Robert Rabinovitch
Encyclopedia
Robert Rabinovitch is a Canadian
public servant and businessman, and he served as the President and CEO of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
from 1999 to 2007.
A graduate of McGill University
and the University of Pennsylvania
, he holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Economics and Finance. He has been a member of the Board of Governors of McGill University since 1997, serving as Chair from 1999 to 2006. In 2007, Rabinovitch was reappointed Chair of McGill's Board for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2008. In 2003, Rabinovitch was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree by York University
in recognition of his public service.
Rabinovitch has held positions in both the public and private sectors. He worked for the Government of Canada
from 1968 to 1986, serving as Under Secretary of State
from January 1985 to September 1986 and Deputy Minister
of Communications
from 1982 to 1985. He also held several positions within the Privy Council Office
, including Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet
and Senior Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet for Priorities and Planning.
While serving as head of the CBC, Rabinovitch ordered the lockout
of 5,500 unionized employees in 2005, leading to a two-month labour struggle between the crown corporation and the Canadian Media Guild
.
Prior to his appointment as head of the CBC, Rabinovitch served as Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Claridge Inc., a Bronfman family
holding company. He has been a member of a number of corporate boards, including Cineplex Odeon
and NetStar Communications. He was also a member of the federal government's Direct-to-Home Satellite Broadcasting Policy Review Panel.
Rabinovitch has also been active with the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO), the CRB Foundation
, the Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Family Foundation
and the Canadian Film Centre
. He served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress
(Québec) until his appointment to the CBC.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
public servant and businessman, and he served as the President and CEO of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
from 1999 to 2007.
A graduate of McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
and the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, he holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Economics and Finance. He has been a member of the Board of Governors of McGill University since 1997, serving as Chair from 1999 to 2006. In 2007, Rabinovitch was reappointed Chair of McGill's Board for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2008. In 2003, Rabinovitch was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree by York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
in recognition of his public service.
Rabinovitch has held positions in both the public and private sectors. He worked for the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
from 1968 to 1986, serving as Under Secretary of State
Secretary of State for Canada
The position of Secretary of State for Canada was a Canadian Cabinet position with a corresponding department. It was established in 1867 as the official channel of communication between the Dominion of Canada and the Imperial government in London...
from January 1985 to September 1986 and Deputy Minister
Deputy Minister (Canada)
In Canada, a deputy minister is the senior civil servant in a government department. He or she takes political direction from an elected minister. Responsibility for the department's day-to-day operations, budget and program development lie with the deputy minister...
of Communications
Minister of Communications (Canada)
The Minister of Communications of Canada is a now-defunct cabinet post which existed from 1969 to 1996, when it was abolished. Its telecommunications policy functions were transferred to Industry Canada and its cultural role was assumed by the Minister of Canadian Heritage.The post was...
from 1982 to 1985. He also held several positions within the Privy Council Office
Privy Council Office (Canada)
In Canada the Privy Council Office is the secretariat of the federal cabinet, providing officially non-partisan advice and support to the Prime Minister and leadership, coordination, and support to the departments and agencies of the government...
, including Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet
Cabinet of Canada
The Cabinet of Canada is a body of ministers of the Crown that, along with the Canadian monarch, and within the tenets of the Westminster system, forms the government of Canada...
and Senior Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet for Priorities and Planning.
While serving as head of the CBC, Rabinovitch ordered the lockout
Lockout (industry)
A lockout is a work stoppage in which an employer prevents employees from working. This is different from a strike, in which employees refuse to work.- Causes :...
of 5,500 unionized employees in 2005, leading to a two-month labour struggle between the crown corporation and the Canadian Media Guild
Canadian Media Guild
The Canadian Media Guild is a trade union representing employees at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation , the Canadian Press, Thomson Reuters, Agence France-Presse, S-Vox, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, CW Television, CJRC Radio in Gatineau, Que., and TVOntario.It is a local of The...
.
Prior to his appointment as head of the CBC, Rabinovitch served as Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Claridge Inc., a Bronfman family
Bronfman family
The Bronfman family is a Canadian Jewish family. It owes its initial fame to Samuel Bronfman , who made a fortune in the alcoholic distilled beverage business during the 20th century through the family's Seagram Company. The family is of Russian Jewish and Romanian Jewish ancestry...
holding company. He has been a member of a number of corporate boards, including Cineplex Odeon
Cineplex Odeon
Cineplex Odeon Corporation was one of North America's largest movie theatre operators, with theatres in its home country of Canada and the United States...
and NetStar Communications. He was also a member of the federal government's Direct-to-Home Satellite Broadcasting Policy Review Panel.
Rabinovitch has also been active with the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO), the CRB Foundation
Charles Bronfman
Charles Rosner Bronfman, is a Canadian businessman and philanthropist. With an estimated net worth of $US 2.0 billion , Bronfman was ranked by Forbes as the 15th wealthiest Canadian and 595th in the world....
, the Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Family Foundation
Samuel Bronfman
Samuel Bronfman, was a Canadian business magnate and philanthropist. He founded Distillers Corporation Limited, and is a member of the Canadian Jewish family dynasty, the Bronfman family.-Early life:...
and the Canadian Film Centre
Canadian Film Centre
The Canadian Film Centre is an advanced training institution for film, television and new media. Based in Toronto, Canada, CFC offers residents education, industry partnerships and production experience...
. He served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress
Canadian Jewish Congress
The Canadian Jewish Congress was one of the main lobby groups for the Jewish community in the country, although it often competed with the more conservative B'nai Brith Canada in that regard. At its dissolution, the president of the CJC was Mark Freiman. Its past co-presidents were Sylvain Abitbol...
(Québec) until his appointment to the CBC.