Chairman, The Wilson Foundation, Chancellor, Canadian Business Hall of Fame, and Chancellor Emeritus, McMaster University
Born and educated in Port Colborne, Mr. Wilson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from McMaster University and an MA from Cornell University. Following appointment as a Foreign Service officer with Canada’s Department of Trade and Commerce in 1962, Mr. Wilson was Assistant Commercial Secretary at the Canadian Embassy in Vienna 1963-65 and Second Secretary in Tokyo 1967-68. He served as Corporate Economist and Director of Economic Research, John Labatt Limited 1969-71, Coordinator, Industrial R & D Policy for the Ministry of State, Science & Technology 1972, Strategic Planning and Development Officer, MacMillan Bloedel Ltd., 1973-74, and Vice President & Director, MacMillan Bloedel Enterprises Inc. 1974-77.
Mr. Wilson was appointed Executive Director, Policy & Priorities, Ministry of Industry & Tourism, Government of Ontario 1977-78; Deputy Minister of Industry & Tourism 1978-81. He was President and Chief Executive Officer, Redpath Industries Limited 1981-88; Managing Director, North America, Tate & Lyle PLC 1986-89; Chairman of the Board, Redpath Industries Limited 1988-89; Vice Chairman, The Bank of Nova Scotia, Toronto 1989-90.
He served as President & COO, BCE Inc. 1990 – 92; President and Chief Executive Officer, BCE Inc. 1992-93; Chairman, President & CEO , BCE Inc. 1993-96; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BCE Inc. 1996-98; and Chairman of the Board, BCE Inc. 1998-2000.
Mr. Wilson was a Founding Co-Chairman of the Historica Foundation of Canada (now Historica Canada), and is a director of Historica Canada. He was Chairman of the Government of Canada’s Competition Policy Review Panel (2007 – 2008) and a member of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Committee on the Public Service (2006 – 2010). Mr. Wilson is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a Companion of the Order of the Business Hall of Fame, the 2014 Vanier Medalist (IPAC) for contributions to Public Service and Public Administration, and is the recipient of honourary degrees from six Canadian universities.
