Finance

Laurentian Bank Crisis Elevates New CEO Provost After Chaotic Weekend

  • ‘It might not be the ideal walk into the job,’ he says
  • Sudden exit may be tied to failed strategic review: KBW
Eric Provost, chief executive officer of Laurentian Bank of Canada, during an interview in Montreal.Photographer: Graham Hughes/Bloomberg
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The leadership change at Laurentian Bank of Canada was so abrupt that the new chief executive officer, Eric Provost, only found out over the weekend that he would be taking over. By Monday morning, even the chairman who made that phone call was gone.

Laurentian announced Monday that Provost is replacing Rania Llewellyn immediately, a rare sudden leadership switch by a Canadian bank. Less than three weeks ago, Provost had been given an expanded role leading personal and commercial banking. The promotion to CEO came as a complete surprise, he said.