Karl Tabbakh elected new Chair of Canadian Chamber of Commerce

(OTTAWA) – October 28, 2021 – Today, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce announced the election of Karl Tabbakh, the Regional Managing Partner for Québec and Co-Leader of International & Business Strategy for McCarthy Tétrault, as Chair of its board of directors for 2021-2022.

Mr. Tabbakh’s election brings to the Canadian Chamber a unique blend of business leadership and expertise in global professional services.

Mr. Tabbakh first joined the Canadian Chamber’s Board of Directors in 2017, and has served as the Chair of the Board Policy Committee between 2018 and 2020. A firm believer in the importance of diversity and inclusion for any business, he also serves as Chair of the Board of Directors Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion, which leverages the chamber network, membership and partners to make a unique and lasting contribution to promoting diversity and inclusion in Canada’s business community.

“We’re greatly looking forward to Karl’s term as Chair. Karl is one of the country’s foremost advisors to business leaders from all sectors and he embodies the entrepreneurial spirit that drives our members. His global experience,  his extensive network of relationships, and his proven track record in delivering innovative business solutions will be invaluable to the work of the chamber network and the Canadian business community,” said Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber.

As the Board’s Vice-Chair since October 2020 and an active member of the Executive Committee, Karl has also been a champion of the Canadian Chamber’s extensive expansion strategy, including ongoing activities to grow the Chamber’s capabilities, presence and team in the province of Quebec.

“The role that the Canadian Chamber of Commerce plays as champion and catalyst for business success is now more crucial than ever. As Canada focuses on post-pandemic recovery, we are entering an unprecedented era of change for business, both domestically and around the world. I believe the Canadian Chamber is uniquely positioned to play a pivotal role for a more prosperous, innovative and inclusive future for Canadian businesses and I look forward to working with the leadership of the Canadian Chamber, its Canada-wide network and the entire board on delivering our ambitious strategic plan,” said Mr. Tabbakh.

In addition to his leadership roles at McCarthy Tétrault, Karl is a trusted counsel to the country’s leading business figures on private equity, mergers and acquisitions, securities and capital markets transactions. Throughout his career,  Karl had led and participated in the negotiation and structuring of some of the most high profile and strategically critical transactions in Canada, the Middle East and globally.

A strong advocate of business associations, Mr. Tabbakh previously served as Chairman of the Canadian Business Council in Abu Dhabi when living in the United Arab Emirates  and is a director of the National Circus School in Montreal. He received his LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto, in 1997 after completing his BCL at the Université de Montréal in 1996. He also obtained a B.Comm. from Université Laval in Québec City.

Mr. Tabbakh was sworn in during the Canadian Chamber’s Annual General Meeting and Convention, which was held online on October 27 and October 28, 2021. He succeeds Mario Thériault, Chief Business Development Officer of LAC Group, who served as Chair for the 2020-2021 term.

About the Canadian Chamber of Commerce – Because Business Matters

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce helps build the businesses that support our families, our communities and our country. We do this by influencing government policy, by providing essential business services and by connecting businesses to information they can use, to opportunities for growth and to a network of local chambers, businesses, decision-makers and peers from across the country, in every sector of the economy and at all levels of government, as well as internationally. We are unapologetic in our support for business and the vital role it plays in building and sustaining our great nation.

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For more information, please contact:
Phil Taylor
ptaylor@chamber.ca