Patrick O’Regan, O’Regan’s Automotive Group Owner
Several dealership groups have made the list of the 2024 Deloitte’s Best Managed Companies, one of Canada’s leading business award programs.
The Best Managed Companies, which was established in 1993, recognizes excellence in private Canadian-owned and managed companies. Each year, hundreds of companies undergo a rigorous application process and are evaluated.
There are four tiers, ranging from new winners all the way up to Platinum Club winners that have retained their status for seven years or more. The Platinum Club winners were Dilawri’s Crown Auto Group, Driving Change Auto Group, Kaizen Auto Group, Murray Auto Group, OpenRoad Auto Group, O’Regan’s Automotive Group, Steele Auto Group, and the Trotman Auto Group.
Nova Scotia-based O’Regan’s has been recognized for 19 years, something Best Managed sponsor CIBC highlighted with a video. O’Regan’s Owner Patrick O’Regan told Canadian auto dealer that being recognized annually as a Best Managed Company has become part of its fabric.
“It’s something that we really take pretty seriously,” said O’Regan. “We hold that as a measuring stick for ourselves. We think it’s a great mark of credibility for us to be able to be included in that group.”
He said in their initial submission, they were delighted to be recognized and worked hard to maintain that designation. “We have people who have applied to our business because they’ve seen we’re one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies. The top talent we’re trying to recruit aren’t just looking at jobs in the car business. They are looking at jobs in any number of businesses.”
Derrick Dempster, Co-Leader of the Best Managed Companies program, said it is a significant achievement for O’Regan’s making the list for 19 years, in particular because companies have to apply to maintain their status the following year and undergo another re-qualification and evaluation.
“To be in it for that long and continue to be recognized, it’s not insignificant,” said Dempster.
The Humberview Group, which has 20 stores across Ontario and has been operating for more than 60 years, hadn’t applied for consideration because it wasn’t aware of the program, according to Mary Esplen, Director of People and Culture.
“When we found out about it, we thought it would be a great opportunity to apply for it,” said Esplen, whose grandfather started the family-owned/operated business in 1962. It made the list of Best Managed Companies for the first time.
“We definitely do consider it a privilege,” said Esplen. “We are very proud to receive this designation. It is a huge credit to our team members. We deliver outstanding customer experiences every day. It’s the whole reason why we were able to successfully receive the award.”
Gold Standard winners that have retained their designation for two additional years included the Dilawri Group of Companies and Policaro Group.
The winners will be honoured at a reception in May in Toronto, Ont.
