The $192.2B (C$269.6B) Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers’) has appointed Christopher Metrakos as executive managing director of infrastructure and natural resources (INR), effective immediately.
In his new role, Metrakos (pictured left) will be based in the Toronto office and responsible for guiding the INR’s strategy, portfolio, and asset management activities globally, according to a news release. He succeeds Dale Burgess, who had been serving, since February 2025, as executive managing director of equities on an interim basis. Last month, Ontario Teachers’ announced Burgess would assume the role permanently.
With the promotion, Metrakos will become a permanent member of the investments senior leadership team, reporting to Gillian Brown, the pension fund’s chief investment officer of public and private investments.
“Investments in infrastructure and natural resources play a critical role in providing the fund with diversifying returns, inflation protection, and stable cash flows that help pay pensions,” said Brown, in the news release. “Chris’ leadership, demonstrated success in driving strong investment returns, and sound judgement make him the ideal person to step into this pivotal role.”
Metrakos joined Ontario Teachers’ in 2014 as director of INR, moving into the senior managing director of INR role in 2019, where he oversaw a global, diversified portfolio that spans agriculture, aquaculture, energy, metals, timberland, and natural climate solutions.
Prior to joining Ontario Teachers’, he worked in the energy and investment banking sectors, including spending a decade at Direct Energy, a subsidiary of Centrica plc. There, he served as the North American director of mergers and acquisitions, after which he was appointed vice-president of M&A. While at Direct Energy, he was actively involved with all aspects of transactions, noted his LinkedIn profile, including screening and origination, process management, due diligence, negotiation, valuation, integration planning, and approvals.
As executive managing director of equities, Dale Burgess (pictured right) will be based in the Toronto office and oversee the equities investment department globally.
He joined Ontario Teachers’ in 1996 as a senior financial analyst, progressively taking on leadership roles on the infrastructure team, including as head of INR for Latin America, where he oversaw portfolio companies as well as business development and origination in target countries across the LATAM region. As executive managing director of INR, he oversaw infrastructure acquisitions and asset management globally.
Burgess will continue to be a member of the investments senior leadership team and report to Brown.
“Dale is a seasoned investing leader and highly respected colleague who has made significant contributions over his almost three decades at the Plan,” said Brown. “He is well positioned to lead our equities department, which will continue to play an important role in creating value for our members.”
