Ellen M. Costello
May 2013 Honorary Degree Recipient
Doctor of Laws (honoris causa)
Ms. Costello is chief executive officer of BMO Financial Corp. (formerly Harris Financial Corp.) and U.S. country head of BMO Financial Group.
Ms. Costello, who holds an MBA from Â鶹´«Ã½, has shared her leadership and business acumen with BMO since 1983. Her roles have included serving as regional treasurer in Asia; executive vice-president of the Global Treasury Group; head of BMO Capital Markets, New York; and group head for Personal and Commercial Banking U.S., and president and CEO of Harris Financial Corp. in Chicago.
In addition to her accomplishments in the boardroom and her mentorship of colleagues, Ms. Costello has made great contributions to her community through her involvement with such organizations as United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, After School Matters, and Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
In addition to her repeat listing as one of the 25 most powerful women in banking by American Banker, honours Ms. Costello has received include an Outstanding Leader Award from the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago and a Distinguished Alumna of the Year Award from St. Francis Xavier University. Ms. Costello was recently presented with the prestigious Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Daniel H. Burnham Award for Distinguished Leadership.