Oppy’s Anderson honored for entrepreneurship
John Anderson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of The Oppenheimer Group, has been named Ernst and Young (EY) Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Pacific 2015.
"John's reputation says it all," said Lui Petrollini, Entrepreneur Of The Year Pacific Program director, at a September 24 gala event in Vancouver. "His integrity, work ethic, taste for innovation and commitment to transparency have transformed the company from a small operation in Vancouver to an international, full-service produce marketing force to be reckoned with."
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year award program encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contributions of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. The award celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses.
Anderson went into the evening as one of three finalists in the Entrepreneur Of The Year Pacific region’s food and beverage distribution sector. He was announced the winner of that category, an honor similar to that which he received in 2002 when he was named as the program’s business-to-business products and services sector award recipient.
Excitement mounted as the gala progressed and finalists from 10 business categories vied for the honor of overall EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Pacific 2015. When Anderson’s name was announced, he described the moment as “very special and unexpected, and of course exciting, but also a little overwhelming.”
Anderson, who celebrated his 40th anniversary at Oppy earlier this year, started out as a warehouseman in 1975. By 1993, he had opened numerous U.S. offices, helped introduce North America to fruit from Chile and New Zealand, and became the company's chief executive officer. Anderson credits his many successes to his focus on constant change and on strong relationships, and the talents of the strong team that surrounds him. Under his leadership, Oppenheimer has tripled its annual volume and has seen 14 consecutive years of record profitability.
“One of the things that makes Oppy a great company is our bold entrepreneurial culture,” Anderson said. “It’s been a part of who we are since long before I walked in the door in the 1970s. When I was new, I was mentored by others who encouraged me to innovate and address challenges with solutions that would help us grow. Over the years, that kind of entrepreneurial approach has contributed to our remarkable success. It’s a way of life at Oppy, and I'm proud to share the recognition I received with the company as a whole.”
Canada’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2015 will be announced in November. The winner will be selected from a field of five regional honorees, Anderson being one of them.
