Chrystia Freeland studied at Oxford as a Rhodes scholar in 1991.Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press
Former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland has been appointed the next chief executive officer of the Rhodes Trust, the Oxford-based organization that administers one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious scholarships.
Ms. Freeland will start the role, in which she will also serve as warden of Rhodes House, on July 1, 2026, the educational charity announced Wednesday.
It is believed that she will continue in her role as special envoy for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Ms. Freeland, who studied at Oxford as a Rhodes scholar in 1991, spent 12 years in political office, holding top cabinet jobs at the departments of Finance, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and serving as deputy prime minister under Justin Trudeau. She left her post as minister of transport and internal trade, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, in September.
Prior to that, she worked as a journalist for several publications, including The Globe and Mail, where she served as deputy editor.
Her abrupt resignation as finance minister in December, 2024, which came just hours before she was set to deliver the fall fiscal and economic update in the House of Commons, sent shockwaves across Canada’s political landscape, given her sharp criticism of Mr. Trudeau’s leadership and handling of the economy.
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“Upon reflection, I have concluded that the only honest and viable path is for me to resign from the Cabinet,” she said at the time in a letter to Mr. Trudeau that was posted publicly.
In a statement Wednesday, Ms. Freeland said she was honoured to return to Oxford, and that she knows how transformative the Rhodes Scholarship can be, having benefitted from it herself.
“The experience helped shape my international outlook and played a defining role in guiding my subsequent career,” she said.
Sir John Bell, chairman of the Rhodes Trustees, welcomed Ms. Freeland’s appointment, saying she will bring a wealth of experience from her work in global affairs, public policy and journalism.
“She has proven herself to be an outstanding leader with a remarkable ability to unite people around a common purpose – qualities that will serve the Trust exceptionally well,” he said in a statement.