Philip Howell was appointed the CEO and Superintendent of Financial Services for the Financial Services Commission of Ontario effective August 19, 2009.

Before this appointment, Mr. Howell served as the Deputy Minister of Economic Development for the Ontario government. Prior to that appointment, he was the Deputy Minister of Tourism. He moved to Tourism from the Ministry of Finance where he was the Associate Deputy Minister of Finance, responsible for Treasury Board.

Mr. Howell was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Ontario Innovation Trust in July 2005.