Incoming Power Brokers: five of the city’s biggest institutions crown new rulers

MERIC GERTLER, 58
Replaced U of T president David Naylor, November 2013 That U of T has hired an urban geographer as its next leader shows the school is looking to play a bigger role in the life of Toronto. Gertler, the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences since 2008, is an expert on the economics of cities who has advised the European Union and the OECD.

BHARAT MASRANI, 57
Replacing TD Bank CEO Ed Clark, November 2014 Clark tapped Masrani as his successor more than a decade ago. Since then, the most international of Canadian bank CEOs (he was born in Uganda, educated in England and Canada, and has worked in Europe and the U.S.) has risen steadily through TD’s ranks, and most recently spearheaded its massive growth south of the border.

HEATHER CONWAY, 51
Replacing Kirstine Stewart as CBC’s executive VP of English-language services, December 2013 Conway is a slick political operator who has worked at Edelman Public Relations, TD Bank, Alliance Atlantis and, most recently, as chief business officer at the AGO. Hers is a rare skill set: buttoned-down strategic thinking with an artistic bent.

MICHAEL APKON, 53
Replacing SickKids CEO Mary-Jo Haddad, January 2014 The successful, decade-long reign of Nurse Haddad comes to an end next month, when Apkon, an anesthesiologist and Yale MBA holder, takes over. Apkon was most recently the chief medical officer at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, one of North America’s best pediatric institutions.

Photographs: Laurence courtesy of Vodafone; Gertler courtesy of University of Toronto; Masrani courtesy of TD; Conway courtesy of CBC; Apkon courtesy of SickKids