John Taft is head of RBC Wealth Management in the U.S. Mr. Taft is responsible for RBC's wealth management growth strategy in the U.S. helping clients achieve their financial objectives through a full- service wealth management offering (investment management, retirement planning, cash management, credit and lending, insurance trust, estate planning and other solutions); and enhancing the productivity of financial advisors and relationship managers in RBC's Private Client Group, Correspondent Services, Advisor Services and U.S.-based international businesses.

Mr. Taft has worked in financial services since 1981. He has served as Chairman-Elect and Chairman of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), the leading securities industry trade group representing securities firms, banks and asset managers in the United States. He is an industry thought leader who frequently speaks at government and industry events and who is widely quoted in the media. He is also executive sponsor of the firm's Gay, Lesbian, Allied and Diverse Employees group, representing the interests of LGBT employees and clients.

He is the author of "Stewardship: Lessons Learned from the Lost Culture of Wall Street", a book that explores the importance of stewardship as a core principle – for him personally; for the financial services industry; for the global financial system; and for society at large.

Mr. Taft graduated Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor of arts from Yale and earned a master's degree in public and private management from the Yale School of Organization and Management.

Mr. Taft is active on the board's of many non-profit, cultural and public service organizations. In his spare time, he enjoys athletic activities including golf, tennis and triathlons as well as collecting contemporary art.