David MacNaughton

David MacNaughton came to diplomacy through business and political advising. He built a public affairs business combining government relations, opinion research, and public relations, then held senior roles in communications and finance. He advised federal ministers and served as principal secretary to Ontario’s premier from 2003 to 2005 before becoming chairman of StrategyCorp. ¹

He presented his credentials in Washington on 3 March 2016 and served as ambassador until 2019. His term included the renegotiation of NAFTA. After returning to business, he joined CIBC as a strategic adviser in January 2026, advising the bank and its clients on public policy, regulation, and international commercial developments. ^{1, 2}