Telecommunications visionary receives CBLA
March 03, 2011
TELUS CEO and President Darren Entwistle
Dean Mike Percy is pleased to share that Darren Entwistle – leader of the TELUS Corporation and the longest-serving CEO amongst incumbent telecom companies globally – received the School’s 30th Canadian Business Leader Award (CBLA) on March 2 in front of a record crowd of over 900. In Darren's ten-year tenure, TELUS states that it has delivered the highest shareholder returns among incumbent telecom companies on a global basis.
TELUS has also recently been recognized as the most outstanding philanthropic corporation globally by the US-based Association of Fundraising Professionals.
“Our students and our community look forward to honouring and hearing from Darren, a true visionary, on his model of innovation, life-long learning, and giving back to the community,” Dean Mike Percy said.
The CBLA, the School’s signature event attended by over 900 members of Alberta’s business community, will take place on March 2, 2011 in Edmonton. Exposing students to great leaders is at the heart of the CBLA award. Over 100 students are typically able to attend the dinner thanks to sponsoring individuals and companies. The CBLA recipient also participates in an informal session with MBA students earlier in the day.
“Being a recipient of the Canadian Business Leader Award is a genuine honour,” Darren said. “I extend my heartfelt thanks to the entire TELUS team for their extraordinary commitment to our company’s strategy, our customers and the communities in which we live, work, and serve. I look forward to connecting with the students on March 2nd, as I believe this generation of Canadians has the courage to innovate by leveraging technology to answer our foremost challenges from healthcare delivery to Canada’s global competitiveness.”
Since 1982, recipients of the CBLA are leaders, entrepreneurs, and pioneers of progress in the business world recognized for their outstanding achievements and business acumen, and are selected by the 34-member international Business Advisory Council of the Alberta School of Business. Past recipients include Gord Nixon, Royal Bank of Canada, 2010; Hal Kvisle, TransCanada, 2009; Tony Franceschini, Stantec, 2008; Dominic D’Alessandro, Manulife Financial Corporation, 2007; and Jim Pattison, the Jim Pattison Group, 2006.
Darren Entwistle’s bio follows.
For further information please contact:
Monica Wegner
Communications Strategist
780.492.7996
Monica.wegner@ualberta.ca
Susan Robertson
Manager, Special Events and Donor Relations
780.492.2348
Susan.robertson@ualberta.ca
Related Links
Canadian Business Leader Awards
Business Advisory Council
Darren Entwistle – TELUS Corporation
Darren Entwistle has been President and CEO of TELUS Corporation since July 10, 2000. Over the last ten years, during one of the most turbulent periods in Canadian telecommunications history, he has transformed TELUS from a regional telephone company into a leading national communications provider through a growth strategy focused on data and wireless. In 2000, TELUS became a national wireless provider with the $6.6 billion purchase of Clearnet. TELUS expanded its capabilities and reach through other acquisitions such as QuebecTel, Williams Communications Canada Inc., Emergis, and Black’s.
Today, TELUS is recognized worldwide for its innovation and strong financial performance with $9.6 billion of annual revenue. Notably, from the beginning of 2000 through October 2010, TELUS has delivered the highest total shareholder returns among incumbent telecommunication companies on a global basis.
Complementing TELUS’ corporate performance is the company’s commitment to being Canada’s premier corporate citizen. In 2010, TELUS was recognized as the most outstanding philanthropic corporation globally by the United States-based Association of Fundraising Professionals. This is the first time a Canadian company has been recognized.
TELUS’ philosophy is to “give where we live”, and since 2000, TELUS and its team members have contributed $158 million to charitable and not-for-profit organizations and volunteered more than 3.1 million hours of service to local communities. Nine TELUS Community Boards lead the company’s local philanthropic initiatives.
TELUS is also committed to helping to transform the healthcare system in Canada by using innovative technology to improve efficiency and patient outcomes. Branham Group, a leading technology consultancy, has named TELUS the number one healthcare IT company in Canada for three consecutive years.
Darren leads by example. He is the longest-serving CEO among global incumbent telecom companies. Guided by his belief in the TELUS team’s ability to create sustainable value, Darren is taking the entirety of his 2010 annual cash salary compensation net of taxes in TELUS shares. He is on a number of boards, including the Canadian Council of Chief Executives and McGill University. He has also sat on the boards of TD Bank Financial Group, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and the Leading Edge Endowment Fund. Darren also served as Chair of the Royal Conservatory of Music’s Capital Campaign and was a Director for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games bid committee.
Born in Montreal, Darren earned a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) degree from Concordia University, an MBA in Finance from McGill University, and a diploma in Network Engineering from the University of Toronto. Prior to joining TELUS, Darren, a 20-year veteran of the communications industry, spent seven years on the senior leadership team at Cable & Wireless in the United Kingdom, culminating with his appointment as President for the United Kingdom and Ireland operations in 1999.