Ontario AG’s chief of staff heads to AGCO as chief strategy officer
Joseph Hillier becomes latest senior appointment at the provincial regulator after more than five years in Doug Downey’s office
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has named government official Joseph Hillier as the regulator’s new chief strategy officer and corporate secretary.
Hillier heads to the AGCO after more than five years serving in the office of Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey.
Hillier originally joined the AG office as a senior policy advisor in August 2018 before being named director of policy and legal affairs in June 2019.
He was then promoted to chief of staff in January 2020.
The AGCO championed Hillier as a “key strategic and legal advisor to the Minister and other government leaders” as the body welcomed him into the fold.
During his time working within the AG office, Hillier’s brief included policy and regulation of gambling and horse racing, as well as alcohol and cannabis.
He also played a key role in bringing about the regulated online gambling market in Ontario in April 2022.
The regulator added that Hillier’s “deep experience and proven leadership skills” would be “tremendous assets” for the body moving forwards.
Prior to joining the public sector, Hillier spent time with the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and Norton Rose Fulbright, Canada.
Hillier’s appointment as AGCO chief strategy officer and corporate secretary follows the promotion of Brent McCurdy to chief legal officer earlier this year.
McCurdy was named chief legal officer in January after six years at the AGCO in what was his second stint with the regulator.
He originally joined the body back in May 2012 before leaving in 2016 for a role with the Ontario government in the forestry division.