Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership to be housed at Ivey

Richard Ivey School of Business welcomes generous gift

LONDON, ON, Sept. 21 /CNW/ - The Richard Ivey School of Business is pleased to announce the formation of the Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership following a generous gift from Ian Ihnatowycz and Marta Witer.

The Institute has a clear mandate to "secure Ivey's position as one of the top ten leadership institutes on a global basis." The Institute will bring together research, teaching and outreach to demonstrate Ivey's excellence in and commitment to leadership.

The $3.5 million gift from Mr. Ihnatowycz and Dr. Witer will support a Chair in Leadership and will provide operational funding for the Institute. A further $1.5 million in matching funding from Western for the Chair position will increase the full impact of their gift to $5 million.

Mr. Ihnatowycz, who founded his own investment firm in 1990 and serves as its CEO, said there has never been a more urgent need to emphasize and explore the role of leadership in the business world.

"The quality of leadership helps determine the quantity of success," Mr. Ihnatowycz said. "Ivey has always attracted talented students with strong leadership aspirations. I believe it is important their skills as leaders be nurtured and developed - so they're prepared for the evolving demands and challenges that await them."

A graduate of Ivey's MBA program (1982) Mr. Ihnatowycz said the Ivey Business School is the ideal home for the new institute. Ivey has been developing business leaders since its founding in 1922 and started Canada's first MBA and PhD in business programs. Through rigorous research projects, extensive case writing, conferences and collaborations, the Institute will establish itself as a preeminent centre for leadership thought, inquiry and education.

"Business leaders today need to display vision and leadership and Ian exemplifies both," said Carol Stephenson, Dean, Richard Ivey School of Business. "He is a passionate leader and we are proud to have his name on our Institute for Leadership."

Over the past two decades, Mr. Ihnatowycz has built Acuity Funds Ltd. and Acuity Investment Management Inc. into leading firms in the field of professional asset management and has pioneered the field of sustainable investing. A passionate philanthropist, Ian has served on the boards of numerous not-for-profit and professional organizations and private companies, and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Investment Funds Institute of Canada and the Royal Conservatory of Music.

We are also proud to announce today that Associate Professor Gerard Seijts is being named as Executive Director, Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership.

"The Institute will articulate the importance of leadership to the Ivey community of students and alumni, and to reach beyond. Strong and courageous leadership can improve the competitiveness of Canadian companies and the resiliency of our economy," said Prof. Seijts, who is the Ivey Alumni Association/Toronto Faculty Fellow in Business Leadership.

For more on the institute, please visit www.iveyleadershipinstitute.ca.

About the Richard Ivey School of Business, The University of Western Ontario
The Richard Ivey School of Business (www.ivey.ca) at The University of Western Ontario is Canada's leading provider of relevant, innovative and comprehensive business education. Drawing on extensive research and business experience, Ivey faculty provide the best classroom experience, equipping graduates with the skills and capabilities they need to tackle the leadership challenges in today's complex business world. Ivey offers world-renowned undergraduate and graduate degree programs as well as Executive Development at campuses in London (Ontario), Toronto and Hong Kong.

For further information:

Mary Weil, Richard Ivey School of Business, 416-203-0664, [email protected]