Robert Willem Korthals

In July 1967, Korthals joined the Toronto-Dominion Bank as Superintendent, Term Financing. In November 1968, he became Superintendent of the National Accounts Division, and in February 1972, its General Manager. Korthals was appointed Vice-president, Administration in September 1972, Senior Vice-president in November 1976, and Executive Vice-president and Chief General Manager in May 1978.^{[citation needed]}

On 1 June 1981, Korthals succeeded J. Allan Boyle to become the bank's fifth president.^[1] In September 1994, the bank announced that Korthals would retire on 31 January 1995, and would be succeeded as president by A. Charles Baillie.^[2] Following his retirement, Korthals joined the Ontario Securities Commission part-time as a commissioner.^[3] In May 1995, Korthals was elected chairman of North American Life. He held the office until the company's takeover by Manulife at the end of that year.^[4]

Korthals was married to Judy. They had three children: Jamie, Lisa (1968–2018), and Chris (1971–2011). His daughter Lisa, a renowned skier in British Columbia, was killed in an avalanche.^[5] They later divorced. He remarried in 2001 to Janet Charlton. Korthals died at Belmont House in Toronto on Sunday, 28 October 2023 at age 90.^{[citation needed]}