Former PCL head Grieve named Outstanding CEO
David Finalayson, edmontonjournal.com
Published: Thursday, November 05, 2009
EDMONTON - Ross Grieve figures if a kid from Winnipeg like him can rise to the top of Canada's construction industry, it must be a great business.
That was the message the just-retired PCL Construction CEO passed on Thursday to a gala gathering at the Art Gallery of Ontario that included the young winners of scholarships associated with his award as Canada's Outstanding CEO of the Year.
"As I come to the end of my career they are just beginning, and I'm a living example of how life throws you all kinds of breaks, good and bad, but if you keep trying you never know what will happen," Grieve said in an interview before the gala.
"I was spectacularly lucky to find such a neat industry. It's fast-moving, exciting and rewarding, and a great career to get into."
Grieve joins an illustrious group of recent winners that includes Research In Motion's Jim Balsillie, RBC Financial's Gordon M. Nixon, and TransCanada Corp. CEO Hank Kvisle.
Family and many longtime friends, colleagues and clients attended the gala, and Grieve said it was the perfect opportunity to thank everyone who helped shape his life. "Many people have had great deal of influence on my life and many of them will be in the room, so it will be a time for some thank yous, especially to my wife Kathy and the boys (Noah and Matt)," said Grieve, who passed the PCL torch to Paul Douglas this week after 12 years at the helm.
A video shown at the gala included pictures from his early life in Winnipeg, when he was a football quarterback and baseball pitcher, and he believes that early introduction to leadership was a key part of his later success. "It helped me work in teams in business, and get across all kinds of goal lines."
The awards are sponsored by Caldwell Partners, Deloitte, and the Financial Post.
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