that are exhibiting high levels of trust and integrity.

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 $281 billion of assets under administration and nearly 1,900 financial advisors operating in 200 locations in 41 states.

Media Contact:
Jonell Lundquist, RBC Wealth Management:
612-371-2239 or jonell.lundquist@rbc.com

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