Our Leadership

Linda Hasenfratz is a highly respected leader at Linamar Corporation, where she currently serves as Executive Chair following her tenure as Chief Executive Officer, which concluded in August 2024. Throughout her leadership, she has been instrumental in driving Linamar’s global growth, diversification, sustainability initiatives, and operational excellence. Under her direction, the company has strengthened its position as a global, diversified manufacturing leader, with a strong focus on the automotive, access equipment, and harvesting equipment sectors. Her tenure has been defined by strategic initiatives to expand globally, diversify markets and products, embed sustainability across the organization, and enhance operational efficiency. Beyond her role at Linamar, Hasenfratz has made significant contributions to a number of influential organizations. She has been affiliated with Catalyst Canada since 2003 and currently serves as Chair of its Board of Advisors, reflecting her long-standing commitment to advancing women in business. This commitment spans grassroots efforts to encourage greater participation of women in STEM and leadership roles, as well as senior leadership positions, including serving as the Canadian Chair of the Canada–United States Council for Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders in 2017. Hasenfratz’s influence also extends into national and international policy and advisory roles. She was a member of then-Minister Freeland’s NAFTA Advisory Council during the 2018 renegotiations and served as Chair of the North American Competitiveness Council in 2008, underscoring her expertise in international trade and economic policy. Her extensive board experience includes service on the CIBC Board of Directors from 2004 to 2020, including four years as Chair of the Management Resources and Compensation Committee. She was the first female director on the Forvia (formerly Faurecia) Board, where she served from 2011 to 2021, including four years as Chair of the Compensation Committee. She joined the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) board in 2018, served as Treasurer from 2021 to 2023, and held the position of Chair from 2023 to 2025. Hasenfratz’s leadership and impact have been widely recognized through numerous honours and awards. She was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Canada in 2014, inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2016, named Canada’s Outstanding CEO of the Year in 2018, and appointed to the Order of Canada that same year. Internationally, she has been recognized with France’s Chevalier dans l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur and Hungary’s Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit. She also served as the 23rd Chancellor of Western University, a term that concluded in June 2023, marking a period of meaningful contribution to both the academic and business communities.

Jim Jarrell is the CEO & President of Linamar Corporation, a leading global manufacturing company based in Guelph, Ontario. With a career spanning over three decades at Linamar, Jim has been instrumental in driving the company's growth and innovation. He joined Linamar in June 1991 as Director of Marketing, bringing with him valuable experience from his previous role as Sales Manager at Magna International. Throughout his tenure at Linamar, Jim has held various key positions, demonstrating his leadership and strategic vision. In November 1993, he was appointed General Manager at Hastech Inc., a Linamar subsidiary, and later assumed responsibility for the Roctel division. His exceptional performance led to his promotion to Group Vice President in June 1995, where he oversaw the start-up of Comtech Manufacturing. Limited. and managed multiple operations, including Vehcom, Diversa Cast, and LPP. In September 1999, Jim was promoted to Chief Operating Officer, a role in which he further expanded his influence by taking charge of the Linamar Sales Department in November 2003. His dedication and commitment to excellence were recognized when he was appointed President of Linamar Corporation on August 11, 2004. With appointment to Chief Executive Officer and President in August 2024, Jim continues to focus on achieving significant milestones, while maintaining a strong focus on customer satisfaction, employee engagement, and profitability. Jim's dedication to excellence and his forward-thinking approach continue to position Linamar as a leader in the manufacturing industry.

Mr. Stoddart joined Linamar Corporation in November 1985, working as a general machinist in the then newly opened Hastech Manufacturing facility. Since July of 2003, he has headed up the company's marketing and product development activities. Mr. Stoddart has been a member of Linamar's Board of Directors since 1999 and today holds the role of Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. He brings to this position his background in business and twenty years of experience with Linamar and the automotive industry.

Mr. Reidel retired during 2008 and is the former President and Chief Operating Officer of Kuntz Electroplating Inc., a Kitchener-Waterloo company founded in 1948. Mr. Reidel joined Kuntz in March 2001 as Vice President - Finance. Prior to joining Kuntz, Mr. Reidel spent 39 years with the accounting firm of Ernst & Young and was Office Managing Partner of their Waterloo Region Office. Ernst & Young is an international professional service firm offering services to all industry sections in the areas of accounting, auditing, advisory, tax and corporate finance. Mr. Reidel earned his CA designation from Queen's University in 1967. Kuntz does not currently supply services to Linamar Corporation and has not done so in the past five years. Mr. Reidel has been a Director of Linamar Corporation since 2003 and has been the Chair of the Human Resources and Corporate Governance Committee and a member of the Audit Committee since 2003.

Mr. Grimm is a Chartered Accountant and also has his CPA and FCA designations. He attended Waterloo Lutheran University (Wilfred Laurier) and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science. In 1972, he completed an MBA in Accounting and Finance at McMaster University. Mr. Grimm was an active member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants from 1976-2012 and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants from 1995-2012. During his career, he was a partner at KPMG in the firm's audit group for 23 years from 1972-1995. He then practiced as an audit partner at PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC") for 15 years starting in 1995. Notably, he was the Managing Partner of PwC Waterloo Region up to his retirement in 2010 and chaired its Governance Committee. Mr. Grimm does not currently supply services to Linamar and has not done so in the past three years. Mr. Grimm was very actively involved in the service of his community. He has served as the Vice-Chair of the Economic Development Committee of Canada's Technology Triangle; he was the former Chair of North Waterloo's Housing Authority and Chair of the Ontario Counsel of Chairs; he was a director of Kitchener, Guelph and Windsor Chambers of Commerce and is a founding director of Homewood Foundation. He was also a past Committee Chair for Prosperity 2000 Windsor. Since 2011, Mr. Grimm has been a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers and owns and manages a vineyard in Tunuyan, Argentina. Current Board and Council Memberships: Chair of Advisory Committee: Challenger Motor Freight Inc. Former Public Board Memberships: None.

Ms. Forwell, is an Engineer with an MBA who brings over twenty years of experience working with established global building materials suppliers and large scale retailers. She has extensive knowledge in industrial construction materials in both sales and production as well as land rehabilitation. Former CEO of Forwell Ltd. – a large independent aggregate, asphalt concrete materials business Former President and CEO of Quikrete Canada – a packaged concrete supplier with sales at large North American retailers including Home Depot and Canadian Tire Former Sales and Operations Manager for Lafarge Canada – with a focus on environmental engineering operations in Southern Ontario Associate at Teal & Co. – a prominent business leadership, strategic investing and entrepreneurial coaching firm.