CEO of the Year: Harold (Hal) Kvisle

It was a scene straight out of Hollywood last week, as taxis and stretch limousines pulled up to red carpet at the Calgary Fairmount Palliser Hotel. Corporate and media executives, dressed in tuxedoes or dripping with diamonds, poured into the hotel’s Crystal Ballroom for the 19^th annual CEO of the Year Award gala. Hal Kvisle, president and CEO of TransCanada, was this year’s honouree.

Full sized provincial flags and velvet rope separated ordinary hotel guests from the gala ticket holders. A champagne reception allowed many to commiserate and congratulate, while post-dinner liqueurs in the Oval Room saw guests linger late into the night. Senator Marie Poulin provided a bilingual grace before the three-course meal. The menu included oven roasted prawns and seared scallops with candied parsnip risotto, Alberta prime rib, and a velvety chocolate delight with raspberry coulis. Guests paid $895 per plate. Musicians and a contortionist performed on small stages around the ballroom during the meal.

Overall, the mood was jovial, and guests had good reason to be giddy. Earlier in the day a discounted royalty rate for new oil sands projects had been announced, making it more affordable for energy companies to invest in the region. It was certainly the most common topic of conversation, but hardly unrivaled. Rajeev Aggerwal and his colleagues at SNC-Lavalin extolled the virtues of carbon capture and storage technology, and marveled over the Masdar Initiative, a bold international foray into sustainable technologies based in Abu Dhabi. Gail Asper was passionate and persuasive about the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, captivating many guests with great charm and leaving them with a star-shaped pin signifying her cause.

Prestigious guests included the honourable Peter Lougheed, publisher of National Post Gordon Fisher, Alberta’s minister of finance Iris Evans, Alberta’s minister of energy Mel Knight, deputy premier of Alberta Ron Stevens, partner of Caldwell Partners International Anne Fawcett, managing partner of Deloitte Alan MacGibbon, executive vice-president of SNC-Lavalin Jean Beaudoin, vice chairman of Canadian Natural Resources Murray Edwards, chairman of Royal Bank and EnCana David O’Brien, industry executive advisor at Kern Partners Ltd. Dave Pearce, vice-president exploration of Cinch Energy Brian McBeath, and Gail Asper, director of CanWest Global Communications. Ten business students from across the country were also present; each the recipient of a Futures Fund Scholarship, worth $5,000.

A video presentation highlighted his leadership qualities as a consummate deal-maker, good communicator, and visionary. Barry Jackson, chair of TransCanada and director of Nexen, said he is responsible for “one of the most remarkable turnarounds of any organization in the energy sector,” growing assets from 19 billion to 30 billion dollars since 2001. He’s also served as chairman for Mount Royal College, and currently sits on the board of the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Bank of Montreal.

Mr. Kvisle delivered an amiable, pragmatic speech. He thanked his family, including his two daughters in attendance, his board members, and the former CEOs of TransCanada.

Published in National Post, November 29 2008