Alumna is Business Leader of the Year

By Communications Staff

Bonnie Brooks, vice-chair Hudson’s Bay Company, has been named the winner of the Ivey Business Leader Award. Brooks, the first woman to receive award, will address Canada’s most prominent business leaders on Oct. 30 at a gala dinner in Toronto.

Brooks joined Canada’s pioneering retailer as president and CEO in 2008 and was appointed to president of the Hudson’s Bay Company in 2012 when Lord & Taylor (USA) was rolled into the company. Successfully engineering a major turnaround at The Bay over the past five years, she was named vice-chair in 2014 – one more achievement in a ground-breaking career in the retail fashion industry which spans over three decades and three continents.

“Bonnie Brooks is a visionary leader in her field. Always ahead of the curve, she has a knack for boldly seizing opportunities that many do not have the courage to pursue, while simultaneously anticipating trends that will change the competitive landscape in the medium term,” said Bob Kennedy, Ivey Business School dean. “I am proud to say Bonnie is one of our graduates. She embodies so many of the leadership qualities we aim to develop at the school, and we are proud of her success.”