LONDON, ON – February 23, 2015 – Jeff Orr, President and CEO of Power Financial Corporation will receive the Ivey Business Leader Award and address Canada’s most prominent business leaders at an annual gala dinner in Toronto on October 20, 2015.
Mr. Orr was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Power Financial in 2005 and is Chairman of a number of Power Financial subsidiaries, including Great-West Lifeco, London Life, Canada Life, Putnam Investments, IGM Financial, Investors Group and Mackenzie Financial. Prior to his time at Power, Mr. Orr spent four years as President and Chief Executive Officer of IGM Financial Inc. He began his career with BMO Nesbitt Burns in 1981 where he ascended through the ranks to become their Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the Vice-Chair, Investment Banking Group, Bank of Montreal.
“Jeff Orr personifies what it means to be a great business leader in Canada. He has had a successful career, and is also generous with his time and energy outside of the workplace,” said Bob Kennedy, Dean of the Ivey Business School at Western University. “Jeff continues to have a tremendous impact at Ivey. He provides thoughtful advice to school leaders, sits on the Advisory Council for the Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership, and regularly engages with students. I am happy to recognize Jeff's success and many accomplishments with the Ivey Business Leader Award.”
Mr. Orr, an Ivey HBA ’81 alumnus, is deeply involved in his community. He has been active with a number of organizations for many years, including Centraide (United Way), the Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal and the United Way in Toronto. He is also a past board member of the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation and the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto.
Mr. Orr also maintains strong ties to the School, having served on the Ivey Advisory Board since 2006, hosting alumni events and speaking at student functions.
“Jeff Orr was a natural choice to be named Ivey’s Business Leader of the Year,” said Kevin O’Brien, HBA ’93, Chair of the Ivey Business Leader Award Dinner. “He has not only built an incredible reputation as a talented business person, but also understands the importance of giving back to the community.”
The Ivey Business Leader Award will be presented at a black-tie dinner on October 20, 2015 at The Ritz-Carlton Toronto. Proceeds from the annual event support the Ivey Alumni Network Toronto Chapter HBA and MBA Scholarships established to attract top students to the School, the Toronto Alumni Professorship in Business Leadership, and the new Ivey Building.
Mr. Orr joins an esteemed list of past Ivey Business Leader Award recipients demonstrating leadership in both business and their communities. Past recipients of the award include:
- 2014: Bonnie Brooks, Vice Chair, Hudson’s Bay Company
- 2013: George Cope, CEO Bell Canada
- 2012: Rick George, Former CEO Suncor Inc.
- 2011: Ed Clark, Group President and CEO of TD Bank Group (TD)
- 2010: Peter Munk, Founder and Chairman of Barrick Gold Corporation
- 2009: Richard J. Currie, Past Chairman, BCE Inc. and former President, Loblaw Companies Limited and George Weston Limited
- 2008: Dominic D'Alessandro, President & CEO, Manulife Financial
- 2007: Claude Lamoureux, President & CEO and Robert Bertram, Executive Vice-President, Investments, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
- 2006: Isadore Sharp, Chairman and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels Inc.
- 2005: Peter Godsoe, former Chairman and CEO, The Bank of Nova Scotia
- 2002: Gwyn Morgan, President and CEO, EnCana Corporation
- 2001: Harrison McCain, Chairman, McCain Foods Limited, and G. Wallace McCain, Chairman, Maple Leaf Foods Inc.
- 2000: Purdy Crawford, Chairman, AT&T Canada
- 1999: Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, led by Prem Watsa, Chairman
- 1998: Paul Desmarais, Chairman, Power Corporation of Canad
- 1997: Frank Stronach, Chairman of the Board, Magna International Inc
- 1996: Jean C. Monty, President and CEO, Northern Telecom Limite
- 1995: R. Jack Lawrence, Deputy Chairman, Nesbitt Burns Inc.
- 1994: Robert Nourse, President and CEO, The Bombay Company Inc.
- 1993: Cedric E. Ritchie, Chairman, The Bank of Nova Scotia
- 1992: John C. Carroll, President and CEO, Molson Breweries
- 1991: John M. Thompson, Chairman and CEO, IBM Canada Limited
About the Ivey Business School, Western University
The Ivey Business School (www.ivey.ca) at Western University is Canada’s leading provider of relevant, innovative and comprehensive business education. Drawing on extensive research and business experience, Ivey faculty provides the best classroom experience, equipping graduates with the skills and capabilities they need to tackle the leadership challenges in today’s complex business world. Ivey offers world-renowned undergraduate and graduate degree programs as well as Executive Education at campuses in London (Ontario), Toronto and Hong Kong.
Related Articles
