Jim Estill
{{short description|Canadian technology entrepreneur}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jim Estill
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CM|OOnt|size=100%}}
| image = Jim Estill.jpg
| image_size =
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|4|8}}
| birth_place =
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| education = University of Waterloo
| occupation = CEO of Danby Appliances Inc. (2015–present)
| spouse =
| parents =
| children =
| nationality = Canadian
| website = {{official website}}
}}
James Andrew Estill, {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CM|OOnt}} (born April 8, 1957) is a Canadian technology entrepreneur, executive, and philanthropist who has been serving as CEO of appliance manufacturer Danby Appliances Ltd since 2015.{{cite news|last=Del Nibletto|first=Paolo|title=Jim Estill has a new CEO position|url=http://www.computerdealernews.com/news/jim-estill-has-a-new-ceo-position/42812|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922021026/http://www.computerdealernews.com/news/jim-estill-has-a-new-ceo-position/42812|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 22, 2015|access-date=January 17, 2017|work=Computer Dealer News|date=June 19, 2015}} During the course of his career, Estill has invested in 150 start-up companies{{cite news|last=Galang|first=Jessica|title=Jim Estill Gives Entrepreneurs Their Inspiration in 2016|url=http://betakit.com/jim-estill-gives-entrepreneurs-their-inspiration-for-2016/|access-date=January 17, 2017|work=Betakit.com|date=January 8, 2016}} and received international attention for sponsoring the resettling of Syrian refugee families in Canada.{{cite news|title=Guelph CEO Jim Estill sponsoring 50 Syrian refugee families|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/danby-ceo-jim-estill-sponsors-50-syrian-refugee-families-in-guelph-1.3338705|access-date=January 17, 2017|work=cbc.ca|date=November 26, 2015}} In recognition of his philanthropic efforts, Estill received the Order of Ontario in June 2017{{cite news|title=The 2016 Appointees to the Order of Ontario|url=https://news.ontario.ca/mci/en/2016/12/the-2016-appointees-to-the-order-of-ontario.html|access-date=January 17, 2017|work=news.ontario.ca|date=December 14, 2016}} and was named to the Order of Canada in July 2018,{{cite news|title=Guelph's Jim Estill, Peter Irwin named to Order of Canada|url=https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/guelphs-jim-estill-peter-irwin-named-to-order-of-canada-972487|access-date=July 13, 2017|work=Guelph Today|date=July 1, 2018}} and received a King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Advertiser |date=2024-10-23 |title=Guelph residents receive King Charles III Coronation Medals |url=https://www.wellingtonadvertiser.com/guelph-residents-receive-king-charles-iii-coronation-medals/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Wellington Advertiser |language=en-US}}
Education
Estill studied engineering at the University of Waterloo, graduating in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Design Engineering.{{Cite web |title=Alumni entrepreneurs {{!}} Systems Design Engineering {{!}} University of Waterloo |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/systems-design-engineering/alumni-and-friends/alumni-entrepreneurs |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=uwaterloo.ca |language=en}}
Business career
=1980–1999=
In his final year of university, he started his first company, EMJ Data Systems. Estill sold computer equipment and software, soon transitioning into distribution.{{cite news|title=Fail Often. Fail Fast. Fail Cheap|url=https://www.businessviewmagazine.com/fail-often-fail-fast-fail-cheap/|access-date=January 17, 2017|work=businessviewmagazine.com|date=July 6, 2016}}
In 1996, Estill joined the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO){{cite news|last=Richards|first=Sue|title=Better leaders through education and idea exchange.|url=http://www.exchangemagazine.com/html/newpublic/Xmedia/ExchangeVol21No4/pdf/ExchangeVol21No4pg19_40.pdf|access-date=January 17, 2017|work=exchangemagazine.com|date=March 2004}} and remains a member of the CNBC-YPO Chief Executive Network.{{cite news|last=Estill|first=Jim|title=How did I grow sales from zero to billions? Simple, really.|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/12/simple-rules-of-a-ceo-who-grew-sales-from-zero-to-2-billion.html|access-date=January 17, 2017|work=cnbc.com|date=September 12, 2016}}
Estill served as a founding board member of Research in Motion/BlackBerry in 1997, before the company went public.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}
=2000–2009=
In 2003, EMJ purchased the Canadian operations of DaisyTek Canada, doubling their distribution size to more than $350 million in consolidated revenue.{{cite news|last=Sutton|first=Neil|title=EMJ buys Canadian Daisytek operation|url=http://www.itbusiness.ca/news/emj-buys-canadian-daisytek-operation/3040|access-date=January 17, 2017|work=itbusiness.ca|date=August 25, 2003}}
In June 2004, Synnex Canada purchased EMJ Data Systems for $56 million.{{cite news|title=SYNNEX and EMJ Announce Business Combination to Create New Distribution Leader|url=http://ir.synnex.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=393836|access-date=January 17, 2017|work=synnex.com|date=June 14, 2004}} As part of the deal, Estill took over as CEO of Synnex's Canadian division. During the five years that he ran Synnex from 2004 to 2009.
