Corporate News

The Globe and Mail Report on Business announces Canada’s Top Five CEOs of 2019

CEO of the Year to be announced at November 25 gala

October 16, 2019

The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business today announced Canada’s top leaders of 2019 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. 

“Although in the past we’ve focused on a single CEO for the prestigious CEO of the Year honor, this year we changed the process so we could better acknowledge the breadth of leaders and leadership strengths in Canada,” said Derek DeCloet, Executive Editor of Report on Business at The Globe and Mail. “This provides Canadians with more insight about the people who are leading our country’s most successful companies.”

The five winning CEOs are:

Corporate Citizen of the Year: George Cope, CEO, Bell Canada

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: Dani Reiss, President and CEO, Canada Goose

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: Dax Dasilva, Founder and CEO, Lightspeed

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: Susan Senecal, CEO, A&W Food Services of Canada

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: Calin Rovinescu, President and CEO, Air Canada

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

One of these extraordinary leaders will be named overall CEO of the Year during a gala event on November 25, 2019 and be featured on the December cover of Report on Business magazine.

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, or the Canadian arm of an international corporation. Their companies can be public or private and not-for-profit organizations, industry associations or academic institutions were considered in special circumstances. Because great leadership exists through collaboration, the company led by each winner must also demonstrate proof of sustained organizational success.

The five winners will be featured in the December 2019 issue of Report on Business magazine, available in print on November 29. 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 1.8 million print and digital readers.

More information on the winning CEOs and about the CEO of the Year program can be found online: globeandmailevents.com/2019CEO