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Derek Burney
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Derek Hudson Burney (born 1939) is a Canadian businessman. He is also a former diplomat and political strategist for the Progressive Conservative government of Brian Mulroney.
Burney was born in Fort William, Ontario to George William Burney (1886-1951), a native of Westville, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, and Annie Mary MacKay (1906-1995).
Burney attended Fort William Collegiate Institute. He then went on to study at Queen's University, where he received his B.A. in 1962, followed by his M.A. in 1964.
He then entered the federal public service and the Canadian diplomatic corps, subsequently serving in Korea and Japan as ambassador. From 1987 to 1989 he served as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.
After leaving the post of Chief of Staff in 1989, Burney became Canada's ambassador to the United States. He would serve in this position until 1993.
Burney was then hired by Bell Canada and worked as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company from 1993 to 1999. He then moved to CAE Inc., serving as President and Chief Executive Officer until 2004. The board of directors that Burney now sits on include CanWest Global Communications, Quebecor World Inc., and Shell Canada.
Among other things, he now teaches at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University.
He is currently the president of the board of New Brunswick Power.
On January 24, 2006, it was announced by then Prime Minister Stephen Harper that Burney would play a key role in the transfer of power from the Liberals of Paul Martin to the newly elected Conservatives.
His son, Derek Burney Jr., was the president of Corel Corporation for several years.
Burney has received many honours in recognition of his work. He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1993, and has been conferred honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Lakehead University, Queen's University, Carleton University, and Wilfrid Laurier University.
- Burney, Derek. Getting It Done: A Memoir. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2005. ISBN 0-7735-2926-8.
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Allan Gotlieb |
Canadian Ambassador to the United States of America 1989-1993 |
Succeeded by John de Chastelain |
