Founder & Chairman of the Board of Directors, WestJet Airlines
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Class of 2012
Instrumental in developing one of the most successful airlines in recent aviation history, Clive Beddoe is a founding shareholder and Chairman of the Board of Directors at WestJet Airlines.
Offering Canadians low fares and an unsurpassed guest experience, WestJet has fundamentally changed air travel in Canada. Over 80M guests have chosen to fly with the airline since it entered into operation and impressively, it now boasts a fleet of 90 aircraft, with more than 8,000 Canadian employees, serving approximately 3,000 flights per week to 71 destinations in Canada, the united States, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Mr. Beddoe’s keen business acumen has shaped the development of WestJet’s corporate culture, executive team and strategy. A true entrepreneur and visionary, his strong background in financial planning and strategic management was gained through several successful real estate and plastics enterprises.
In 2000, Mr. Beddoe and his fellow WestJet founders received the Worldwide Award for Teamwork at the World Entrepreneur of the year celebrations and, in 2004, he received the prestigious Canadian Business Leader Award from the university of Alberta Faculty of Business and the Business Advisory Council.
In 2009, Mr. Beddoe was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Legends – Visionary category, and in 2008 was recognized by the University of Victoria’s School of Business as their Distinguished Entrepreneur of the year. Bestowed with an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the university of Calgary, Mr. Beddoe is also a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian youth Business Federation (2007).
Mr. Beddoe is personally involved in numerous organizations, most notably the Boys and Girls Club of Canada.