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Linda Hasenfratz is the Chief Executive Officer of Linamar Corporation, a diversified global manufacturing company of highly engineered products powering vehicles, motion, work and lives. The company is made up of two operating segments – the Powertrain/Driveline segment and the Industrial segments which are further divided into four key divisions – Manufacturing, Driveline, Industrial Commercial Energy (“ICE”) and Skyjack, all world leaders in the design, development and production of highly engineered products. Ms. Hasenfratz joined her father’s company in 1990 and worked her way up from the ground floor, experiencing all aspects of the business including running a machine, engineering and operations management. Since her tenure as the Chief Executive Officer started, Ms. Hasenfratz has grown the company from an $800 million enterprise to over a $3.5 billion company.
Ms. Hasenfratz’ enthusiasm for the arts prompted her to join the Board of Governors of the Royal Ontario Museum in 2002 where she was subsequently named Vice-Chair, a position she still holds today with great passion. In 2012 Ms. Hasenfratz became the inaugural Chair of the Philanthropy Leadership Cabinet of the Guelph General Hospital. Involvement in charitable organziations continues to be an important focus for her.
Ms. Hasenfratz has also sat on the Board of Advisors for Catalyst Canada since 2003 and the Government council, Women on Boards Advisory Council since early 2013. Ms. Hasenfratz’ desire to see women progress in business to the top level of industry prompted her to participate in these two key initiatives.
Strengthening her position as a Canadian and global leader, Ms. Hasenfratz was appointed to the CIBC Board of Directors in 2004. She was Canadian Chair of the North American Competitiveness Council in 2008, a trilateral group of executives from Canada, the United States and Mexico convened by the countries’ leaders to debate and advise on key recommendations regarding enhancement of the NAFTA region. Ms. Hasenfratz became a member of the Board of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives in 2010 and was appointed Vice Chair in early 2013. Her contribution to this important policy and advisory group has assisted her in developing relationships and advancing ideas to key business and Government leaders. In 2002, Ms. Hasenfratz was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40.
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Ms. Hasenfratz supports one of Linamar’s key industries, the automotive industry, through her board position on the Original Equipment Suppliers Association since 2005 where she was also Chair during the automotive crisis of 2009. Her success has also seen her appointed as the first female director to the Faurecia Board of Directors, a French automotive supplier, in 2011. Ms. Hasenfratz has been named one of the Automotive News 100 Leading Women in each year of its publication in 2000, 2005 and 2010.
Ms. Hasenfratz was recognized for her contributions to Canadian business through an Honourary Degree from Ryerson University in Toronto in 2003 and an Honourary Degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo in 2011 as well as the Outstanding Leader Award from the same institution in 2007. In the spring of 2014 The Asper School of Business at the University of Winnipeg honoured Ms. Hasenfratz with the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA) which is to honour a business leader who has achieved outstanding entrepreneurial success and has made an exemplary contribution to economic life.
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