Rick George, Suncor Energy Inc. chief executive officer, will receive the 2012 Ivey Business Leader Award and address Canada’s prominent business leaders at a gala dinner on Oct. 17.
George was appointed president and CEO of Suncor Energy Inc. in 1991, and currently holds the CEO position of the company. In 1999, he was named ‘Outstanding CEO of the Year’ after leading a remarkable business turnaround at Suncor, and received the Canadian Business Leader Award in 2000. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in December 2007 for his leadership in the development of Canada’s natural resources sector, for his efforts to provide economic opportunities to Aboriginal communities and for his commitment to sustainable development.
“Rick George has all the qualities of an exemplary Canadian business leader,” says Carol Stephenson, Richard Ivey School of Business dean. “He is a natural leader who stands out not just as a tremendous strategic thinker, but also has a strong connection and dedication to giving back to the community. He embodies the Ivey spirit of leadership and sets a positive example we should embrace and acknowledge.”
George was inducted into the Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame in 2008 and named Canadian Energy Person of the Year in 2011 by the Energy Council of Canada. He was a member of the Calgary Committee to End Homelessness in 2007 and chair of the 2008 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference.
Created in 1991 by the Ivey Alumni Association/Toronto Chapter, the Ivey Business Leader Award honours individuals and organizations who have made a significant contribution to the advancement of business in Canada, and reflect the ideals of the Richard Ivey School of Business.
“Rick George’s accomplishments are second-to-none and he richly deserves this award,” says Jill Denham, HBA’83, co-chair of the Ivey Business Leader Award Committee. “His leadership has transformed Suncor into a true Canadian corporate success story.”
The Ivey Business Leader Award, co-Chaired by Denham and Paul Atkinson, HBA’86, managing director of Southwest Sun Inc., will be presented at a black-tie dinner at Toronto’s Four Seasons Hotel. Proceeds from the event support the Ivey Alumni Association Toronto Chapter HBA and MBA Scholarships established to attract top students to the School and the Toronto Alumni Faculty Fellowship in Business Leadership.