Anthony von Mandl named 2021 Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year

Anthony von Mandl, founder and chief executive officer of the Mark Anthony Group of Companies, is the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business 2021 Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year Award (DEYA) recipient.

“We are thrilled to recognize Anthony von Mandl as our 2021 DEYA recipient,” says Peter Gustavson, chair of the DEYA committee. “Anthony is an entrepreneur of rare vision, dedication and energy. He has created an incredibly successful family-owned business, and in so doing put one of BC’s most popular tourism destinations— the Okanagan Valley—on the international wine map.”

Von Mandl founded the Mark Anthony Group, an international drinks company whose hallmarks include a portfolio of luxury wineries and iconic beverage brands including Mike’s Hard Lemonade and White Claw, that have transformed the beverage alcohol industry in Canada and the United States.

Von Mandl pioneered high-end winemaking in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, where his collection of family-owned wineries, including the iconic Mission Hill Family Estate, all practice 100 per cent organic farming methods. His wines have won awards for World’s Best Pinot Noir, Best Chardonnay in the World and in 2019 received the first-ever perfect 100-point score for a table wine in Canada.

“Innovation is a trait that is fundamental to success as an entrepreneur,” says Saul Klein, dean of the Gustavson School of Business. “In Anthony’s career, we see this trait in abundance. His creativity and dedication in pursuing his entrepreneurial goals are unmatched.”

An Officer of the Order of Canada, von Mandl is also the recipient of the Order of British Columbia. Both honours recognize his innovative contributions to enhancing Canada’s international reputation in the wine industry. He has been inducted into both the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame and American Marketing Hall of Fame.  He is also a co-recipient of The Warren Bennis Award for Leadership Excellence alongside A.G. Lafley, former CEO of Procter & Gamble. Anthony holds five honorary doctorate degrees and he is also the chair of The von Mandl Family Foundation, supporting the arts, health initiatives, environmental conservation and vulnerable communities in Canada and the US.

Von Mandl will receive his award at the Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year celebration on Nov. 18. A list of previous DEYA award recipients is available here.

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