W. Galen Weston

Class of 2011

W. Galen Weston is the Chairman and President of George Weston Limited, a company founded by his grandfather, George Weston, in 1882. In a career that has spanned five decades, he has at one time or another been responsible for virtually every type of retail operation imaginable, including grocery, luxury and discount, as well as one of North America’s largest commercial baking companies. While his home base is Canada – anchored solidly by Weston Foods and Loblaw – Mr. Weston’s business interests have extended to a number of other countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Germany. As a result of his leadership, the market capitalization of George Weston and Loblaw today stand at $10 billion and $11 billion respectively.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario as well as Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Western and Queen’s. He is the Past Chairman of the Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific (Canada), a past member of the International Advisory Council of Columbia University and an Honourary trustee of The Upper Canada College Foundation. He is also an Officer of the Order of Canada (1990), a member of the Order of Ontario (2005) and a Commander in the Order of St. John (1997).

Mr. Weston is the Chairman of Holt Renfrew (Canada), Selfridges (UK) and Brown Thomas (Ireland), as well as Vice-Chairman of Fortnum & Mason (UK). As a Director of Associated British Foods (UK) since 1964, he led the development of Primark, now one of the world’s most successful discount fashion companies.

Mr. Weston is the President of The W. Garfield Weston Foundation (Canada), an organization that provides charitable grants for the benefit of Canadians, and a Trustee of the Garfield Weston Foundation (UK).