NEWS RELEASE – TORONTO, CANADA – JULY 24, 2018 – ELO is pleased to announce that Rob Wildeboer is the recipient of the “Entrepreneurial Leaders Award,” to be presented on November 22nd, 2018 at the ELO Forum in Toronto.
Rob is the Executive Chairman and co-founder of Martinrea International Inc., a global auto parts supplier, specializing in automotive fluid systems and metal forming products. Martinrea has over 15,000 employees at 38 divisions in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Europe and China and generates almost $4 billion in revenue. Previously, Rob was a partner of Wildeboer Dellelce LLP, a law firm that practises corporate, securities and tax law that he co-founded in 1993, and he remains Counsel to the firm. Prior to that, he was a lawyer with Stikeman, Elliott; an associate professor of law at Osgoode Hall Law School, where he taught corporate law and corporate finance; and a regulator with the Ontario Securities Commission.
Rob is Vice-Chairman of the Auto Parts Manufacturers Association (APMA); a director of the Canadian Automotive Partnership Counsel (CAPC); a member of the Ontario Manufacturing Council; a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Minister of Finance of Canada; and Chair of the CEO Manufacturing Advisory Council.
He has been a director or adviser of numerous charitable organizations. He is actively involved in his church and denomination and a wide range of worthy causes. He is Chair of Cardus, a faith-based think tank. He was Chair of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute for eight years and is now on their Advisory Board. He has been on the Ontario Advisory Board for Entrepreneurial Leaders Organization for five years.
In 2012, he received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his contributions to Canada. Rob holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Guelph, a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, an MBA from York University, and an LLM from Harvard University.
The purpose of the ELO Entrepreneurial Leader Award to recognize the track record of a person(s) who can serve as an inspiration to others to pursue Christian entrepreneurial leadership. Rob meets all the criteria for Identifying a suitable nominee.
- Exemplifies the qualities of entrepreneurial leadership that are embedded in a Christian worldview
- International stature with significant influence
- Long-term influence in their chosen profession, whether directly or indirectly related to Christian ministry
- Success in business based on a thorough assessment of financial performance, strategic direction and product or service innovation
- Community involvement, whether church, para-church or philanthropic activities
- Outstanding reputation for integrity in terms of living out faith
- The person must be a role model to inspire other entrepreneurs to others to greater heights of significance