Peter Herrndorf

Who is Peter Herrndorf?

Peter A. Herrndorf, OC OOnt is a Canadian lawyer and media businessman. He is the president and chief executive officer of the National Arts Centre.

Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, he graduated with a BA in political science and English from the University of Manitoba in 1962 and a law degree from Dalhousie University in 1965. In 1970, he received an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

He joined the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a reporter beginning in 1965, producer. He was appointed head of TV current affairs in 1979, and later network vice-president.

He was publisher of Toronto Life from 1983 to 1992, and was chairman and CEO of TVOntario from 1992 to 1999.

In 1993, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. He also received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from York University in 1989, from the University of Winnipeg in 1993, and from Dalhousie University in 2000. In 1998, he was awarded the John Drainie Award. In 2007, he was awarded the Order of Ontario for having "revolutionized Canadian broadcasting, publishing and the performing arts at organizations such as the CBC, Toronto Life Magazine, TV Ontario and the National Arts Centre".