Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
People File • Business

Robert Gratton

Robert Gratton is a Canadian retired lawyer and financier known for senior executive roles at companies affiliated with Power Corporation of Canada.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Robert Gratton is a Canadian retired lawyer and financier best known for senior leadership roles at Power Corporation of Canada and its affiliate Power Financial.

What it is

Robert Gratton (born 23 October 1943) is a low-profile Canadian business figure who spent decades in finance and corporate governance. He studied law at the Université de Montréal, earned a master's in international law at the London School of Economics, and later an MBA from Harvard Business School. He worked at Crédit Foncier and Montréal Trust before joining Power Financial, where he became chief executive in 1989 and later chairman until 2008.

Why it matters

Gratton is closely associated with the Power group of companies, a major Canadian financial holding network. His career reflects the corporate governance and leadership structure of Power Corporation and Power Financial, making him a relevant figure in Canadian corporate history. He retired from management in 2008 and left the board of Power Financial in May 2014.

Key details

Public sources describe Gratton as a retired lawyer and financier. No reliable current net-worth figure is available; a 2001 report noted substantial stock-option earnings but is not a verified present-day figure. He is not widely known outside business circles, consistent with his low-profile reputation.

In short

  • Robert Gratton is a retired Canadian lawyer and financier.
  • He held senior roles at Power Corporation and Power Financial.
  • He served as chairman of Power Financial until 2008 and retired from its board in 2014.
  • His career was centered in Montreal within major Canadian financial holding companies.
Canadian angle

Gratton is a Canadian business figure whose career was centered in Montreal and within major Canadian financial holding companies, making him relevant to Canadian corporate history and governance.

Quick questions

Who is Robert Gratton?
Robert Gratton is a Canadian retired lawyer and financier best known for senior leadership roles at Power Corporation-related companies, especially Power Financial.
What is Robert Gratton’s connection to Power Corporation?
He held senior roles in companies affiliated with Power Corporation of Canada and later served as president-delegate of the board at Power Corporation.
When did Robert Gratton retire?
He retired from management in 2008 and retired from the board of directors of Power Financial in May 2014.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Gratton
    Supports: Birth date, Canadian nationality, executive career, chairmanship of Power Financial until 2008, board retirement in 2014.
  2. Université de Montréal — https://distinctions.umontreal.ca/luniversite-honore/doctorats-honoris-causa/doctorats-honoris-causa-2009/profil/udemportraits/f/robert-gratton-1/
    Supports: Education, career progression, retirement in 2008, ongoing board role with Power Corporation.
  3. The Globe and Mail — https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/gratton-shuns-the-limelight-as-he-joins-super-rich-club/article979846/
    Supports: Biographical background, MBA from Harvard, career path, and reported stock-option earnings.
  4. MarketScreener — https://www.marketscreener.com/insider/ROBERT-GRATTON-A03MAS/
    Supports: Corporate positions across Power-related firms and affiliated boards.