Our Leadership

As Head of Relationship Management, Business Development, Consultant Relations & Partnerships, Joel Kornblum is accountable for the firm’s client strategy and strengthening its institutional relationships across Canada and global markets. He leads the teams responsible for deepening client relationships, expanding market opportunities, and strengthening partnerships with consultants and industry stakeholders.

Joel brings more than three decades of experience in financial services technology (fintech) asset servicing, custody, fund administration, and investment operations. Prior to RBC, he held progressively senior roles at asset servicing and fintech organizations, including Director of Sales Engineering, FactSet Research Systems; Head of Solutions & Business Development Americas, BNY Mellon Asset Servicing; and Head of Sales, Canada, Eagle Investment Systems.

With a strong foundation in technology and extensive experience working with and within fintech organizations, Joel helps clients navigate modernization and emerging technologies. He is known for translating complex technical concepts into clear business strategies that enhance resilience, efficiency, and long-term outcomes. He also contributes to industry forums focused on operational innovation, risk management, and the future of investment operations.

As Head of Client Success, Cesar is responsible for overseeing client service at RBC Investor Services (RBCIS), 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 RBCIS 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, RBC Investor Services, Claire Johnson leads and oversees all aspects of our Investor Services business within the Canadian asset servicing market.

Prior to joining RBC in October 2023, Claire served as the President and CEO of TSX Trust, a subsidiary of TMX Group. During her tenure, Johnson successfully executed TSX Trust's growth strategy, cultivated a strong employee culture, and integrated the AST Investor Services Inc. business acquired in 2021. Previous to that, she spent 21 years at CIBC Mellon, where she held various executive positions, including Senior Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Relationship Management.

With over 25 years of executive leadership experience, Claire has long been an active participant in the asset servicing industry and recently served as a board member of the Securities Transfer Association of Canada. Committed to community support, she is also a board member for JA Canada, a charity dedicated to promoting financial literacy among youth and preparing them for success in today's global economy.

Claire holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen's University and is a certified CPA, CA. She and her husband have been raising their five children in Mississauga, Ontario.

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.

As Senior Director of Performance Management, Jennifer Strmec is responsible for delivering enhanced business value and advice to the RBC Investor Services (RBCIS) Operating Committee and partnering with RBCIS business groups to optimize performance, ensure sound financial governance and create deep business insights.

Since joining RBC over 15 years ago, Jennifer has held progressively senior roles within Finance, Commercial Banking and Technology, most recently as Senior Director, Innovation & Technology Finance.

Jennifer holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Brock University.

As Head of Global Market Services, Network Management & Sub-Custody, Rajiv oversees the trading, execution and product strategy for foreign exchange, securities finance and cash. He also leads the team responsible for managing RBCIS’ extensive sub-custody network and is a member of the RBCIS Operating Committee.

Rajiv joined RBC in 2010 and, since that time, has held several leadership roles overseeing the end-to-end trading and execution of Market Services, managing the derivatives portfolio for Treasury Services, and leading a group of fixed income derivative originators helping corporations and financial institutions raise cost-effective capital.

He 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.

As Chief Operating Officer, Paul is responsible for overseeing our operating model and driving transformation as we accelerate the development and adoption of automated business tools. Based in Toronto, he is also a member of the RBC Investor Services (RBCIS) 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 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.

As Senior Director of Group Risk Management, Oguz Soguksubasi is responsible for overseeing risk management governance and oversight across RBC Investor Services and RBC Wealth Management in North America.

Oguz joined RBC in 2012 and has held progressively senior roles within RBC Group Risk Management, including Chief Risk Officer of RBC Investor Services Trust.

Oguz joined RBC in 2012 and has held progressively senior roles within RBC Group Risk Management, including Chief Risk Officer of RBC Investor Services Trust.

Prior to joining RBC, Oguz held various roles in risk valuations within technology at Toronto Dominion bank, as well as back and middle office roles at Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and UBS in Australia.

Oguz holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Banking and Finance from Eastern Mediterranean University in Cyprus and a Masters of Applied Finance from University of Wollongong in Australia.

As Head of Data, Digital and Client Solutions, Christine Knott is responsible for driving our strategic priorities, performance goals and business administration agenda, and leads our client-focused approach to delivering solutions.

With a track record of aligning complex financial problems with sophisticated technology solutions, Christine brings extensive experience as a financial services and technology executive. Her leadership and people skills have been demonstrated in managing teams through complex technology transformations with several Fortune 500 companies.

Prior to joining RBC, Christine served as Partner at Citisoft, where she led planning and transformation activities for some of their most significant North American and Global clients. Additionally, she also served as Vice President and Executive Director at CIBC Mellon, managing strategic client solutions and leading the conversions of multiple clients. Prior to that, she led client relationships at BNY Mellon for Fortune 500 clients.

As Senior Director of Performance Management, Evelyn King is responsible for delivering enhanced business value and advice to the RBC Investor Services (RBCIS) Operating Committee and partnering with RBCIS business groups to optimize performance, ensure sound financial governance and create deep business insights.

Since joining RBC over 12 years ago, Evelyn has held progressively senior roles within Finance, Capital Markets and Investor Services, and most recently as Director, Performance Management, Investor Services.

Evelyn holds a Chartered Professional Accountant designation and a Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa.

As Head of Enterprise Digital Asset Custody Product Management & Strategy, Ian leads digital asset custody strategy across all RBC business lines, while establishing and maintaining institutional grade security, compliance, and operational standards.

With over 35 years of experience in the financial services industry, Ian brings deep subject matter knowledge of digital assets and institutional investors, coupled with the product and program management expertise to deliver custody infrastructure for digital asset services, including payment, settlement, and tokenized assets.

Ian joined RBC Investor Services in 2012. In his previous role, he led Transformation & Portfolio Management where he was responsible for the delivery of all global strategic change programs impacting RBCIS. Prior to this, he led business transformation and change in global companies including HSBC, Standard Chartered, Deutsche Bank and State Street, as well as a smaller specialist actuarial/quantitative risk business Barrie & Hibbert (now part of Moody’s Analytics) as Chief Operating Officer.