Todd Hirsch - Biography
Chief Economist
ATB Financial
Short version: (for verbal introductions at speeches and presentations)
Todd received a BA Honours in Economics from the University of Alberta and an MA in Economics from the University of Calgary. Since 1993 he has held a series of economist positions at the Canada West Foundation, the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Bank of Canada. He joined ATB Financial in May 2007 as Chief Economist.
He is a regular business columnist for the Globe and Mail, and provides economic commentary for CBC, CTV, and other news media outlets.
In 2011, he was recognized as one of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People by Alberta Venture magazine.He was recently honoured by the federal government with the Diamond Jubilee Medal, and in 2014 he was appointed to the Alberta Economic Development Authority.
In February 2012, Todd released his first book, The Boiling Frog Dilemma: Saving Canada from Economic Decline.
Extended version: (for printed biographies in conference material)
Todd joined ATB Financial in May 2007 as its Chief Economist. As the bank’s top economic expert, he tracks and analyzes developments in Alberta’s and North America’s economy. Toddspends most of his time crisscrossing the province, sharing these economic insights at over 150 presentations a year.
Toddprovides economic commentary for CBC, CTV, The Globe and Mail, The Business News Network and the BBCand other local, national and international news outlets. In 2011, he was recognized as one of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People by Alberta Venture magazine.
He received his BA Honours in Economics from the University of Alberta and an MA in Economics from the University of Calgary. Since completing his education in 1993, he has held a series of economist positions at a variety of for-profit and public sector organizations, including the Canada West Foundation, the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Bank of Canada. For almost a decade, Todd taught economics at the U of C.
Todd has been recognized for his service to his field and community. In 2011, he was named a Rising Star by Oilweek magazine and one of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential Peopleby Alberta Venture magazine. He was recently honoured by the federal government with the Diamond Jubilee Medal, and in 2014 he was appointed to the Alberta Economic Development Authority.
In February 2012, Todd released his first book, The Boiling Frog Dilemma: Saving Canada from Economic Decline.
About ATB Financial
ATB Financial is the largest Alberta-based financial institution, with assets of over $30 billion. It provides Retail Financial Services, Business and Agriculture Financial Services, Investor Services, and Corporate Financial Services to more than 680,000 Albertans in 243 communities. It provides service through 170 branches and 130 agencies, telephone and Internet banking, a Customer Contact Centre, and Automated Banking Machines. ATB has been named one of Canada's 50 Best Employers by Maclean's Magazine and one of Canada's Top 100 Employers and Alberta's Top 55 Employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc.