Annette Verschuren

Annette Verschuren, is a Canadian business woman. She is currently the chair & CEO of NRStor Inc., an energy storage development company. Formerly, she was the President of The Home Depot Canada and the Home Depot Asia, overseeing the growth of the company's Canadian operations from 19 to 179 stores between 1996 and 2011. She also led The Home Depot's entry into China.

Career

Verschuren began her career as a development officer with the Cape Breton Development Corporation, a coal mining operation, in Sydney, Nova Scotia. She then worked with Canada Development Investment Corporation as executive vice-president, privatizing crown corporations, before joining Imasco Ltd., one of Canada's largest holding companies in financial services, retail and food services, as vice-president, corporate development. Immediately prior to joining The Home Depot, Ms. Verschuren was president and co-owner of Michaels of Canada, a chain of arts and crafts stores, where she opened 17 stores in 24 months.

Verschuren is a board member of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group of Boston, Air Canada, Saputo Inc. and Canadian Natural Resources Limited. In addition, Ms. Verschuren is a board member of The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation and the Chair of the MaRS Discovery District Board. Additionally, Annette Verschuren is Chair of the Board of Directors for Sustainable Development Technology Canada, a federal foundation that provides non-repayable contributions to Canadian clean technology companies. She also chairs Science Development and Technology Council for the federal government. She co-chairs the Smart Prosperity Initiative which is mapping out a course to a stronger, cleaner economy for Canada.

Corporate social responsibility

In 2011, Verschuren was honoured as an Officer of The Order of Canada for her contribution to the retail industry and corporate social responsibility. In 2010, she was appointed co-chair of the 2012 Governor General's Leadership Conference, Canada's premier leadership training event. Annette Verschuren was honoured by the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2019.

A champion of community investment and volunteerism, Verschuren serves as chancellor of Cape Breton University and chaired fundraising efforts for the University's new Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy & the Environment
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Verschuren has previously served as the vice chair of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, as a member of the North American Competitiveness Council and a member of the Economic Advisory Council, a group of 11 Canadian business leaders charged with advising the Government of Canada on the 2008 global economic crisis.

Author

Verschuren recently wrote a business book "Bet On Me", leading and succeeding in business and in life, published by Harper Collins. The book was a Finalist for the National Business Book Award in 2017.

Education

Verschuren received a Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Francis Xavier University.

Personal life

Verschuren and her husband, Stan, live in Toronto, Ontario. She returns frequently to her familial roots and long-time home in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Verschuren, Annette
Living people
Canadian women chief executives
Canadian university and college chancellors
Officers of the Order of Canada
St. Francis Xavier University alumni
People from North Sydney, Nova Scotia
Canadian women academics
Women academic administrators
Canadian academic administrators
Year of birth missing (living people)