John Sicard of Kinaxis named CEO of the Year for 2020 by Ottawa Board of Trade and Ottawa Business Journal
The CEO of a 36-year-old software company that reported 45 percent revenue growth in Q2 2020, is building a multimillion-dollar headquarters in Kanata and growing its local and global workforce, all during the COVID-19 pandemic, is the 2020 CEO of the Year, as named by the Ottawa Board of Trade and Ottawa Business Journal.
Kinaxis CEO John Sicard, who first joined the company 26 years ago,
was recognized for the company’s corporate performance, his leadership
and vision, innovation and community involvement.
“The success of Kinaxis under John’s leadership is remarkable and an inspiration in our region,” says Ottawa Board of Trade president and CEO Sueling Ching. “John and his team have set a fine example of what can be done when you optimize opportunities, build a solid foundation and prioritize your people. On behalf of the Ottawa business community, it is our privilege to honour John as a top leader and express our gratitude for his dedication and hard work.”
Sicard is the 21st recipient of the CEO of the Year Award. Past recipients include a who’s who of chief executives from all sectors of the region’s economy. The award is part of the Best Ottawa Business Awards (better known as the BOBs), which are presented annually at a fall gala.
The CEO of the Year was selected by representatives of the Ottawa Board of Trade,
OBJ, the University of Ottawa Telfer School of Management and
Boyden, a local executive recruitment firm and the sponsor of the award.
This year, the CEO of the Year and other notable awards will be presented at
a small gathering at the Westin Ottawa on Friday, Nov. 20. The full slate of awards will be highlighted during an online and television broadcast on Wednesday, Nov. 25.
Kinaxis is a software-as-a-service company that specializes in supply chain management for
top-tier manufacturers around the world in the aerospace and defense, automotive, consumer packaged goods, high-tech, industrial, life sciences and retail industries, including L3Harris Technologies, Honda, Unilever, Technicolor, Alstom and H. Lundbeck A/S.
“Kinaxis is yet another made-in-Ottawa success story to be led by an outstanding CEO,” said Ian Sherman, Chair of the Ottawa Board of Trade. “As we contemplate an economic rebound from this pandemic, the region will depend on the resilience and ingenuity of leaders like John Sicard to restore our economic prosperity. John’s leadership in our community will help drive your Ottawa Board of Trade #OttawaNEXT initiatives as we partner and collaborate with our region’s outstanding CEO’s on a post-COVID-19 economic evolution and revival.”
“I am honoured to accept this award on behalf of the hundreds of dedicated and passionate individuals I have the pleasure of working with every day at Kinaxis,” said John Sicard, CEO of Kinaxis. “More than ever supply chains are going through constant change and we have the privilege to work with some of the leading manufacturers to help them become more agile in their planning so they can know sooner, act faster and remove waste. We are proud to call Ottawa home and be part of a tech community that is showcasing our city’s talent and
innovation every day on the world stage.”
