CME Awards Program

Hall of Fame

J. Robert Lavery (Winpak Ltd.)

As a partner with Ernst & Ernst in the early 1970’s Mr. Lavery was
commissioned to do a feasibility study on the North America expansion for the European packaging company, Wihuri Oy.

Later having recommended the expansion, Wihuri Oy asked Mr. Lavery to lead the company’s new initiative into North America, and in 1975 he was appointed President and CEO of Winpak
The first years were challenging, but Mr. Lavery and his management team were able to establish the company as one of the major suppliers of packaging materials and equipment for food, dairy, beverage, pharmaceutical and medical products with distribution throughout the world.

With nine production facilities occupying over 1.3 million square feet, Winpak now employs over 500 Manitobans, dedicated to the success of the company.

Having also served on many prestigious boards, like the National Research Council, United Way and Packaging Association of Canada, Mr. Lavery was the President and CEO of Winpak for 28 years until his retirement in 2003.