W. Galen Weston

W. Galen Weston is the Chairman and President of George Weston Limited, a company founded by his grandfather, George Weston, in 1882 that now processes and distributes food products throughout North America.

In the early 1970’s, during a particularly rough period in Loblaw’s history, Galen’s father called upon his help. By that time he had amassed experience well beyond his years, he owned and operated a chain of supermarkets, a chain of discount stores, and with the help of his new Irish bride Hilary, an upscale department store in the UK. “You like the retail business,” his father said to him in the spring of that year, “you’re doing well in it, so if you want to get into the family business by taking a shot at Canada and the United States, I’d be delighted.” The rest, as they say, is history.

He is the Chairman of Holt Renfrew (Canada), Selfridges (UK) and Brown Thomas (Ireland), as well as Vice-Chairman of Fortnum & Mason (UK). He is 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). He holds a Bachelor of Arts and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Western Ontario. He is 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 Honorary Trustee of The Upper Canada College Foundation.