# Clive Beddoe

> Clive John Beddoe is a Calgary-based Canadian entrepreneur and WestJet co-founder, former CEO and former board chair. His career spans property, manufacturing, aviation and family investment through Hanover. WestJet began flying in 1996 with three aircraft and 220 employees; employee share ownership and profit sharing became central to its culture under his leadership.

- **Role:** Co-founder and former CEO and board chair at WestJet
- **Organizations:** WestJet, Hanover Group of Companies, Hanover Management, Western Concord Manufacturing, Alberta Investment Management Corporation (former director)
- **From:** Dorking, United Kingdom
- **Nationality:** Canadian
- **Education:** Epsom College, Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Calgary, Honorary Doctor of Laws, Wilfrid Laurier University
- **Known for:** Co-founded WestJet, which launched in 1996., Helped establish employee share ownership and profit sharing at WestJet., Inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2012.

## Career timeline

- **1970** — Emigrated from England to Calgary; worked in real estate.
- **Late 1970s** — Established Hanover Management in Calgary.
- **1994** — Purchased a plastics business; WestJet was incorporated.
- **1996** — WestJet began flying on February 29 with three aircraft and 220 employees.
- **1999** — WestJet completed its initial public offering on July 13.
- **2006** — Relinquished WestJet presidency; WestJet settled the Air Canada dispute.
- **2007** — Sean Durfy succeeded him as CEO on September 4; Beddoe continued as executive chairman.
- **2009** — Became solely non-executive chairman on February 10.
- **2014** — Inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame.
- **2019** — WestJet named its first Dreamliner after him; his board chairmanship ended in 2019.
- **2026** — Named an Alberta Order of Excellence inductee and joined WestJet’s thirtieth-anniversary celebrations.

## Achievements

- Co-founded WestJet, which launched in 1996.
- Helped establish employee share ownership and profit sharing at WestJet.
- Inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2012.
- Inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame in 2014.
- Named University of Victoria Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008.
- Named a 2026 Alberta Order of Excellence inductee.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — Named a 2026 Alberta Order of Excellence inductee; the provincial announcement was dated June 25.
- **2026-03** — Joined Don Bell and early WestJet employees at the airline’s thirtieth-anniversary celebrations, documented by CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech.

## Links

- Website: https://hanovergroup.ca/clive-beddoe/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/clive-beddoe
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-20