Annette Verschuren is president, The Home Depot Canada and Asia. Ms. Verschuren joined the The Home Depot in 1996, and has overseen the company’s growth from 19 Canadian stores to 179 stores. In 2006, she was chosen to head the company’s expansion into Asia, where she is responsible for The Home Depot’s Chinese stores.

Ms. Verschuren began her career as a development officer with the Cape Breton Development Corporation, in Sydney, Nova Scotia. She then worked with Canada Development Investment Corporation, as executive vice-president, privatizing crown corporations, before joining Imasco Ltd. as vice-president, corporate development. Prior to joining The Home Depot, Ms. Verschuren was president and co-owner of Michaels of Canada, a chain of arts and craft stores.

In 2006, Wilfrid Laurier University named Ms. Verschuren its Outstanding Business Leader of the Year. In 2005, the Retail Council of Canada named her Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year.

Appointed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Ms. Verschuren is a member North American Competitiveness Council, part of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America. She also serves as a member of Finance Minister Flaherty’s economic advisory council – a group of 11 Canadian business leaders charged with advising the Government of Canada on the global economic crisis.

A native of North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Ms. Verschuren is a board member of Liberty Mutual, a Boston, Massachusetts-based insurance company, and the Conference Board of Canada. She also serves as vice chair of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives.

Ms. Verschuren is a passionate advocate for volunteerism and giving back to the community. She serves as chancellor of Cape Breton University, honorary patron of The Home Depot Canada Foundation, and chair of Habitat for Humanity’s national leadership council.

Ms. Verschuren holds honorary doctorate degrees from Mount Saint Vincent University and from St. Francis Xavier University, where she also earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.