Team Member

Normand Côté

Norm is a senior executive with more than 40 years of experience in banking and consulting (both in the banking sector and in various personnel functions). In his current role at Optimum Talent, he supports executives at all levels in their respective organizations by offering them psychometric expertise throughout their talent management cycle (succession planning, professional development, etc.). His expertise also covers workplace harassment and violence investigations and the development of human resource policies.

In his previous position at BMO Financial Group, Norm was Head of Employee Relations and had the dual challenge of protecting the legal and legislative rights of employees and the Bank in North America and abroad. He has led teams in Toronto, Montreal, Chicago and Milwaukee. Norm is an accredited mediator and arbitrator, professional executive coach and “SuccessFinder” accredited coach. He also has extensive experience in commercial and personal credit, staffing, training and compensation.

Norm played a leading role at the Canadian Bankers Association for more than 20 years representing the banking industry and all Canadian employers at numerous parliamentary and senatorial hearings and at the United Nations International Labor Organization in Geneva where he acts or has acted as spokesperson for Canadian employers, Head of Delegation and Employer Chair for the 180-member states.

Norm was the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in November 2012. He was President of the Canadian Employers Council for several years, was appointed by the Canadian Minister of Labour to the Board of Governors of the Canadian Center for Occupational Health & Safety and has been a member of the Advisory Council for various Canadian Labour ministers. He also served as President, Vice-President and / or member of various boards of directors, including the Canadian Employers Council (Past President), Parachute (Current Member and Past President), the Work Wellness and Disability Prevention Institute and The French Theatre of Toronto.