4
Scott Thomson
President and Chief Executive Officer
Scotiabank
Banking & Financial ServicesFounded 1832- HQ today: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: November 2026
Leadership History
Scotiabank: CEO History
4 leaders · Full leadership timeline
Who is the CEO of Scotiabank?
Scott Thomson is the CEO of Scotiabank.
- Current CEO
- Scott Thomson
- Leaders documented
- 5
- Founded
- 1832
| Name | Role | From | To | Years in role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Thomson | President and Chief Executive Officer | — | Present | — |
| Aris Bogdaneris | Group Head, Canadian Banking | — | Present | — |
| Francisco Aristeguieta | Group Head, International Banking | — | Present | — |
| Brian J. Porter | Former President & CEO (2013-2023) | — | Present | — |
Company Overview
Established in 1832 by Halifax merchants to support maritime trade, Scotiabank grew into a national and international banking institution. Headquartered at Scotia Plaza in Toronto, the bank employs approximately 88,000 professionals and serves over 25 million customers across the Americas and globally.
Scotiabank operates across four core business lines: Canadian Banking (40% of revenues), International Banking primarily in Mexico and Latin America (29%), Global Banking and Markets (17%), and Global Wealth Management (14%). It earns spread income on residential mortgages, commercial loans, and corporate lines, alongside fee income from wealth management, foreign exchange, and advisory services.
3
Aris Bogdaneris
Group Head, Canadian Banking
2
Francisco Aristeguieta
Group Head, International Banking
1
Brian J. Porter
Former President & CEO (2013-2023)
Other senior executives
These officers report to the chief executive and are not part of the CEO timeline above.
- Raj Viswanathan, Group Head & Chief Financial Officer
Challenges & Strategic Context
Scotiabank manages geopolitical and currency volatility across its legacy South American retail portfolios (Chile, Peru, Colombia), domestic Canadian residential mortgage renewal pressures amid elevated interest rates, and loan loss provisioning.
Scotiabank CEO and Leadership FAQ
Who is the current President and CEO of Scotiabank?
Scott Thomson has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Scotiabank since February 2023, previously serving on the Board of Directors and leading Finning International as CEO.
What was Scott Thomson's major strategic change upon becoming CEO?
Thomson conducted a comprehensive business review, announcing a shift in capital allocation away from South American retail banking to focus on Canada, the United States (via KeyCorp), and Mexico.
What was Brian Porter's impact as CEO from 2013 to 2023?
Brian Porter modernized Scotiabank's technology stack through the Digital Factories, completed the integration of Tangerine Bank, and executed landmark wealth acquisitions (MD Financial and Jarislowsky Fraser).
How did Richard Waugh expand Scotiabank from 2003 to 2013?
Richard Waugh led Scotiabank through the 2008 financial crisis without government bailout capital, aggressively expanding the bank's international footprint across Mexico, Peru, Chile, and Colombia.
Who was Scotiabank's longest-serving historical CEO?
Cedric Ritchie served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 1974 to 1995, overseeing over two decades of explosive international branch expansion across the Caribbean, Latin America, and Asia.
Related Leadership Timelines
Compare executive leadership tenures and strategic transitions
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