Marine services company Seaspan announced June 13 that Chief
Executive Officer Jonathan Whitworth has been named 2016 British Columbia CEO
of the Year by news publication Business in Vancouver.
Each year Business in Vancouver and its partners seek
nominations for British Columbia’s most outstanding business people in private
and public sector companies to honor them for their achievements.
Seaspan’s Whitworth has been named the winner of this year’s
Enterprise Category, the largest of all the awards. The category is open to
companies with annual revenues of $500 million and above.
Upon arriving with Seaspan in 2009, Whitworth has helped transform
the 130-year old company by modernizing its fleet and facilities, maturing its
operations to meet international standards, and investing in technology to
drive efficiency.
In addition, the Government of Canada formed a partnership
with Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards in October 2011 to build non-combat vessels
for the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy.
Vancouver Shipyards is expected to build up to 17 vessels,
worth $7.3 billion Canadian, over the next 10 to 15 years.
“Thanks to his past history as an officer in the Merchant Marine,
Jonathan is one of few vessel owners/shipyard leaders in North America who has
sailed at sea and commanded a vessel,” Seaspan Chairman Kyle Washington said.
“His unique experience, combined with a highly strategic approach and passion
for the industry has enabled him to focus on the tactical steps to safely and
efficiently run a multi-dimensional company such as Seaspan.”
