Maureen Kempston Darkes
Encyclopedia
Vera Maureen Kempston Darkes, (born July 31, 1948) is a Canadian
lawyer and automotive executive who is the General Motors Group Vice President; President, GM Latin America, Africa and Middle East; a member of the General Motors Automotive Strategy Board, since January 1, 2002; and holds the highest operating post ever achieved by a woman at General Motors.
Born in Toronto
, Ontario
, she received a Bachelor of Arts
in history and political science
from Victoria University in the University of Toronto
in 1970. She received a Bachelor of Laws
degree from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law
in 1973 and was called to the Bar of Ontario.
In 1975, she joined the legal staff of General Motors of Canada and she became assistant counsel in 1979. She rose to become general counsel and secretary of GM Canada in 1992. She was later appointed the first woman President and General Manager of General Motors of Canada. On July 24, 2009, it was announced that she will be retiring at the end of 2009.
and in 1999, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
. In 2006, she was awarded the Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case. She has received honorary degrees from the University of Toronto, University of Victoria
, McMaster University
, Dalhousie University
, Wilfrid Laurier University
, the Law Society of Upper Canada
, and Saint Mary's University
.
She was ranked by Fortune magazine
in 2003 as the 6th "Most Powerful Women in International Business".
In 2009, she was ranked as one of Latin America's 100 Most Powerful Businesspeople by Latin Business Chronicle
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
lawyer and automotive executive who is the General Motors Group Vice President; President, GM Latin America, Africa and Middle East; a member of the General Motors Automotive Strategy Board, since January 1, 2002; and holds the highest operating post ever achieved by a woman at General Motors.
Born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, she received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in history and political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from Victoria University in the University of Toronto
Victoria University in the University of Toronto
Victoria University is a constituent college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1836 and named for Queen Victoria. It is commonly called Victoria College, informally Vic, after the original academic component that now forms its undergraduate division...
in 1970. She received a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law
University of Toronto Faculty of Law
Established in 1887, the University of Toronto Faculty of Law is one of the oldest professional faculties at the University of Toronto. The Faculty of Law is particularly renowned in the areas of corporate law, international law, law and economics, and legal theory.The law school has been...
in 1973 and was called to the Bar of Ontario.
In 1975, she joined the legal staff of General Motors of Canada and she became assistant counsel in 1979. She rose to become general counsel and secretary of GM Canada in 1992. She was later appointed the first woman President and General Manager of General Motors of Canada. On July 24, 2009, it was announced that she will be retiring at the end of 2009.
Honours
In 1997, she was awarded the Women's Automotive Association International (WAAI) Professional Achievement Award. In 1998, she was awarded the Order of OntarioOrder of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
and in 1999, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. In 2006, she was awarded the Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case. She has received honorary degrees from the University of Toronto, University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
, McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
, Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
, Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University is a university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It also has campuses in Brantford, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario and a future proposed campus in Milton, Ontario. It is named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada....
, the Law Society of Upper Canada
Law Society of Upper Canada
The Law Society of Upper Canada is responsible for the self-regulation of lawyers and paralegals in the Canadian province of Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1797, it is known in French as "Le Barreau du Haut-Canada"...
, and Saint Mary's University
Saint Mary's University
St. Mary's University is the name of several universities:In Canada:*St...
.
She was ranked by Fortune magazine
Fortune (magazine)
Fortune is a global business magazine published by Time Inc. Founded by Henry Luce in 1930, the publishing business, consisting of Time, Life, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated, grew to become Time Warner. In turn, AOL grew as it acquired Time Warner in 2000 when Time Warner was the world's largest...
in 2003 as the 6th "Most Powerful Women in International Business".
In 2009, she was ranked as one of Latin America's 100 Most Powerful Businesspeople by Latin Business Chronicle
Latin Business Chronicle
Latin Business Chronicle is a weekly online journal on Latin American business and technology.-Company information:LBC, a unit of , has around 17,000 readers per month.- Indexes :...