HASSAN KHOSROWSHAHI, CHAIRMAN

Hassan Khosrowshahi is the President of Persis Holdings and Chairman of Persis subsidiary, Wesbild Holdings.  

Prior to coming to Canada, Hassan managed Minoo Industrial Group, a major Iranian manufacturer and distributor of food products, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Minoo produced products under its own brand names and under license for major international companies such as Sandoz, L’Oreal, Beatrice Foods, and United biscuits. It was also the exclusive distributor for Nestle S.A. in Iran.   

In 1981, Hassan immigrated to Canada and founded Persis Holdings (formerly Inwest Investments) with operations in retail and real estate. 

In 1982, Hassan founded Future Shop, which grew to become the largest consumer electronic retailer in Canada. Future Shop was sold to Best Buy Co. Inc. in 2001. Simultaneously, through Wesbild Holdings and its subsidiaries, he established a real estate business in the Pacific Northwest comprising residential, industrial, and income producing asset classes.  

After the sale of Future Shop, Persis established DRI Capital, a major investor in royalties on pharmaceutical products. DRI now acquires royalties through DRI Healthcare Trust, a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.   

In 2007, Persis established Reservoir Media, an independent music company specializing in music publishing, recorded music and management. In 2021, Reservoir Media became a public company listed on Nasdaq Stock Exchange.   

An Honorary Fellow of the Sauder School of Business, Hassan serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Fraser Institute and has served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Business Council of British Columbia, the Board of Directors of Canada Post, and the Board of the Smithsonian’s Freer Gallery of Art.  He is a member of the Business Council of Canada and was a member of the Board of Leading Edge Endowment Fund established by the Government of British Columbia.   

Hassan Khosrowshahi has received a Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, has been appointed a member of the Order of Canada and Order of British Columbia and inducted into the Canada Business Hall of Fame.