Edward S. Kennedy
President & CEO, the North West Company

Winnipeg, MB

Edward Kennedy joined The North West Company in 1989. He served in senior management positions including Chief Operating Officer of North West and Chief Executive Officer of the Alaska Commercial Company, the Company’s U.S. subsidiary located in Anchorage. Edward returned to Winnipeg from Alaska in January 1997 and assumed his current role. He is also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The North West Company (International) Inc.

Mr. Kennedy was born and raised in The Pas, a northern Manitoba community, and attended high school as a boarding student at St. John’s-Ravenscourt in Winnipeg. He holds an Honours Degree in Business from the Ivey School at Western University and a Bachelor of Laws Degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. Prior to joining North West, Edward practiced law briefly in Toronto and then worked in investment banking.

Mr. Kennedy is a board member of The North West Company, United Grocers Inc., Canada West Foundation and Canada’s History Society. He is a member of the World Presidents’ Organization, the Associates of the Asper School of Business as well as a member and past officer of the Business Council of Manitoba. He was the Chair of the 2011 Winnipeg United Way Campaign and is a past board member of several for-profit and non-profit organizations. He currently participates on advisory committees for the United Way and the Build Winnipeg Partnership Taskforce.

He has received several national industry and community recognitions over his career.

Mr. Kennedy is a competitive athlete and his other pursuits include public policy with a focus on socio-economic development. He and his wife Stella make their home in Winnipeg and have four children.