Our Leadership

As Global Head of Client Success, Cesar is responsible for overseeing client service at RBC Investor & Treasury Services (RBC I&TS), as well as the delivery of best-in-class, end-to-end digital experiences for clients. Based in Toronto, he is also a member of the RBC  I&TS Operating Committee.

Cesar is a highly experienced digital transformation and customer experience professional, with a deep understanding of what it takes to deliver an exceptional front-to-back client experience. In his previous role, Cesar led Accenture's Canada Customer Sales and Service practice, working cross-sector to transform clients’ customer experience models by optimizing distribution channels and leveraging digital capabilities. Prior to that, he was Head of Enterprise Digital Channels for BMO Financial Group and Head of North American Customer Contact Centers for BMO’s Wealth Management business.

Cesar holds a Master of Business Administration degree from INSEAD, and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from McMaster University.

As Chief Executive Officer, Investor Services, Francis leads our Investor Services business globally and has oversight of the firm’s specialist strategy to provide asset services, custody, payments and treasury services for financial and other institutional investors worldwide.

Francis has over 30 years' experience in banking and finance and significant business development, product management, operational and technical experience. He joined RBC in May 2015 from JP Morgan where he held several leadership roles, including most recently as Head of Investor Services Sales & Relationship Management. He was also a member of the Investor Services Global Executive Management team. Prior to this, Francis held a number of senior roles at SEI, Citigroup, Bankers Trust and Chase Manhattan Bank.

Francis has a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Economics & Politics from the University of Salford, Manchester.

As regulatory and management Head for the UK, Joanna Meager is responsible for overseeing all RBC Investor & Treasury Services (RBC I&TS) activities in the region. Based in London, she is also a member of the RBC I&TS Operating Committee.

In her previous role, Joanna led RBC I&TS’ Client Success team, delivering exceptional end-to-end digital experiences for clients. Prior to this appointment, she held the position of Global Head of Product & Client Experience, where she oversaw RBC I&TS’ product development and profitability, and Global Head of Client Operations where she managed day-to-day global operations.

With over 30 years of financial services experience, Joanna’s background spans investment banking operations and IT, having held progressively senior roles across Europe, North America, and Asia including Deutsche Bank, Salomon Brothers (now Citigroup) and Credit Suisse Asset Management.

Joanna holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Accounting and Economics.

James Rausch is Managing Director and Global Head of Banks, Brokers & Exchanges. Based in Toronto, he is also a member of the RBC Investor & Treasury Services (I&TS) Operating Committee.

As Global Head of Banks, Brokers & Exchanges, James has end-to-end responsibility for the sales, service and product delivery of Canadian dollar services to our financial institutions partners globally. In this capacity, James also chairs the Network Management Steering Committee. James is executive sponsor of our Graduate Rotational Program in Canada and is heavily involved in mentoring new and high potential employees.

James is a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience in financial markets, including 12 years at Powerex and prior to that Infoware Software, the Toronto Stock Exchange and Toronto Dominion Bank. His broad business experience includes transaction banking, client coverage, risk management, commodities trading and corporate finance. He joined RBC in 2014 and previously resided in Vancouver.

James became a CFA charterholder in 1999. He also holds a MBA from Joseph. L Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and a B.Sc. from the same institution. He has completed certificate programs and facilitator training in Mindfulness from the University of Toronto and Mindfulness Without Borders and is currently pursuing a certificate in Positive Psychology from Wilfred Laurier University and his Professional Coaching Certification. A committed diversity advocate, James chairs the RBC I&TS Canada Diversity Leadership Council and is executive sponsor of the NextGen stream. He is a visible member of the LGBTQ+ community and was keynote speaker at a recent Out on Bay Street conference.

James is the past divisional co-chair of the RBC United Way Giving Campaign and participates as a board member on the Canada China Business Council (CCBC) and the Canadian charity DAREarts. He is a past board member of Bankers’ Association of Finance and Trade (BAFT) and co-chaired the North American Council.

As CEO, Philippe chairs the IS Bank Executive Committee and the Continental Europe & Offshore Operating Committee. Based in Luxembourg, he is also a member of the Board of Directors of RBC Investor Services Bank S.A. and a member of the Operating Committee of RBC Investor Services (RBC IS).

Philippe works with the Business, Function and Country Heads across Europe to advance the regional business and build a sustainable growth strategy in the region by utilizing RBC IS’ high quality, full service provider approach. As part of his executive mandate, Philippe oversees regulatory relationships, ensures employee engagement in the region and manages the IS Bank entities as an essential part of the organization. Previously, Philippe was Chief Risk Officer of RBC Investor Services Bank S.A.

