The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that the longest-serving chief economist at the country's big banks, Royal Bank of Canada's Craig Wright, has announced plans to retire at the end of June. The Globe's Andrew Willis writes that Mr. Wright joined RBC in 1994 and served as chief economist for 23 years. In an internal e-mail to employees on Tuesday, RBC senior vice-president John Stackhouse said clients called Mr. Wright "'the fascinating economist' for finding ways to make economics news interesting." RBC plans to name a new chief economist ahead of Mr. Wright's departure this summer. The internal note said Mr. Wright "helped the bank, our clients and partners in the public and private sector navigate major issues, from 9/11 to the global financial crisis, through Brexit, and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and interest rate hikes." Over the course of his career, Mr. Wright forecast markets for four RBC chief executives, and across the administrations of four Canadian prime ministers. In addition to his responsibilities at RBC, Mr. Wright is one of 13 members on the C.D. Howe Monetary Policy Council, which gives independent advice on inflation targets and interest rates to the Bank of Canada.