Darren Entwistle, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of TELUS, has been named the University of Victoria (UVic) Peter B. Gustavson School of Business 2026 Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year Award (DEYA) recipient.
In his role at TELUS since 2000, Entwistle is the longest-serving CEO in the global telecommunications industry. Under his leadership, TELUS evolved from a regional telephone company serving Western Canada into a global communications and information technology leader with a total brand value of $12.1 billion — making it the most valuable telecommunications brand in Canada.
“We are thrilled to announce Darren Entwistle as our 2026 DEYA honouree,” says Peter Gustavson, chair of the DEYA nominations committee. “He pairs an entrepreneurial mind with an unwavering awareness that business success and community well-being go hand-in-hand. It is both of these traits that set him apart as a leader.”
Known for his people-first leadership philosophy, Entwistle has fostered a globally admired corporate culture within TELUS, which has led to TELUS being consistently recognized for its world leadership with respect to team member engagement. Since 2000, TELUS and its team members have contributed $1.8 billion to communities, including more than 2.5 million days of volunteer service, which is more than any other company in the world.
“On behalf of the 130,000 TELUS team members and retirees around the globe, it is an honour and a privilege to accept this award from the UVic Peter B. Gustavson School of Business, a renowned institution that embraces innovation and develops Canada’s next generation of purpose-driven business leaders,” says Entwistle.
“This meaningful accolade is a testament to TELUS’ unparalleled global leadership in social capitalism and shareholder value creation; reflecting our team’s long-standing belief that there is a synergistic relationship between doing well in business and doing good in the communities where our team members live, work and serve as citizens. I am exceedingly proud of our team and their deeply rooted passion for making the future friendly for people and stakeholders around the world.”
“The Gustavson School of Business is excited to celebrate Darren Entwistle at DEYA this year, and hear from him firsthand about his leadership journey,” says Graham Brown, acting dean of the business school.
“Darren’s leadership at TELUS shows that it’s possible to have ambitious business performance and develop a people-first culture that focuses on community impact — that these goals are mutually reinforcing, and not a trade off.”
Entwistle will receive the award at the Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year Award gala, taking place on June 15 at the Victoria Conference Centre.
