Mr. Wilson was born in Port Colborne, Ontario in 1940. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from McMaster University and an MA from Cornell University.
Following appointment as a Foreign Service officer with Canada’s Department of Trade and Commerce in 1962, Mr. Wilson was Assistant Commercial Secretary at the Canadian Embassy in Vienna 1963-1965 and Second Secretary in Tokyo 1967 - 1968. Mr. Wilson served as Corporate Economist and Director of Economic Research, John Labatt Limited 1969 - 1971, Co-ordinator, Industrial R & D Policy for the Ministry of State, Science & Technology 1972, Strategic Planning and Development Officer, MacMillan Bloedel Ltd., 1973 - 1974, and Vice President & Director, MacMillan Bloedel Enterprises Inc. 1974 - 1977.
Mr. Wilson was appointed Executive Director, Policy & Priorities, Ministry of Industry & Tourism, Government of Ontario 1977 - 1978, and Deputy Minister of Industry & Tourism 1978 - 1981. From 1981-1988, he was President and CEO, Redpath Industries Limited, followed by a one year chairmanship; Wilson served as Vice-Chairman, The Bank of Nova Scotia, Toronto, 1989-1990; Furthermore, he served as President and COO (1990-1992), President and CEO (1992-1993), Chairman, President and CEO (1993-1996) as well as Chairman and CEO (1996 - 1998) and finally as Chairman of the Board (1998-200) at BCE Inc. Mr. Wilson was Chairman of the Board of Nortel Networks Corporation, 2001 - 2005.
Mr. Wilson is Chairman of the Board of CAE Inc.; a Founding Co-Chairman of the Historica Foundation of Canada; Chairman of the Board of Directors of AllerGen NCE Inc.; Chairman of the DaimlerChrysler Canadian Advisory Council; and Chairman Emeritus of Nortel Networks Corporation.
Mr. Wilson is an Officer of the Order of Canada (1997), and is the recipient of honourary degrees from the Université de Montréal, McMaster, Bishop’s, Mount Allison and Brock Universities, and the University College of Cape Breton. |