Belinda Stronach

Background

Stronach is the daughter of the founder of Magna International, Frank Stronach. She attended York University in 1985, where she studied business and economics, but dropped out after one year to work at Magna.

Related Topics:
Frank Stronach - York University - 1985

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Stronach is twice divorced and has two children, Frank and Nikki. She speaks English and German fluently, and is proficient in French.

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In February 2001, she was appointed chief executive officer of Magna, and in January 2002, she also became its president. While she led Magna, the company added 3,000 jobs in Canada, 1,000 of them being in the Newmarket-Aurora area she now represents in Parliament. In addition, under her leadership Magna had record sales and profits each year.

Related Topics:
2001 - 2002 - Canada

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Stronach was a member of the board of directors of Magna from 1988 until 2004. She became a vice-president of the company in 1995 and executive vice-president in 1999, until her appointment as president and chief executive officer. She has chaired the boards of Decoma International Inc., Tesma International Inc., and Intier Automotive Inc., all in the auto parts sector. She was a founding member of the Canadian Automotive Partnership Council and served on the Ontario Task Force on Productivity, Competitiveness and Economic Progress. She is a director of the Yves Landry Foundation, which furthers technological education and skills training in the manufacturing sector.

Related Topics:
Board of directors - 1988

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In 2001, the National Post named Stronach as the most powerful businesswoman in Canada; and, in the same year, the World Economic Forum named her a "Global Leader of Tomorrow." Fortune Magazine ranked her #2 in its list of the world's most powerful women in business in 2002. She was also named one of Canada's "Top 40 Under 40." In April 2004, Time Magazine ranked her as one of the world's 100 most influential people.

Related Topics:
National Post - World Economic Forum - Fortune Magazine - Time Magazine

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Stronach is honorary chair of the Southlake Regional Health Centre fundraising campaign and a former honorary chair of the Howdown fundraising campaign. In 2003, she received one of Canada's oldest and most distinguished awards, the Beth Shalom Humanitarian Award, presented in recognition of outstanding achievement in humanitarian service. She is reputedly a close friend of former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, and former Ontario Premier Mike Harris.

Related Topics:
Fundraising - 2003 - Humanitarian - Bill Clinton - Canadian Prime Minister - Brian Mulroney - Ontario Premier - Mike Harris

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She is twice divorced; her first husband was Magna executive Donald Walker and her second was Norwegian speed skating legend Johann Olav Koss. She has two children from her first marriage, Frank and Nikki.

Related Topics:
Norwegian - Speed skating - Johann Olav Koss

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Stronach speaks English and German fluently. She does not speak French, but she can read it.

Related Topics:
English - German - French

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In a Toronto Star interview published January 8, 2005, Stronach confirmed that she was dating deputy Conservative leader Peter MacKay. After she left the Conservative Party, the Canadian Press reported that she and he are taking "a break from their relationship." The National Post reported that MacKay was "gobsmacked" by her decision to join the Liberals.

Related Topics:
Toronto Star - January 8 - 2005 - Peter MacKay - Canadian Press

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