Annette Verschuren
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Annette Verschuren | |
---|---|
Born | North Sydney, Nova Scotia |
Occupation | Chair & CEO of NRStor Inc. |
Known for | President of The Home Depot Canada and Asia |
Awards | Order of Canada |
Annette Verschuren, OC is a Canadian business woman. She is currently the chair & CEO of NRStor Inc.,[1] an energy storage development company. Formerly, she was the President of The Home Depot Canada and the Home Depot Asia,[2] overseeing the growth of the company's Canadian operations from 19 to 179 stores between 1996 and 2011. She also led The Home Depot's entry into China.
Career[]
Verschuren began her career as a development officer with the Cape Breton Development Corporation, a coal mining operation, in Sydney, Nova Scotia. She then worked with Canada Development Investment Corporation as executive vice-president, privatizing crown corporations, before joining Imasco Ltd., one of Canada's largest holding companies in financial services, retail and food services, as vice-president, corporate development. Immediately prior to joining The Home Depot, Ms. Verschuren was president and co-owner of Michaels of Canada, a chain of arts and crafts stores, where she opened 17 stores in 24 months.
Verschuren is a board member of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group of Boston, Air Canada, Saputo Inc.[3] and Canadian Natural Resources Limited. In addition, Ms. Verschuren is a board member of The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation and the Chair of the MaRS Discovery District Board. Additionally, Annette Verschuren is Chair of the Board of Directors for Sustainable Development Technology Canada, a federal foundation that provides non-repayable contributions to Canadian clean technology companies. She also chairs Science Development and Technology Council for the federal government. She co-chairs the Smart Prosperity Initiative which is mapping out a course to a stronger, cleaner economy for Canada.
Corporate social responsibility[]
In 2011, Verschuren was honoured as an Officer of The Order of Canada for her contribution to the retail industry and corporate social responsibility.[4] In 2010, she was appointed co-chair of the 2012 Governor General's Leadership Conference, Canada's premier leadership training event. Annette Verschuren was honoured by the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2019.
A champion of community investment and volunteerism, Verschuren serves as chancellor of Cape Breton University and chaired fundraising efforts for the University's new Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy & the Environment (VCSEE).
Verschuren has previously served as the vice chair of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives,[5] as a member of the North American Competitiveness Council and a member of the Economic Advisory Council, a group of 11 Canadian business leaders charged with advising the Government of Canada on the 2008 global economic crisis.[6]
Author[]
Verschuren recently wrote a business book "Bet On Me", leading and succeeding in business and in life, published by Harper Collins. The book was a Finalist for the National Business Book Award in 2017.[7]
Education[]
Verschuren received a Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Francis Xavier University.[8]
Personal life[]
Verschuren and her husband, Stan, live in Toronto, Ontario. She returns frequently to her familial roots and long-time home in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
References[]
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Dana Flavelle (January 12, 2011). "Face of Home Depot Canada is changing". Toronto Star.
- ^ "Saputo Announces Election of Directors".
- ^ "Appointments to the Order of Canada". June 30, 2011.
- ^ http://www.ceocouncil.ca/pacific/speakers/annette-verschuren
- ^ "Biography – Annette Verschuren, President, The Home Depot Canada" (PDF). The Globe and Mail. Toronto.
- ^ Archipelago, World. "Bet On Me - Annette Verschuren - Hardcover". HarperCollins Canada. Retrieved 2017-06-27.
- ^ "Annette Verschuren President - The Home Depot Canada and Asia". Canadian Club. Archived from the original on 2011-10-06. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
- Living people
- Canadian chief executives
- Canadian women business executives
- Canadian university and college chancellors
- Officers of the Order of Canada
- St. Francis Xavier University alumni
- People from North Sydney, Nova Scotia
- Canadian women academics
- Women academic administrators
- Canadian academic administrators