Dominic Barton
Born 1962 · Age 63
Ugandan-born Canadian business executive, former Global Managing Director of McKinsey & Company (2009–2018), author, university chancellor, and former Canadian Ambassador to China (2019–2021). Currently chairs LeapFrog Investments and Rio Tinto.
Compare Your Trajectory
See how your career milestones stack up against Dominic Barton and other industry leaders.
Life & Career Timeline
Born in Mukono (Kampala), Uganda
Born in Mukono (reported as Kampala), Uganda to an Anglican missionary father and a nurse mother.
Family immigrated to Canada
At age seven his family moved from Uganda to Canada, eventually settling in Sardis, British Columbia.
Graduated BA in Economics, University of British Columbia (approx.)
Earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics from UBC (year not explicitly stated; estimated based on birth year and subsequent Rhodes scholarship/MPhil).
Awarded Rhodes Scholarship; MPhil in Economics, Oxford (approx.)
Studied as a Rhodes Scholar at Brasenose College, Oxford, receiving an MPhil in Economics (exact graduation year not stated; placed here based on chronology).
Currency analyst at N M Rothschild & Sons (brief)
Worked briefly as a currency analyst in London for N M Rothschild & Sons after graduating.
Hired by McKinsey & Company (Toronto)
Joined McKinsey & Company in the firm's Toronto office and worked as a management consultant.
Relocated to McKinsey Seoul office
Moved to McKinsey's Seoul office and eventually led McKinsey's national practice in South Korea.
Led McKinsey Korea office
Serving as lead of the Korea office (tenure includes 2000–2004 period mentioned).
Published Dangerous Markets (co-author)
Co-author of Dangerous Markets: Managing in Financial Crises (John Wiley & Sons, Oct 2, 2002).
Chairman, McKinsey Asia
Appointed Chairman for McKinsey in Asia, based in Shanghai; served 2004–2009.
Published China Vignettes
Authored China Vignettes: An Inside Look At China, based on interviews with ordinary Chinese citizens.
Elected Global Managing Director of McKinsey & Company
Elected Global Managing Director by a vote of 400 senior partners; began leading the firm globally (served 2009–2018).
Honorary Fellow, Brasenose College, Oxford
Made an honorary fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford.
Member, Rhodes Trust Founder's Circle / Trustee roles
Member of the Rhodes Trust Founder's Circle and served on multiple academic advisory boards including Saïd Business School (dates not specified).
INSEAD Business Leader for the World Award
Received INSEAD's Business Leader for the World Award in recognition of business leadership.
Re-elected Global Managing Director (second term)
Re-elected to a second three-year term leading McKinsey & Company.
Member of Seoul International Business Advisory Council (chair for 6 years)
Chaired the Seoul International Business Advisory Council for six years (exact start/end years not specified; role acknowledged).
Glassdoor: One of the highest-rated CEOs (2013)
Ranked by Glassdoor as one of the top CEOs globally in 2013 (employee choice).
Korean Order of Civil Merit (Peony Medal)
Received the Order of Civil Merit from South Korea in recognition of contributions to Korea.
Trustee of the Brookings Institution (role)
Served as a trustee of the Brookings Institution (tenure dates not specified).
Singaporean Public Service Star; AIB International Executive of the Year
Received Singapore's Public Service Star (Distinguished Friends of Singapore) and the AIB International Executive of the Year award.
Divorced Sheila Labatt
Divorced first wife, Canadian-born glass artist Sheila Labatt (divorce reported in 2014).
Re-elected Global Managing Director (third term)
Re-elected to a third (and final permitted) three-year term as McKinsey Global Managing Director.
Co-founded FCLT Global (approx.)
Reported as one of the co-founders of Focusing Capital on the Long Term (FCLT Global), an organization promoting long-term investing (founding year estimated).
Glassdoor: One of the highest-rated CEOs (2016)
Ranked again by Glassdoor as one of the top CEOs globally based on employee choice.
Foreign Policy Association CSR Award; Public Policy Forum Testimonial (2017)
Received Corporate Social Responsibility Award (Foreign Policy Association) and Canada's Public Policy Forum Testimonial Award in 2017.
Appointed Chair, Advisory Council on Economic Growth (Canada)
Chaired the federal government's blue-chip Advisory Council on Economic Growth; council set goals and recommendations including creation of Canada Infrastructure Bank and immigration increases.
Advisory Council recommended median household income goal
Council recommended raising the median household income to $105,000 by 2030 (from about $80,000 in 2017).
Advisory Council recommended immigration increase
Council called for a gradual increase in permanent immigration to Canada to 450,000 people a year.
Co-founded Century Initiative (approx.)
Co-founded Century Initiative, a non-partisan network advocating policy to grow Canada's population to 100 million by 2100 (Barton is no longer involved). Year estimated.
