Dr. Cooper is Chief Economist of BMO Financial Group, a role that has been
broadened to include the combined responsibilities for economic forecasting and
analysis, as well as country- and industry-risk assessment for the bank’s
Risk Management Committee and for the Risk Review Committee of the Board of
Directors. Dr. Cooper presents her economic analysis to the Bank of Canada, as
well as consults with federal and provincial government officials regarding
budgets and policy.
Dr. Cooper maintains a highly visible presence in the major business
communities of the U.S. and Canada through presentations and frequent coverage
in print and broadcast media. She is a media spokesperson for the bank on
economic and financial issues, and travels extensively throughout Canada, the
U.S., Europe and Asia giving more than 100 speeches and presentations each
year—including numerous Q and A sessions across Canada with former Fed
Chairman, Alan Greenspan. She provides expert testimony to government bodies at
the federal and provincial levels and is well known for her multi-media
slideshows and her dynamic presentation style. She also writes and oversees
numerous daily, weekly and monthly publications.
Dr. Cooper makes regular appearances on CNBC, Bloomberg TV, Bloomberg Radio,
and Bloomberg News. She is often quoted in the print media including all of the
Canadian newspapers, as well as the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times,
Business Week and Investors Business Daily. Dr. Cooper has written three
best-selling books, The Cooper Files, published in 1999;
Ride the Wave, published in 2001. Her third book, released in
January 2008 is The New Retirement: How It Will Change Our
Future.
Professional Associations
Member, Economic Advisory Committee,
American Bankers’ Association, (2012-present)
Corporate Boards
Member, Board of Directors,
Driftwood Opportunity Fund G.P., (2010-present)
Previous Business Experience
Executive Vice President, Global Economic Strategist, BMO Financial Group
(2007-2010)
Chief Economist, BMO Nesbitt Burns and BMO Capital Markets (Since
1994)
Dr. Sherry Cooper directed a top-ranking economics team of 16 professionals
who provided analyses and forecasts of the global economy and financial markets
for the trading operations of the BMO Financial Group and its retail,
institutional, corporate and government clients.
Chief Economist and Director (1983 To 1994)
Vice Chair (1994)
Burns Fry Limited
Toronto, Ontario
Dr. Cooper led a group of 12 professionals who analyzed and forecasted
Canadian and U.S. economic and financial developments in a global context for
institutional and corporate clients and trading operations. She was a
consultant to corporate boards and foreign central banks, and regularly
testified before federal and provincial government bodies.
Dr. Cooper also provided forecasts for Security Pacific National Bank and
Bank of America (shareholders in Burns Fry) and their trading operations,
published several well-known economics reports and made more than 200 speeches
and presentations worldwide each year. She appeared regularly on television
news programs and was frequently quoted on radio and in Canadian and U.S.
business press.
In a parallel role, Dr. Cooper headed the development of fixed income
research and systems capabilities for Burns Fry’s bond and money market
operations globally.
Co-Head Global Fixed Income (1989 to 1993)
Burns Fry Limited
Toronto, Ontario
In addition to her responsibilities as Chief Economist, Dr. Cooper led all
fixed income sales and research operations worldwide. Operations reporting to
Sherry included the capital markets groups in London, New York, Toronto,
Montreal, Vancouver and Tokyo.
Director of Financial Economics (1982 to 1983)
Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae)
Washington, D.C.
During her time with FNMA, Dr. Cooper monitored and projected U.S. financial
market developments, Federal Reserve and Treasury operations, Federal budget
activities, and the monetary and credit aggregates. She prepared interest rate
forecasts for the Asset and Liability Committee and analyzed developments in
housing and capital markets.
Economist (1977 to 1982)
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Washington, D.C.
Dr. Cooper served more than five years at the Federal Reserve Board during
which time she did extensive research in the U.S. housing and mortgage markets,
monetary policy and regulatory policy regarding the savings and loan
associations and the banking system. She presented her analysis of money and
capital markets to the Board of Governors at regular weekly briefings.
During the credit control period of 1980, Dr. Cooper served as Special
Assistant to Chairman Paul Volcker, a business relationship she maintains
today. Mr. Volcker endorsed her second book, Ride the Wave.
Education
Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 1978
M.A., University of Pittsburgh, 1976
B.A., Goucher College (Baltimore, Md.), 1972
Bond Analysis and Portfolio Management Certificate, University of
Illinois, 1989
Advanced Leadership Program, Rotman School of Business, University of
Toronto, 2010.
