2023 Canadian Business Leader Award Recipients

(MONTREAL) – December 6, 2022 – The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the honourees of our 2023 Canadian Business Awards:

Both awards were established to celebrate and recognize Canadian business executives at the top of their fields, who have distinguished themselves through stellar corporate leadership and meaningful contributions to their communities.

Both embody these traits wholeheartedly. Their long list of achievements inspire a sense of optimism and pride in the Canadian business community and its commitment to creating a brighter future for Canada.

Calin Rovinescu served as President & Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada from 2009 to 2021, during which time he led a financial and commercial transformation of Air Canada into a global champion. In a time of global financial uncertainty, he established a new direction and vision for the airline resulting in its unprecedented growth, profitability and stock market performance. Under his leadership, sustainability was emphasized, with the establishment of the Air Canada Foundation and numerous environmental and diversity achievements. He is a member of the Board of Directors of BCE Inc. and Scotiabank, and a senior advisor to Brookfield Asset Management and Teneo Inc., as well as a venture capital investor in emerging technologies.

Prior to 2009, Mr. Rovinescu was a Co-founder and Principal of Genuity Capital Markets, an independent investment bank. Prior to 2000, he was the Managing Partner of the law firm Stikeman Elliott in Montréal. Mr. Rovinescu also served as Chair of the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board from 2012 to 2016 and Chair of the International Air Transport Association in 2014-2015. He was appointed a member of the Order of Canada and has been inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. 

Rania Llewellyn was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of Laurentian Bank on October 30, 2020. She is the first woman to lead a major chartered bank in Canada. Ms. Llewellyn is a strategic, purpose-driven and innovative leader with more than 27 years of experience in the banking industry. In her first year as CEO of Laurentian, Ms. Llewellyn launched the Bank’s new strategic plan, purpose and core values setting it up on a path to drive long-term profitable and sustainable growth. Ms. Llewellyn previously served as Executive Vice President, Global Business Payments, at Scotiabank, where she began her career as a part-time teller. Over the years, she rose through the ranks and held increasingly senior positions such as Vice President, Multicultural Banking; President & CEO of Roynat Capital; Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking, Growth Strategy; and, Senior Vice President, Products and Services, Global Transaction Banking.

We look forward to celebrating these two visionary business leaders at a reception and dinner event on Thursday April 20, 2023 in Montreal, Quebec.

For more information or to attend the award ceremony, please contact Anick de Sousa

Director, Member Services & Export Services, 613.238.4000 (2239) or by email   adesousa@chamber.ca.  

About the Canadian Chamber of Commerce — The Future of Business Success

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is Canada’s largest and most activated business network — representing over 400 chambers of commerce and boards of trade and more than 200,000 businesses of all sizes, from all sectors of the economy and from every part of the country — to create the conditions for our collective success. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is the undisputed champion and catalyst for the future of business success. From working with government on economy-friendly policy to providing services that inform commerce and enable trade, we give each of our members more of what they need to succeed: insight into markets, competitors and trends, influence over the decisions and policies that drive business success and impact on business and economic performance.  

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Contact

Emily Walsh

Canadian Chamber of Commerce

ewalsh@chamber.ca