The world’s largest organization of business economists has elected Tim O’Neill, chief economist of BMO Financial Group, as president at its annual meeting held in Washington, D.C.

O’Neill, who also serves as the chief economist of BMO’s U.S.-based Harris Bank, is the first non-American economist to serve as president of the U.S. based National Association of Business Economists (NABE). He was first elected to the NABE board of directors in 2000 and became vice president in 2001.

“We are extremely pleased that NABE has selected Tim O’Neill as its incoming president,” said Tony Comper, chairman and CEO, BMO Financial Group. “Tim is uniquely positioned as a North American economist by concurrently holding the senior economist position at a major financial institution in both Canada and the United States.”

One of North America’s foremost experts on the macro economy and economic policy, O’Neill said he is honored to have been elected. “Being selected by my peers in the industry has a special meaning for me. It is important that we find ways to bring together senior business economists from across jurisdictions to offer policy makers sound and balanced advice during this period of economic uncertainty.”

Based in Washington, NABE has 3,000 members and represents more than 1,500 businesses and organizations around the world.

O’Neill joined BMO Financial Group in 1993 and became executive vice president and chief economist in 1994. Previously, O’Neill served as president of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council. A native of Nova Scotia, he holds a B.A. from St. Francis Xavier University, an M.A. from the University of British Columbia, and a Ph.D. from Duke University in North Carolina.