Gerry Phillips was appointed Chair of Cabinet and Minister Without Portfolio on June 20, 2008. Mr. Phillips has served as Minister of Energy, Minister of Government Services, Chair of Management Board of Cabinet and Minister of Citizenship and Immigration since 2003.

Mr. Phillips first entered provincial politics in 1987 when he was elected to represent Scarborough-Agincourt in the Ontario legislature.

In the previous Liberal government, Mr. Phillips served as Minister of Citizenship and later as Minister of Labour. In opposition, he served as finance and native affairs critic, and as chair of the economic policy committee for the official opposition.

After graduating with an honours bachelor of commerce from the University of Western Ontario's School of Business, Mr. Phillips worked for Procter & Gamble. In 1970, he joined the consulting firm of Canadian Marketing Associates and became president in 1977. Under his direction, Canadian Marketing Associates became Canada's leading marketing management consulting firm. He later founded two spin-off companies. In 1979, he launched the Sales Development Group, which became Canada's largest management consulting firm specializing in sales force consulting. Three years later, he founded the Retail Resource Group, which became one of the largest retail service groups in the country. By 1987, he was chair of all three companies, employing 300 people.

Mr. Phillips served as a school trustee for 11 years and during this period was chair of the Metropolitan Toronto School Board and the Scarborough Board of Education. He was also chair of the board of governors for Scarborough General Hospital and is a past president of the Bridlewood Community Association. Mr. Phillips coached in the Agincourt Lions Club Minor Hockey League for more than 25 years.

His wife, Kay, is a nationally recognized quilt maker who lectures and teaches throughout North America. They have four children and four grandchildren.