Linda Hasenfratz

Executive Chair / Linamar Corporation

Linda Hasenfratz is the Executive Chair of Linamar Corporation, a global, diversified manufacturing company focused in the automotive, access equipment and harvesting equipment markets. Hasenfratz joined her father’s company in 1990 and worked her way up from the ground floor, experiencing all aspects of the business, including running a machine, engineering and operations management. During her tenure as the Chief Executive Officer, Hasenfratz has grown the company from an $800 million enterprise to over a $10 billion company.

Hasenfratz has been a member of the Board of Advisors for Catalyst Canada since 2003 and is currently the Vice Chair. In February 2017, Hasenfratz was announced as the Canadian Chair of the Canada-United States Council for Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders.

Strengthening her position as a Canadian and global leader, Hasenfratz sat on the board of CIBC from 2004 to 2020, including 4 years as the Chair of their Management Resources Compensation Committee. She was Canadian Chair of the North American Competitiveness Council in 2008, a trilateral group of executives from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico convened by the countries’ leaders to debate and advise on key recommendations regarding enhancement of the NAFTA region and recently served on Minister Freeland’s NAFTA Advisory Council during the NAFTA renegotiations.

Hasenfratz became a member of the Business Council of Canada (formerly the Canadian Council of Chief Executives) in 2010 and sat on their board from 2010 to 2022. She was Chair from 2016 to 2019. Hasenfratz supported one of Linamar’s key industries – the automotive industry – through her appointment as the first female Director to the Faurecia Board of Directors. Hasenfratz was on the board from 2011 to 2021 including 4 years as the Chair of the Compensation Committee. AEM asked Hasenfratz to join their board in 2018 and was Treasurer from 2021 to 2023. As of 2025 Hasenfratz holds the position of Chair of the AEM Board. The California Mobility Center asked Hasenfratz to join its board in 2020, a position she retired from in May 2023.

Hasenfratz was recognized for her contributions to Canadian business through an Honourary Degree from Ryerson University in Toronto in 2003, an Honourary Degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo in 2011 as well as the Outstanding Leader Award from the same institution in 2007. She also holds an Honourary Degree from Fanshawe College in 2016. In the spring of 2014 The Asper School of Business at the University of Winnipeg honoured Hasenfratz with the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA), which is to honour a business leader who has achieved outstanding entrepreneurial success and has made and exemplary contribution to economic life. In the fall of 2014, Linda Hasenfratz was awarded the Ontario Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award – Manufacturing and the overall Ontario Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Hasenfratz was also extremely honoured to be awarded the National Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Canada at a gala in late November and to represent Canada at the World Entrepreneur of the World Conference in Monaco in June 2015. In May of 2016 Linda Hasenfratz, along with her father Frank Hasenfratz, was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. Hasenfratz was awarded the Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the University of Victoria in September 2016. In October of 2016 Linda Hasenfratz was awarded the Fraser Institute Founders Award along with Linamar’s President & COO Jim Jarrell. In September 2016 Linda Hasenfratz was named to Fortunes 50 Most Powerful Women International list. The Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario honoured Hasenfratz in October 2017 with their Ivey Business Leader Award. In 2018 Hasenfratz was named Canada’s Outstanding CEO of the Year and was named to the Order of Canada. In October 2019 she was installed as University of Western Ontario’s 23rd Chancellor and her term concluded in June of 2023.