Corporate News

The Globe and Mail Report on Business announces Canada’s Top Five CEOs of 2020

CEO of the Year to be announced November 27

October 1, 2020

The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business today announced Canada’s top leaders of 2020 as part of its annual CEO of the Year award feature. The five CEOs represent the best of Canadian corporate leadership, innovation, vision, and responsibility. 

“These five CEOs have offered strong leadership through an extraordinary year,” says James Cowan, editor of Report on Business Magazine. “We’re pleased to celebrate their accomplishments and to share their stories and insights with Globe readers.”

The five winning CEOs are:

Corporate Citizen of the Year: Dave McKay, President and CEO, RBC

Awarded to a CEO whose personal leadership exemplifies the idea that businesses can do well by doing good. This leader’s decisions have made his/her company an excellent corporate citizen via its environmental, social, advocacy, community and/or other corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Global Visionary of the Year: Sean Boyd, Vice-Chairman and CEO, Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.

Awarded to a CEO who has successfully expanded the scope of his or her organization beyond Canada’s borders. The winner demonstrates an exceptional understanding of international commerce and shrewd eye for choosing markets, establishing timelines and forging the connections needed to build a global brand.

Innovator of the Year: Murad Al-Katib, President and CEO, AGT Food and Ingredients Inc. 

Awarded to a CEO whose vision and guidance has been instrumental in the successful creation and commercialization of a truly disruptive product or service, and/or who has pioneered a groundbreaking way of doing business.

New CEO of the Year: Christy Wyatt, President and CEO, Absolute Software

Recognizing a CEO with less than three years of tenure in his or her current role, who has had a significant impact on the company and its strategy

Strategist of the Year: Dr. Ajay K. Virmani President and CEO, Cargojet

Awarded to a CEO whose bold decisions have materially changed and improved the strategic position of his or her business.

All five of these winners will be profiled editorially in the December issue of Report on Business magazine, out online on Friday, November 27 and in print on Saturday, November 28. One of these extraordinary leaders will also be named overall CEO of the Year on the cover of the magazine.

All five winners will participate in a webcast on December 9, sharing their expertise and vision for the year ahead. Registration for this webcast will be open to all readers of The Globe and Mail.

The award-winning Report on Business editorial team drew on their deep industry and market knowledge, shrewd analytical capabilities and unbiased perspectives to nominate, debate and vote on the winners in all categories. The CEO must lead a Canadian company (public or private), or the Canadian arm of an international corporation, or a not-for-profit organization. Because great leadership exists through collaboration, the company led by each winner must also demonstrate proof of sustained organizational success.

Report on Business magazine is the magazine for leaders, providing exclusive, intelligent business and financial journalism in the public interest on Canadian business, the economy and investments, to help readers manage their companies, their careers and their wealth to over 2.1 million print and digital readers. 

For more information on the CEO of the Year program or the December 9 webcast, please contact Deborah Aarts, Senior Program Manager, Business and Financial Products, The Globe and Mail at DAarts@globeandmail.com.