=2010–present=
In 2010, Estill left BlackBerry Limited{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} and published his first book, Time Leadership – Lessons from a CEO and followed that publication three years later with Zero to $2 Billion: The Marketing and Branding Story Behind the Growth.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} Estill also serves on the advisory board of OMERS Ventures, one of Canada's largest pension funds, which began operations in 2011.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}
Estill came out of semi-retirement to assume the post of CEO at Guelph, Ontario-based Danby Products in 2015. In 2017, Estill purchased Danby Products and its subsidiaries from John Wood and his family. Under his guidance, the company resumed manufacturing some of its products in Canada for the first time in a number of years.{{cite news|last=O'Flanagan|first=Rob|title=Danby to make products in Canada again|url=https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/danby-to-make-products-in-canada-again-346153|access-date=January 17, 2017|work=guelphtoday.com|date=July 28, 2016}}
In 2023, Estill purchased Valcom Manufacturing Group,{{Cite web |date=2023-08-22 |title=Jim Estill purchases Valcom Companies |url=https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/jim-estill-purchases-valcom-companies-7437391 |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=GuelphToday.com |language=en}} a company that designs and manufactures of a full range of antennas.
In 2024, Estill purchased Arctic Snowplows,{{Cite web |last=Dylan |date=2018-11-26 |title=Auto Accessories: Arctic Snowplows 🍁 |url=https://madeinca.ca/miscellaneous-arctic-snowplows/#:~:text=In%20January%202024,%20Arctic%20Snowplows,Jim%20Estill%20of%20Danby%20Appliances |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Made in CA |language=en-CA}} a Canadian company that manufactures snow plows.
=Seed investor=
In addition to the businesses he started on his own, Estill also served as a seed investor for over 150 companies, including well.ca,{{cite news|title=Well.ca Partners with Maple Leaf Angels to Solidify its Leadership in Canada's Online Drugstore Market|url=http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/wellca-partners-with-maple-leaf-angels-to-solidify-its-leadership-in-canadas-online-drugstore-market-535877471.html|access-date=January 17, 2017|work=newswire.ca|date=April 17, 2008}} Printeron, Miovision, Clearpath Robotics, Postrank, Touch Bistro, Spicer, Inex, and Border Networks.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}} Jim has also been granted patents for a variety of inventions, predominantly in the appliance arena.{{Cite web |title=Jim Estill Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search |url=https://patents.justia.com/inventor/jim-estill?page=2 |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=patents.justia.com}}
Philanthropy
In November 2015, Estill sponsored the immigration of 50 Syrian families to Guelph, Ontario.{{cite news|last=McQuiggie|first=Michelle|title=Jim Estill, Guelph Businessman, Sponsoring 50 Syrian Families, Rallies Town|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/11/27/guelph-jim-estill-sponsoring-syrian-refugees_n_8666146.html|access-date=January 17, 2017|work=huffingtonpost.ca|date=November 27, 2015}}{{Cite news|last=Silverberg|first=David|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49918049|title=This boss paid $1m to bring refugee families to his town|date=October 7, 2019|work=BBC News|access-date=February 11, 2020|language=en-GB}} Estill has now sponsored more than 200 people.{{cite news|last=Mann|first=Mark|title=Q&A: Jim Estill, who's sponsoring 58 Syrian refugee families, on what's next|url=http://torontolife.com/city/life/qa-jim-estill-whos-sponsoring-58-syrian-refugee-families-whats-next/|access-date=January 17, 2017|work=torontolife.com|date=December 22, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.unhcr.ca/news/homegrown-entrepreneur-jim-estill-refugees-fresh-start-canada/|title=Guelph's Jim Estill giving hundreds of refugees a fresh start in Canada|last=La Rose|first=Lauren|date=October 13, 2019|website=UNHCR Canada|language=en-US|access-date=February 11, 2020}}
In addition to his own project, Estill also contributed his finances to help a nine-year-old local boy realize his family's dream of sponsoring a Syrian family in Canada.{{cite news|last=Rutledge|first=Lisa|title=Cambridge family reaches threshold to sponsor Syrian refugees|url=http://www.cambridgetimes.ca/news-story/6220877-cambridge-family-reaches-threshold-to-sponsor-syrian-refugees/|access-date=January 17, 2017|work=cambridgetimes.ca|date=January 7, 2016}}
In recognition of his philanthropic efforts, Estill received the Order of Ontario in June 2017 and was named to the Order of Canada in June 2018. Together with all other living member of the Order of Canada, he automatically received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2024.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|jimestill.com}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Estill, James}}
Category:20th-century Canadian businesspeople
Category:21st-century Canadian businesspeople
Category:Canadian business executives
Category:Canadian company founders
Category:Canadian computer businesspeople
Category:Canadian philanthropists
Category:Canadian technology chief executives
Category:Members of the Order of Canada
Category:Members of the Order of Ontario