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Maureen Kempston Darkes
GM Group Vice-President
President, GM Latin America, Africa and Middle East
Toronto, ON
2005 Recipient of The Robert V.A. Jones Canadian Corporate Counsel Award | |
Maureen Kempston Darkes of Toronto is the 2005 recipient of the CCCA’s prestigious Robert V.A. Jones Canadian Corporate Counsel Award, presented in a ceremony on August 15, at the CCCA’s 17th Annual Meeting in Vancouver.
Ms. Kempston Darkes was appointed GM Group Vice-President and President, GM Latin America, Africa and Middle East and a member of the General Motors Automotive Strategy Board in 2002. Prior to her appointment she was President and General Manager of General Motors of Canada Ltd. and Vice-President of General Motors Corporation, from 1994 to 2001.
After joining the GM Canada Ltd. Legal Staff in 1975, she became Assistant Counsel in 1979. She served on the GM Corporation Legal Staff in Detroit in 1979-1980, and headed the GM of Canada Tax Staff from 1980-1984. From 1985 to 1987, she worked in the GM Treasurer's Office in New York and subsequently held the position of Acting Treasurer for GM Canada Ltd. until her appointment as General Director, Public Affairs, for GM Canada Ltd. in April 1987. She was appointed Vice-President of Corporate Affairs in 1991 and was elected to the Board of Directors. In addition to her Corporate Affairs responsibilities, she was appointed General Counsel and Secretary of GM Canada Ltd. in July 1992.
Ms. Kempston Darkes was born and raised in the Toronto area. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Victoria College, University of Toronto, and is a member of Victoria Colleges Chancellor's Council. She also holds a bachelor of laws degree from the University of Toronto law school was called to the Bar of Ontario.
She has received honourary doctor of law degrees from the University of Toronto, the University of Victoria, McMaster University, Dalhousie University, Wilfrid Laurier University, and the Law Society of Upper Canada, as well as an honourary doctorate of commerce from Saint Mary's University.
In 1997, Ms. Kempston Darkes received the Order of Ontario and was appointed as an officer of the Order of Canada in 2000. She was honoured with the American Bar Association's (ABA) Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement award in 1998.
The Robert V.A. Jones Award recognizes an exceptional contribution to the development or promotion of the Canadian corporate counsel Bar or community. The award, named after Robert Jones, who served as the founding Executive Director of the CCCA for 11 years, is presented at the CCCA Annual Meeting in August of each year.
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