Michael Donovan, Executive Chairman of film and television company DHX Media Ltd., has won this year's Entrepreneur Of The Year Atlantic, presented by global consultancy EY at a ceremony in St. John’s on Thursday.
Donovan has been a pioneer in Canadian film and television for more than 30 years, founding Halifax-based Salter Street Films and winning an Academy Award for Bowling for Columbine. Today, DHX employs more than 1,300 people and holds the world's largest independent library of children's and family content.
"Michael is a shining example of visionary leadership," Ian Cavanagh, EY's Atlantic Entrepreneur Of The Year program director, said in a statement. "Under Michael's direction – despite a market that told him content was dead – DHX has become Canada's leading producer and distributor of entertainment content for children and families, and one of the top companies in the sector globally."
As the Atlantic region's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2015, Donovan will compete to become Canada's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2015, to be presented Nov. 24 in Toronto.
EY this year also honoured Jeff Schnurr of Community Forests International, who received a special citation award for social entrepreneurship.
The other EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Atlantic 2015 were:
· Business-to-Business Products and Services -- Peter Toombs, Diversified Metal Engineering Ltd., Charlottetown, P.E.I.;
· Business-to-Consumer Products and Services -- Laurie Jennings, Masstown Market Ltd., Debert, N.S.;
· Emerging Entrepreneur -- Alex MacLean, East Coast Lifestyle, Halifax;
· Information technology -- Jamie King, Raymond Pretty and Brendan Brothers, Verafin, St. John's;
· Media and Entertainment – Michael Donovan, DHX Media;
· Professional/financial services -- Jonathan Lewis, Eastport Financial Group Inc., Halifax
· Real estate/construction -- Kevin King, KMK Capital Group of Companies, St. John's;
· Technology and Communications -- Shawn Kersey, DWS Data Wiring Solutions, Halifax.
Disclaimer: EY is a client of Entrevestor