Chairman of Teck Resources (2018–2019)
Served as chairman of Teck Resources from 2018 to 2019.
Co-authored Re-Imagining Capitalism & Talent Wins (published dates referenced)
Co-authored Re-Imagining Capitalism and Talent Wins: The New Playbook for Putting People First (Talent Wins cited as recent; Talent Wins widely reported as 2018).
Took office as Chancellor of University of Waterloo (term start)
Served as the 11th Chancellor of the University of Waterloo (term listed as Jan 1, 2018 – June 30, 2024).
Stepped down as McKinsey Global Managing Director; became Emeritus
Completed maximum three terms as McKinsey Global Managing Director (2009–2018) and became Global Managing Director Emeritus for about a year.
Appointed Chair, IIRC (role referenced)
Has served as Chair of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), a global accounting/reporting standard body for purpose-driven investments (date not explicitly given).
Named 11th Chancellor of University of Waterloo (announcement)
Official announcement naming Dominic Barton as the 11th Chancellor of the University of Waterloo.
Led consular efforts for detained Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor
Conducted regular consular visits and used networks to help open communication channels among Canada, China and the U.S. to resolve the detention of the two Canadians (detained Dec 2018).
Appointed Canadian Ambassador to China
Appointed and took office as Canada's Ambassador to the People's Republic of China (appointment announced Sept 4, 2019; in office Sept 5, 2019).
Reappointed Chancellor of the University of Waterloo
Reappointed as Chancellor on Feb 25, 2021 (continuing his role at the university).
Coordinated meetings in Washington to press for release of detained Canadians
In April 2021, met with senior U.S. officials to secure commitments to increase pressure on Beijing regarding the two Michaels case.
Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor released; flew with them
On Sept 24, 2021, the two detained Canadians were released from China and boarded a plane with Barton at the end of the diplomatic effort.
Announced stepping down as Ambassador to China
On Dec 6, 2021, announced he would step down after completing the core mission of securing the release of the two Michaels.
Advocated Rio Tinto's role in energy transition
As Rio Tinto Chair, publicly pledged the company's role as a partner to governments and customers in the climate/energy transition.
Joined Board of Rio Tinto
Joined Rio Tinto's Board of Directors in April 2022 (appointed to the board prior to becoming Chair).
Appointed Chairman of the Management Board, LeapFrog Investments
Named Chairman of the Management Board of LeapFrog Investments, a private impact-investing firm focused on emerging markets (announcement April 2022).
Became Chairman of the Board, Rio Tinto
Succeeded Simon Thompson as Chair of Rio Tinto on May 5, 2022; chairs multiple committees including Chair's Committee and Sustainability Committee membership.
Appointed Strategic Counselor, Eurasia Group
Eurasia Group announced appointment of Barton as Strategic Counselor in October 2022.
Concluded term as Chancellor, University of Waterloo
Term as Chancellor officially ended on June 30, 2024; succeeded by Jagdeep Singh Bachher.
Listed as speaker / participant at public policy and industry events (ongoing)
Continues to appear as a speaker and participant at policy and industry events (e.g., Canada 2020 conference listing him as Chair of Rio Tinto and LeapFrog and other roles).
Key Achievement Ages
Explore what Dominic Barton and others achieved at these notable ages:
Similar Trajectories
Liz Phair
Born 1967 · Age 58
American rock singer-songwriter and musician best known as Liz Phair. Broke out with 1993 debut Exile in Guyville and has released seven studio albums, worked in TV composition, written a memoir, and toured internationally.
Andy Ihnatko
Born 1967 · Age 58
American technology author, longtime Mac/tech journalist, podcaster and commentator. Longtime columnist for Mac publications and the Chicago Sun-Times; frequent contributor to WGBH/Boston Public Radio and the TWiT network; host/co-host of multiple podcasts (The Ihnatko Almanac, Material) and regular panelist on MacBreak Weekly.
Kimberly Bryant
Born 1967 · Age 58
American electrical engineer and social entrepreneur; founder of Black Girls Code and founder/CEO of Black Innovation Lab; advocate for tech inclusion for girls of color.
Satya Nadella
Born 1967 · Age 58
Indian-born American business executive; Chairman and CEO of Microsoft (CEO since Feb 2014; Chairman since Jun 2021). Led Microsoft's cloud transformation and major acquisitions (LinkedIn, GitHub, Mojang).
Joe Rogan
Born 1967 · Age 58
American stand-up comedian, podcaster (The Joe Rogan Experience), UFC color commentator, actor, television host, and entrepreneur.
Sam Harris
Born 1967 · Age 58
American philosopher, neuroscientist, author, meditation teacher and podcast host; prominent critic of religion and proponent of secular spirituality (one of the "Four Horsemen" of New Atheism).