Aldo Bensadoun

President, Chief Executive Officer and Founder -The Aldo Group Inc

As anyone who has ever attended McGill knows firsthand, the University's not-so-secret weapon is the city it is located in and the unique and abundant charms Montreal has to offer. Case in point: Aldo Bensadoun.

In 1959, Bensadoun, the Moroccan-born son of a French shoe merchant and the grandson of a cobbler, began his studies at Cornell University in the U.S. Following a weekend trip to Montreal, Bensadoun quickly fell under the city's spell and decided to transfer to McGill. Following graduation, Bensadoun returned to France to complete his military service and to briefly teach economics. He soon returned to Montreal, this time for good.

Aldo Shoes began in 1972 as a footwear concession within Le Château, operating in four stores. By 1980, Aldo Shoes was independent and began rapidly expanding, establishing its credo - "quality and cutting-edge trends at affordable prices, season after season."

Today, Aldo Group operates over 600 retail stores across Canada, the U.S. and Britain. In Canada, the company oversees the operation of several different retail banners (Transit, Globo and Pegabo are among the members of the Aldo family). Aldo has also set up shop in Asia and the Middle east, and Australia will welcome its first Aldo store next year.

Bensadoun's long-term goal is for the Aldo Group to become "the best footwear retailer in the world." Experts aren't betting against him. In 2001, the Retail Council of Canada presented Bensadoun with its Lifetime Achievement Award.