Honours
In October 2010, Dr. Cooper was ranked the most accurate U.S.
forecaster for GDP, interest rates, inflation and unemployment for the
four-year period of 2006 to 2009—encompassing the housing bubble, the
financial crisis, recession and recovery—among the 50 contributors to the
Blue Chip Indicators publication. Paul Volcker, former Chairman of the Federal
Reserve, presented the award to Dr. Cooper. She has been consistently ranked
among the top Canadian economists in GDP and interest rate forecasting by
an independent U.S. surveyor of Canadian institutional accounts. In 2002, BMO
Nesbitt Burns Economics was ranked the number-one economics team on Bay Street.
Her other professional awards include second place for the Irving Fisher
Dissertation Prize of the American Economic Association in 1980, and the
Merit Award of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in
1978.
She has received numerous academic honours and scholarships, including the
Provost’s Graduate Scholarship (1974), the Mellon
Fellowship (1974), and Teaching Assistantships (1972-1974) at the
University of Pittsburgh where she maintained a 4.0 (out of 4.0) GPA. Other
academic citations included election to the Phi Beta Kappa National
Honour Society, Magna Cum Laude, and the Eleanor Voss Prize at
Goucher College in 1972 for graduating first in her class.
Awards
Woman of Distinction Award, YWCA of Toronto, 2011.
Lawrence R. Klein Award, most accurate forecast 2006-2009 among the
50 Blue Chip contributors (October 2010).
Golda Meir Leadership Award, State of Israel Bonds for outstanding
community leadership (May 2009).
Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women and was among the first
women to be inducted into their inaugural Hall of Fame in 2007.
U.S. Banker magazine, 25 Women to Watch, annual ranking of the 25 Most
Powerful Women in Banking (October 2006).
Women’s Executive Network Top 100, Canada (Since its inception
in 2004).
Top 100 Women Hall of Fame (2007)
Bloomberg News Award for the Top GDP Forecaster (2002).
National Post’s 3rd Most Influential Woman in Canada
(2002).
Top 50 Power Women, National Post (2001- 2003).
Most Highly Quoted Economist in Canada (1994-2002), Cormex
Research counting broadcast and print media hits.
John Molson School of Business, Concordia University (Montreal,
Quebec)—Award of Distinction (2001) in recognition of her outstanding
contribution to the world of business and to the community.
Publications
The New Retirement: How One Generation Will Redefine It,
(Toronto: Penguin Publishers, January 2008).
Ride the Wave—Taking Control in the Acceleration Age
(Toronto: Financial Times Prentice Hall, 2002)
The Cooper Files (Toronto: Key Porter Publishing, 1999).
National Post, bi-weekly column (1999-2005).
Introduction to International Trade and Finance, with Dr.
Norman C. Miller (Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Press, 1974).
Numerous publications in scholarly journals, BMO Economics Reports and
mass media.
Community Activities
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Foundation, Chair of the
Foundation, during its $470 million Capital Campaign (September 2008 to
September 2010). Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee (2006-2008). On the
Board for 8 years and Executive Committee for 4 years.
Ontario Advisory Council for Investment and Trade, Provincial
Appointee to the newly formed senior-executive council to advise the Premier
and the Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Chaired by Ernie Eves
(March 2007-2009).
Science Without Borders (Science sans Frontières), Board of
Directors, raises money to support the International Consortium on Drug
Development (ICAV), which develops and delivers anti-viral drugs for neglected
and emerging infectious viral diseases, (2007-present).
American Chamber of Commerce in Canada, Advisory Board,
(2003-2007).
Israel Bond Canada, Board of Directors, (2004-present).
Temple Sinai Foundation, Chair, Investment Committee,
(2006-2008).
Canadian Ditchley Foundation, Board of Directors, (2001-present).
The Fraser Institute, Board of Trustees, (1999-present).
INNET, Founding Member and Chair of Executive Committee,
(1990-2007)—networking group of 70 women at the top of their fields in
business, government, and the arts.
Mt. St. Vincent University, President’s Advisory Council of
Women Business Leaders, Halifax (2001).
BCNI (now the Canadian Council of Chief Executives), Advisory Board
Member, (2000).
Bishop Strachan School, Board of Directors, (1992-1995).
Leo Baeck School, Board of Directors, (1987-1988).
Temple Sinai Congregation, Board of Directors, Executive Committee
(1987-1996).
Personal Interests
Fitness, Health, Weight Training and Aerobics
Dual Citizen: U.S. and Canada
Married to Peter J. Cooper
Son, Stefan Atkinson, born 1980
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