Philippe initially began work as an operation/production manager in the manufacturing industry before joining the banking industry in the year 2000. Prior to joining RBC, he worked in various capacities for BNP Benelux including Director Projects & Process Custody Business and Director Sub Custody Network Management.

He holds an Honours BSc in Chemical Engineering from Liège University, Belgium.

As Vice President, Human Resources for RBC Investor & Treasury Services (RBC I&TS), Lisa Melo leads the global RBC I&TS HR team and all related activities, including talent and performance management, leadership development and diversity. She is a member of the RBC I&TS Operating Committee.

Lisa has been with RBC since 1987, most recently in the role of Head, Human Resources for RBC Insurance. Lisa brings a unique perspective to her HR role having held both business and functional roles, beginning her career in retail banking before assuming more senior roles, including Regional Operating Officer for Ontario North & East, and Head, HR Canadian Banking – Sales.

An advocate for continuing education, Lisa earned her Masters of Business Administration from Dalhousie University in 2001. She has attended the Emerging Leaders Program for Women in Business at the Rotman School of Management (University of Toronto), and has also completed a number of programs through the Institute of Canadian Bankers.

Alexander (Alex) is Vice President of Performance Management for RBC Investor & Treasury Services (RBC I&TS). In this role, Alex is responsible for leading the delivery of enhanced business value and advice to the RBC I&TS Operating Committee by partnering with the business to optimize performance, ensure sound financial governance and create deep business insights.

Since joining RBC over 18 years ago, Alex has held progressively senior roles primarily within Finance and Corporate Treasury, Capital Markets and I&TS, most recently as Senior Director, I&TS Platform Performance Management.

He is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto.

As Global Head of Market Services at RBC Investor & Treasury Services (RBC I&TS), Rajiv leads the trading, execution and product strategy for foreign exchange, securities finance and cash and is a member of the I&TS Operating Committee.

In his previous roles, Rajiv oversaw the end-to-end trading and execution of Market Services. Prior to joining I&TS, he led RBC Capital Markets’ Canadian team of fixed-income derivative originators, helping corporations and financial institutions raise cost effective capital using interest rate and currency swaps and advising on interest rate risk on asset and liability portfolios.

Prior to joining RBC in 2010, Rajiv worked at a US bulge-bracket investment bank, advising, structuring and executing multi-asset derivatives strategies to support cross-border financing and investments.

Rajiv holds a Master of Business Administration degree (Dean’s Honour List) from the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Physics from Gujarat University in India.

Rob is Global Head of Treasury Services within RBC Investor & Treasury Services (RBC I&TS), and a member of the RBC I&TS Operating Committee. In this role, Rob is responsible for liquidity management and short-term funding requirements as well as deposit-taking, foreign exchange and securities lending services within RBC I&TS.

Rob is also Head of Financial Resource Management for Global Markets (part of RBC Capital Markets) and TMS. He is responsible for business reporting and optimisation of balance sheet, capital and funding across both businesses as well as managing a range of RWA reduction and trade compression initiatives.

Prior to this he was Head of Principal Finance at RBC Capital Markets, where he was responsible for managing elements of RBC’s structured credit exposure and working on the integration of RBC Investor Services – the custody and fund administration business that was formerly a joint venture between RBC and Dexia S.A. He joined RBC in 2004.

From 1999 to 2004, he was Head of Credit Structuring for WestLB AG in Europe and Asia - responsible for Cashflow & Synthetic CDO structuring and repackaging activities. Prior to that, he has held various positions in London, New York and Hong Kong performing credit trading and structured finance roles.

Rob holds a BSc in Physics and has over 25 years of industry experience.

Niall Wilson is Vice President, I&TS Group Risk Management (GRM) and is a member of both RBC I&TS’ Operating Committee and the UK I&TS Operating Committee.

Niall is responsible for all Risk Management support for I&TS globally and leads the teams located in London, Luxembourg and Toronto. The GRM team provides advice and partnership to support the business growth from a 2nd Line of Defense perspective and ensures alignment of risk and reward within I&TS’ risk appetite.

Niall has over 20 years of risk management experience in financial services, having previously covered RBC’s Capital Markets and Wealth Management segments. Prior to joining I&TS, Niall provided holistic GRM oversight for RBC’s Wealth Management business in the British Isles, ensuring that all risks were identified, measured, mitigated and managed in accordance with risk appetite and enterprise requirements. Niall joined RBC in 2005 specializing in credit adjudication for non-bank Financial Services clients such as pension funds, regulated and alternative funds and asset managers.

