Mitch Garber

Mitch Garber is a distinguished Canadian lawyer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He has held prominent leadership roles in global companies, serving as the Co-Founder and CEO of Optimal Payments/Paysafe, CEO of PartyGaming Plc/PartyBwin, and Caesars Acquisition Company/Playtika Ltd. From 2018 to 2022, he was the inaugural Chairman of Invest in Canada, the national agency responsible for driving foreign investment into Canada. In recognition of his contributions to business and philanthropy, he was awarded the prestigious Order of Canada in 2019.

An active investor, Garber collaborates with leading firms such as Apollo, TPG, David Bonderman/Wildcat, and Fosun. He serves on several corporate boards, including Rackspace Technology, Shutterfly Inc., Aiola.com, and Lanvin Group. Garber is also a minority owner and executive committee member of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken. He serves on the board of the team’s charitable foundation, One Roof Foundation, and the Climate Pledge Arena. Previously, he was the non-executive Chairman of Cirque du Soleil from 2015 to 2020, guiding the company through a transformative period as part of TPG/Fosun ownership.

Garber is deeply committed to philanthropy, particularly in Canada and Israel. He co-chaired Montreal’s 2016 Centraide/United Way campaign, which raised over $55 million, and a $130 million campaign for the Combined Jewish Appeal from 2020 to 2021. He sits on various nonprofit boards, supporting causes ranging from education to healthcare.

A graduate of McGill University and the University of Ottawa, Garber has been honored with an honorary doctorate from the University of Ottawa, the McGill/Desautels Business School Achievement Award, the University of Ottawa Order of Merit, and an honorary doctorate from the Université de Montréal Faculty of Law.

Garber and his wife Anne-Marie Boucher, a tax lawyer and philanthropist, channel their charitable efforts through the Anne-Marie and Mitch Garber Family Foundation, supporting a wide range of philanthropic initiatives globally.