Aaron Bennett named one of Canada’s Best Executives by Globe and Mail’s Report on Business

Aaron Bennett, Chief Investment Officer of the University Pension Plan (UPP), has been selected as one of The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine’s 2025 Best Executives. Bennett is featured in a profile of the winners on the Report on Business magazine website and will also appear in the May 2025 print edition.

“It’s a great honour to be recognized by The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business alongside so many of my peers in Canadian business. Truly, this competition shines a light on the strength of Canada’s business community. This honour is really a reflection of the dedication and collaborative spirit of all UPP employees who share the privileged opportunity to co-create and manage pensions for our members. What we’ve been able to achieve in just four years is a testament to our combined talent, hard work and commitment to expanding access to stable pensions for Canadians.” said Bennett.

Bennett joined UPP as its inaugural Chief Investment Officer in September 2021, shortly after the Plan’s official launch. Against the backdrop of a pandemic and market instability, he oversaw the buildout of a strong in-house investment team, and the infrastructure needed to manage a portfolio, while also integrating the pension assets of several different universities and related organizations into one coherent, cost-effective pension fund. Today, UPP serves over 41,000 Plan members from 19 sector organizations, and manages approximately $12 billion in assets.

“Under Aaron’s leadership, our investment team has navigated complex market conditions with discipline and foresight, achieving strong portfolio performance, innovative asset allocations, and continued progress against our net-zero commitments. His ability to balance financial excellence with long-term value creation has strengthened our organization’s resilience and positioned UPP as a leader in the pension sector,” said Barbara Zvan, UPP’s President and CEO.

The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Best Executive Awards program is an annual initiative meant to celebrate exceptional non-CEO leaders at the SVP, EVP and C-Suite levels. Each year, winners are honoured for their career achievements, contributions to their organization’s success, leadership style, and impact on their broader industry and business community. Winners are chosen by the Report on Business editorial team across multiple business functions including finance, human resources, operations, sales and marketing, and technology.

Please visit UPP’s LinkedIn page for more on this achievement and more news about the organization.