Jeannine Guillevin Wood

Jeannine Guillevin Wood

Doctor of Commerce

Mme. Guillevin Wood's life was that of a wife and homemaker until the death of her first husband in 1965. At that time, she took over control of the family firm, F.X. Guillevin et Fils, an electrical product distributor founded in 1906. Following numerous acquisitions, the company now has sales of $450 million per year and operates under the name of Guillevin International Inc.

In 1969, Mme. Guillevin Wood founded Copel Inc., a national marketing and buying group comprising 15 independent distributors, most of which are situated in strategic centres across Canada. She was its president from 1969 to 1982. She is a member of several boards of directors, including the Royal Insurance Company of Canada, Hydro-Quebec and the Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada.

Mme. Guillevin Wood was elected Canadian Business Woman of the Year in 1984, in 1989, received the Management Achievement Award from McGill University, and was chosen one of the 12 Business Personalities of the Decade by Le Journal de Montreal. She is a member of the board of directors of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and La Foundation de Hopital du Sacre Coeur de Montreal, as well as the only woman member of the Business Council on National Issues.