Bonnie Brooks 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award
Retail Council of Canada (RCC) announced today that Bonnie Brooks, former Vice-Chairman of the Hudson’s Bay Co., is the 2017 recipient of RCC’s Excellence in Retail Awards (ERA) Lifetime Achievement Award.
April 17, 2017
The Excellence in Retail (ERA) Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a family or an individual in retail who has demonstrated outstanding business success and community service throughout his/her career and who has left an indelible mark on the industry. Bonnie Brooks, former Vice-Chairman of the Hudson’s Bay Co., joins a long line of passionate merchants across Canada receiving the award, such as Founders of Roots Canada, Michael Budman and Don Green; Founder of The Brick Warehouse Corporation, Dr. William H. Comrie; The Billes Family, Founders of Canadian Tire Corporation, and most recently, Louise Wendling, former Country Manager of Costco Wholesale Canada.
“RCC is delighted to recognize Bonnie Brooks with this Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Diane J. Brisebois, President & CEO, Retail Council of Canada. “Bonnie has spent more than 40 years in fashion and retail and was the first female President and CEO of the Hudson’s Bay Co., leading a transformation in the department store world that continues to be widely emulated and admired. Known for engineering turnarounds for brands and retailers, Bonnie is recognized as a builder, an innovator and a leader of change. Over the course of her career in Canada and abroad, she has mentored and shepherded the careers of many in this industry and has passionately supported careers in retail.”
About Bonnie Brooks
Bonnie Brooks illustrious 40-year career in fashion retail and marketing includes more than eight years at Hudson’s Bay Co., serving as its first female President and CEO from 2008 to 2012, later becoming President of HBC with the integration of the USA Lord and Taylor, and ultimately Vice Chairman of HBC from 2014-2016. Prior to returning to Canada to join HBC, Ms. Brooks spent 11 years in Hong Kong, and was President of the Lane Crawford Joyce Group – with department store and franchise distribution operations in over 500 locations in Asia. Prior to moving to Asia, she was Executive Vice President and General Merchandise Manager of Holt Renfrew in Canada.
Recognized for her many roles in fashion and retail, in 2017 she was honored by the Canadian Club with the Lifetime Achievement Award. She was the Parsons School of Design Honoree in 2013, and in 2014 was awarded Business Leader of the Year by the Ivey School of Business. She was named one of Canada’s 50 Most Powerful People by “Canadian Business” in both 2013 and 2014. She was awarded the Order of Canada in 2016 and was the recipient of the Queens Diamond Jubilee Award in 2013 and was inducted into the American Marketing Hall of Legends in 2013. She is currently the Chair of the LCBO.
The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Bonnie Brooks at the Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala in Toronto on May 30, 2017.
