Montreal, June 23, 2026 - Mila is proud to announce the appointment of Charles Brindamour and Alanna Watt, two prominent figures from the business world, to its Board of Directors.
Charles Brindamour is the Chief Executive Officer of Intact Financial Corporation. Intact Financial Corporation is the largest provider of property and casualty (P&C) insurance in Canada, and a leading provider of global specialty insurance. Charles Brindamour began his career in 1992 at Commerce Group. Over time, he held progressively senior executive roles in Canada and abroad, both within Intact and with its former affiliates, before being appointed Chief Executive Officer of Intact in January 2008.
Under Mr. Brindamour's leadership, Intact became an independent, widely held Canadian company in 2009. Together with his team, he went on to drive Intact's consolidation of the Canadian personal and commercial insurance market. This was notably achieved through the acquisition of AXA Canada, which at the time represented the largest acquisition in the history of the Canadian insurance sector. Subsequently, Mr. Brindamour expanded Intact’s footprint into the United States with the acquisition of OneBeacon Insurance Group, Ltd. In 2021, the Intact team successfully completed the acquisition of RSA Insurance PLC. This marks Intact's largest acquisition to date, growing the company's revenues by over 70% and positioning Intact as a global leader.
Charles Brindamour graduated with a degree in Actuarial Science from Université Laval and is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society. In May 2019, he received an honorary doctorate from HEC Montréal, and in June 2026, an honorary doctorate from Université Laval. He serves on the boards of directors of Intact Financial Corporation, the Geneva Association, and the Business Council of Canada.
Professor Watt joined McGill’s Department of Biology in 2011, establishing a thriving research laboratory dedicated to understanding the cerebellum, a brain region essential for motor coordination. Her scientific work has made a major impact and has been published in high-profile journals such as Nature Communications, PNAS, and Science Advances. A gifted educator, Professor Watt has won two prestigious teaching awards at McGill: the President’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching and the Leo Yaffe Award for Excellence in Teaching. She has also deeply invested herself in her community, serving as a member of the McGill Senate, Interim Chair of the Department of Biology, and Associate Dean of Research for the Faculty of Science. She has held the position of Interim Dean of the Faculty of Science since July 2025.
Professor Watt’s contributions have elevated the global reputation and impact of the Faculty, ensuring it remains an environment where students, faculty, and staff can thrive both personally and professionally. Her vision for the future, combined with her strengths in research, teaching, and leadership, make her a fierce advocate for science who will guide the Faculty with determination and integrity. Professor Watt is also an exceptional leader who combines rigor and empathy in her work, fostering inclusive environments where colleagues and students alike can fully achieve their potential.
