Prem Watsa, known as the Warren Buffet of the North, will receive an honorary degree, Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LLD), as Western University celebrates its annual Richard Ivey School of Business Master of Business Administration (MBA)/Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) convocation on Wednesday, April 4.
A highly influential and innovative Canadian businessman, Watsa is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., a financial services holding company, which he took over in 1985. The company, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, as well as investment management.
“Prem Watsa is a great Canadian and a distinguished graduate of Western and I am so pleased that his many achievements and contributions to the betterment of our country will be formally recognized by his alma mater with the awarding of this honorary degree,” says Western President Amit Chakma.
Watsa is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hospital for Sick Children, a member of the Advisory Board for the Richard Ivey School of Business and a member of the Board of Directors of the Royal Ontario Museum Foundation, as well as Chairman of the Investment Committee of St. Paul’s Anglican Church. He is also Chancellor of the University of Waterloo.
Born in Hyderabad, India in 1950, Watsa earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in 1971. He moved to Ontario the following year and later earned an MBA from Western University.
Western’s MBA/EMBA convocation is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4 at London Convention Centre.
MEDIA CONTACT: Keith Marnoch, Director, Media & Community Relations, 519-661-2111, ext. 85468, kmarnoch@uwo.ca
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