Niall has represented GRM on several RBC-entity Boards and holds a degree in Economics from Southampton University.

As Global Head of Client Operations, Paul is responsible for overseeing our global operating model and driving transformation as we accelerate the development and adoption of automated business tools. Based in Luxembourg, he is also a member of the RBC Invesotr & Treasury Services (I&TS) Operating Committee.

Paul has more than 30 years of experience in financial service and leading complex and global operational teams across Investment Banking, Investor Services, Wealth Management and Asset Management. Before joining RBC, Paul was the Chief Operating Officer of Six Digital Exchange (part of SIX Group AG), where he oversaw the development and launch of the world’s first fully regulated exchange and central securities depository for digital assets. He has also held senior positions with Fidelity International, Barclays Investment Bank & Private Bank, JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs.

Ross Gardner leads the Investor & Treasury Services Change Agenda and Advanced Client Experience Program, which is a global multi-year technology strategy focused on building and extending an agile ecosystem, client centricity, product evolution and delivery and operating model simplification. He is also the Head of Technology in the UK for RBC, including regional management of the cross-business IT teams.

Ross has worked at RBC for over seven years, and has more than 20 years’ experience in financial services, previously working for JPMorgan Chase in a number of roles delivering change and effective leadership of technology functions, focusing on stakeholder partnership, technology efficiency, cost transparency and strategic architecture delivery.

Malena Ljungkvist is the Chief Operational Risk Officer (CRO) for Europe and a member of the GRM Operating Committee and the Investor & Treasury Services (I&TS) Operating Committee. In this role Malena is responsible for the oversight of risk across enterprise business platforms in Europe and the GRM relationship manager for I&TS. Malena’s responsibilities include setting the strategic direction for risk management across RBC’s European operations and provide leadership in the implementation and execution of leading practices in risk oversight and governance for the region and the key legal and regulatory entities

Prior to Malena’s current role, Malena was the Chief Operational Risk Officer for I&TS (CORO) where Malena ensured that first-line-of-defence practices and processes are consistent across all I&TS business lines, and fully align with RBC’s risk management policies and frameworks where she led a global team.

Malena has been with RBC for over 18 years and possesses significant knowledge of counterparty operational, credit, trading, liquidity and market risk.

Malena serves as a Director on I&TS Bank board and in 2018 Malena joined the board of Trustees for RBC’s closed defined benefit pension plan in the UK.

Prior to RBC Malena held a Market risk Manager role at Commerzbank. Malena holds a degree in Accounting and Management and a Master (Msc) in Money, Banking and Finance from Middlesex University.

Emma Dunlop is Vice President and Head of Human Resources for RBC Investor & Treasury Services.

Emma is responsible for providing advice and global solutions in all areas of HR including talent management, leadership development, performance enablement, change management, employee engagement, and diversity and inclusion.

Emma has 17 years of HR experience in financial services and has held a number of global HR roles.

Prior to joining RBC in 2010, Emma was a Senior HR Business Partner for Capital Markets and TOF in the UK for Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Emma transferred to Investor & Treasury Services as the Head of HR for Global Client Operations and I&TS UK in 2016.

Emma holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resource Management from Strathclyde University.

As Chief Operating Officer, Lindsay is responsible for developing and implementing Investor Services’ business strategy and transformation initiatives across our teams with increased coordination and collaboration with key partners to enhance strategic alignment, increase operating efficiency and improve employee engagement. Lindsay is involved in the development of RBC I&TS’ strategy and annual business plans, and is a member of committees overseeing our key strategic projects.

Prior to joining RBC in 2014, she worked in investment banking, investment consulting and asset management.

Lindsay is a CFA charter holder, received her Master of Business Administration from The University of Western Ontario and holds an Honors Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University.

David J. Giannone is Managing Director and Global Head of Business Development at RBC Investor & Treasury Services (I&TS). Based in New York, David is responsible for all global client acquisition activities and is a member of the RBC I&TS Operating Committee.

Prior to this appointment, David was Head of US, RBC I&TS, leading business development and client coverage activities since 2017. In this capacity, he was responsible for establishing and growing client relationships with some of the world’s largest asset managers. David joined RBC in 2014 as Director of Business Development, and he was instrumental in expanding RBC I&TS’ presence and client relationships in the US.

David has over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, including senior positions at Dreyfus, Fred Alger Management, BNY Mellon, and BNP Paribas prior to joining RBC. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Hofstra University.