CP names Ellis to chief legal, corporate secretary post

Canadian Pacific has appointed Jeffrey Ellis chief legal officer and corporate secretary effective Dec. 1, the Class I announced yesterday.

Ellis will succeed Paul Guthrie, who is scheduled to retire in first-quarter 2016, CP officials said in a press release.

Ellis joins CP from BMO Financial Group, where he had served as executive vice president and U.S. general counsel. He has extensive legal knowledge in Canada and the United States, CP officials said. In his new role, he will report to Mark Wallace, CP's vice president corporate affairs and chief of staff.

"Jeff has all the qualities we look for in a chief legal officer and we are confident he will fit right in and provide immediate results," said CP Chief Executive Officer E. Hunter Harrison.

Harrison also thanked Guthrie for his 25 years of service to the company.

"Paul is not only an outstanding general counsel and executive, but also a good friend to me and the entire executive team and we are pleased he will be here to assist in a smooth transition," Harrison said.