Albert "Aldo" Bensadoun (born 1939), is a Canadian-Moroccan businessman. He is the founder and executive chairman of Aldo, a retail shoe company based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Bensadoun's family foundation donated $25 million to McGill University to help found the Bensadoun School of Retail Management.[2]
Aldo Bensadoun | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1939 (age 84–85) Fez, Morocco |
| Nationality | Canadian, Moroccan |
| Alma mater | McGill University[1] |
| Known for | Founder of Aldo |
| Spouse | Dianne Bibeau |
| Children | 3 |
Early life
editAldo Bensadoun (Hebrew: אלדו בן סעדון) was born in Fez to a Moroccan Jewish family; his father was a shoe retailer in Fez, Morocco and France. Bensadoun moved to the United States for his post-secondary education. He attended Cornell University before relocating to Montreal and graduating from McGill University with a commerce degree in 1964.
Career
editHe worked at Yellow Shoes before founding the precursor to the Aldo Group in 1972 as a stand within the Le Château store in Montreal.
As of July 2020, Forbes estimated his net worth at US$1.1 billion.[3]
Honours
editBensadoun is a recipient of the Order of Canada.[4] He is a recipient of the National Order of Quebec,[5] and the Ordre de Montréal.
Personal life
editBensadoun has been married twice. His first wife was a Scottish Protestant;[6] they had two sons: David (born 1970) and Douglas (born 1973). His second wife is Dianne Bibeau;[7] they have a daughter, Daniela (born 1991).[7][8] His son David is the CEO of the Aldo Group [9] and is married to Isabelle Poirier.[10] Bensadoun lives in Montreal.[3]
In 2012, his son, David, along with Patrick Beaule were the first Canadian four wheel team to complete the Dakar Rally.[11][12]
References
edit- ^ "Aldo Bensadoun". Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015.
- ^ "McGill University Opens Bensadoun School of Retail Management". The Business of Fashion. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
- ^ a b "Forbes profile: Aldo Bensadoun". Forbes. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ General, Office of the Secretary to the Governor (21 September 2017). "Order of Canada". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
- ^ "Aldo's global footprint". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ Mills, David (February 2014). Zero to Sixty. p. 113. ISBN 9781483408446.
- ^ a b L'Actualite: "Aldo : l’homme qui vous fait marcher" by Kathy Noël 18 novembre 2012 | "La seconde épouse du fondateur, Dianne Bibeau – de 17 ans sa cadette -, travaille aussi dans l'entreprise. De même que les deux fils d'Aldo?: David, 42 ans, et Douglas, 39 ans. La petite dernière, Daniela, 21 ans..."
- ^ Footwear News: "How ‘Mr. B’ Has Built Aldo Into a Global Shoe Powerhouse" By Katie Abel November 29, 2016
- ^ La Presse: "Aldo Bensadoun: le génie du detail" by Jean-Philippe Décarie 11 février 2012
- ^ Vancouver Sun: "Friendly-Streets-Gallery" by Phil Carpenter September 17, 2009
- ^ The Globe and Mail: "Five things about the only Canadian car entry at Dakar" by Philippe DeVos December 27, 2011
- ^ Wheels Canada: "David Bensadoun, Patrick Beaule become first Canadians to finish Dakar Rally on four wheels" by Lawrence Hacking January 19, 2012