The Laurentian University Board of Governors has elected a “pro tempore” chair to lead the board until June 2022.
The board will be chaired by Jeff Bangs on an interim basis until a new board chair is selected for a full term, which would begin at the end of June.
This after 11 members of Laurentian’s board of governors stepped down last month and another five were appointed by the province (including Bangs) as one of the provisions of a provincial bailout package of the insolvent university.
Among those who stepped down last month were the chair of Laurentian’s board, Claude Lacroix.
“This announcement marks another step in Laurentian University's continued commitment to an accelerated process of Board renewal,” said a press release from Laurentian.
According to information put out by Laurentian, Bangs, who is a partner with Pathway Group and is originally from Mattawa, “specializes in public sector decision making, public policy advocacy, public relations, stakeholder relations, and organizational change.
“With nearly 30 years of experience in government and politics, he has a deep understanding of government and its impact on society,” said the biography.
From December 2020 until his appointment to Laurentian’s Board of Governors in December, 2021, Jeff served as a government relations advisor to Laurentian University through his firm Pathway Group.
A biography of Bangs on Pathway Group’s website said he has served as the principal secretary to the Premier of Ontario, the chief of staff to the minister of Finance and the executive director and campaign manager for the Ontario PC Party.
He has also been chief of staff to ministers at the Ministry of Natural Resources; the Ministry of Northern Development & Mines; the Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing; and the Ministry of Education.
It also goes on to say he played an oversight and coordinating role in the introduction of Ontario’s Budget 2000 and managed the leadership selection process for the Ontario PC Party in 2002.
Bangs is a public representative on CPA Ontario's Public Accounting Licensing Board and is a regular guest lecturer in the Seneca College post-grad government relations certificate program.
The board of governors will hold their next meeting in February 2022.
