Early Life
Michael Lee-Chin was born in Port Antonio, Jamaica, on January 3, 1951. His parents were of mixed African and Chinese Jamaican heritage. Lee-Chin's early life was shaped by his mother selling Avon products and working as a bookkeeper and his stepfather running a local grocery store. He attended Titchfield High School.
Rise to Success
Lee-Chin moved to Canada in 1970 on a scholarship to study civil engineering at McMaster University, graduating in 1974. After a brief stint as a road engineer in Jamaica, he returned to Canada and began his career in finance. He started as a financial advisor, later working at Investors Group and Regal Capital Planners. In 1987, he acquired Advantage Investment Council and renamed it AIC Limited. Under his leadership, AIC grew significantly, managing billions in assets. He later sold AIC Limited to Manulife in 2009. Lee-Chin is currently the Chairman of Portland Holdings Inc.. He is also the Chairman of National Commercial Bank of Jamaica.
Key Business Strategies
Lee-Chin's investment philosophy includes a focus on buying and holding high-quality businesses in strong, long-term growth industries. His early career involved acquiring a stake in Mackenzie Financial Group and later purchasing AIC Limited, which became a major success. His business ventures include investments in the Caribbean, particularly in Jamaica.
Philanthropy
Lee-Chin is known for his significant philanthropic contributions. He pledged $30 million to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), leading to the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal. He also made substantial donations to the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto to establish the Michael Lee-Chin Family Institute for Corporate Citizenship. Additional donations have been made to McMaster University, the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation, and Northern Caribbean University.
