Retired general Rick Hillier tapped as strategic adviser for National Bank of Canada
Hillier will advise on trends in defence financing as banks face compliance hurdles and more than $84 billion in planned federal spending.
- On Tuesday, National Bank hired retired General Rick Hillier as a strategic defence adviser to support the bank's defence and security clients, including advanced manufacturing and aerospace companies.
- Canada's largest lenders are increasingly seeking to finance the long-neglected defence sector as geopolitical tensions rise, though banks historically avoided it due to reputational concerns and strict compliance requirements.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney's government pegged more than $84-billion in defence spending over five years to reduce reliance on the United States, while Defence Minister David McGuinty appealed to institutions to remove "blockages" to financing.
- Hillier served more than 35 years in the Canadian Armed Forces and was chief of the defence staff from 2005 to 2008, bringing strategic expertise that National Bank CEO Laurent Ferreira said is invaluable for navigating the evolving sector.
- European and U.S. banks have already ramped up defence practices, with Germany's Deutsche Bank creating a dedicated team last year, positioning National Bank to compete by expanding its advanced manufacturing and aerospace focus.
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Top general gets spot in Canada’s military-financial complex
Rick Hillier’s new bank job highlights the tightening ties between finance and militarism. On August 10 Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff from 2005 to 2008 was made Strategic Defence Advisor for the National Bank of Canada. According to the country’s sixth biggest bank, Canada’s former top soldier “will provide strategic advice on defence-related trends and... Continue Reading → The post Top general gets spot in Canada’s military-financial com…
General Rick Hillier, Former Chief of the Defence Staff, to Join National Bank as Strategic Defence Advisor - CanadianSME Small Business Magazine
National Bank of Canada (the “Bank”) (TSX: NA) today announced that General Rick Hillier (ret) joined the Bank as Strategic Defence Advisor, effective August 10, 2026. In this role, General Hillier will assist the Bank’s efforts to deepen the support that it is providing to the defence and security industry, as well as dual-use companies across the country in the rapidly evolving landscape. Working closely with the Bank’s partners and leaders, h…
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