Report on Business magazine announces Best Executive Awards winners 2025

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 6, 2025

Report on Business magazine is pleased to announce the winners of its sixth annual Best Executive Awards. This program celebrates non-CEO leaders at the SVP, EVP and C-suite (or equivalent) levels who are making a strong impact on their business and demonstrating excellent leadership skills.

The 2025 winners represent the best of Canadian leadership in six functional areas: Finance; Human Resources; Operations; Sales and Marketing; Technology; and Sustainability.

“Now more than ever, Canada needs strong leaders – and not just in the top job,” says Dawn Calleja, editor, Report on Business magazine, “The Best Executive Awards program helps shine a light on outstanding non-CEO execs and brings their insight, strategy and creative problem-solving to the rest of corporate Canada.”

Winning executives were chosen after a call for nominations for non-CEO Canadian leaders at public and private businesses, not-for-profits, associations, and academic institutions. Nominations were assessed by the Report on Business editorial team based on career background, leadership style, achievements, and impact.

Winners will be featured in the May 2025 issue of Report on Business magazine, digitally on April 25 and in print on April 26. The Globe and Mail will host the annual Best Executives Summit to celebrate winners and their achievements on May 29, 2025.

The winners of the 2025 Best Executive Awards are:

Finance

  • Eugene Lei, chief financial officer, Hudbay Minerals

  • Chadwick Westlake, senior vice president and chief financial officer, EQB

  • Monisha Sharma, chief revenue officer, Fig Financial

  • Aaron Bennett, chief investment officer, University Pension Plan

  • Nav Dhillon, chief financial officer, Aviva Canada

 

Human Resources

  • Stephanie McDonald, chief people, culture and transformation officer, MDA Space

  • Helena Pagano, executive vice president, chief people and culture officer, Sun Life (Global)

  • Meaghan Whitney, chief people officer, Blackline Safety

  • Angie Ng, vice president, people and organization, Novo Nordisk Canada

Operations

  • Corey Pacht, partner and executive vice president of operations, Fitzrovia

  • Valérie Lavoie, executive vice president, property and casualty insurance, Desjardins Group

  • Marie-Lucie Paradis, senior vice president, belairdirect, Intact Financial

  • Deepak Pabla, executive director, Vantage Logistics Services

  • Husein Rahemtulla, chief operating officer, Fresh Prep Foods

  • Paul Hogan, general manager, International, Conagra Brands

  • Jason Bubba, chief operating officer, NORCAT

  • Kristy Shortall, executive vice president of development, Northcrest Developments

 

Sustainability

  • Jason Ashdown, co-founder and chief sustainability officer, Skyline

  • Josh Lewis, vice president, engineering, NERVA Energy Group

Technology

  • Rex Lee, chief information and technology officer, Canadian Tire

  • Casandra Mangroo, senior vice president of product and science, BenchSci

  • Deval Pandya, vice president, AI engineering, The Vector Institute

 

Sales and Marketing

  • Jayme Minor, vice president Sales, MAXgreen Windows, Siding and Roofing

  • Jacqui Allard, group head, global wealth management, Scotiabank

  • Sarah Chapman, chief marketing officer, wealth and asset management and global chief sustainability officer, Manulife Financial

  • Rachel MacAdam, vice president marketing, Skip

  • Mandy Mail, executive vice president, head of marketing, communications & GreenShield Cares, Greenshield

  • Louise Clements, global chief marketing officer, WorkJam

About The Globe and Mail

The Globe and Mail is Canada’s foremost news media company, leading the national discussion and causing policy change through brave and independent journalism since 1844. With our award-winning coverage of business, politics and national affairs, The Globe and Mail newspaper reaches 6.1 million readers every week in our print or digital formats, and Report on Business magazine reaches 2.8 million readers in print and digital every issue. Our investment in innovative data science means that as the world continues to change, so does The Globe. The Globe and Mail is owned by Woodbridge, the investment arm of the Thomson family.

Source: Vividata SCC Fall 2024, National, Adults 18+ 

 

Media Contact:

Lindsey Lowy

llowy@globeandmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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