Bell Canada mourns the loss of former BCE Chair Thomas C. O'Neill

MONTRÉAL, April 3, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - The Bell team was saddened to learn today of the death of former BCE Inc. and Bell Canada Chair Thomas Charles O'Neill. A renowned and well-liked leader in corporate Canada, Mr. O'Neill guided Bell's resurgence as Canada's #1 communications company during his tenure as Chair from 2009 to 2016.

"The loss of Tom O'Neill will be felt across the Canadian business community and particularly here at Bell where he played such an important role as our preceding Chair," said Gordon Nixon, Chair of BCE Inc. and Bell Canada. "Tom's insight in the boardroom was matched by his dedication to the community, and he will be very much missed as a leader of outstanding personal and professional calibre."

"Tom successfully guided Bell through a time of unprecedented change and opportunity, and we thank him for his wisdom, integrity and passion for doing business right," said Mirko Bibic, Chief Executive Officer and President of BCE and Bell Canada. "On behalf of everyone at Bell, I offer Tom's family and many, many friends our most sincere sympathy."

"Tom's steadfast commitment to good governance and corporate responsibility combined with his warm and affable personality made him stand out as a Bay Street leader who was both astute and approachable," said George Cope, who retired as Bell's President and CEO in January. "Tom was a mentor and inspiration to me and to countless others, and I extend my deepest condolences to his family and to all those fortunate enough to have known him."

Mr. O'Neill retired from the BCE Board in April 2016 after serving as a Director from 2003 and as Chair from 2009. Widely esteemed for his corporate governance leadership, Mr. O'Neill formerly served as CEO and Chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting and retired as Chair of Scotiabank in 2019.

Key to the launch of the Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative in 2010, Mr. O'Neill also received special recognition from Catalyst Canada for his role in advancing the careers of women leaders in Canadian business. He was a former Chair of St. Michael's Hospital, a member of the Advisory Board of Queen's University School of Business and a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Directors. Mr. O'Neill received the ICAO Award of Outstanding Merit and a range of other corporate governance honours in his time as BCE Chair.

About BCE
BCE is Canada's largest communications company, providing Bell advanced broadband wireless, TV, Internet and business communications services alongside Canada's premier content creation and media assets from Bell Media. To learn more, please visit BCE.ca or Bell.ca.

The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

Media inquiries:

Vanessa Damha           
514-870-6663
[email protected]

SOURCE Bell Canada