Peter Nygård

Not to be confused with Petri Nygård.
Peter J. Nygård
Born 1943
Helsinki, Finland
Citizenship Canadian
Occupation Business owner
Known for Chairman of Nygård International

Peter J. Nygård (born 1943) is a Canadian fashion executive, chairman of Nygård International, a company based in Winnipeg that makes women's wear. He was rated the 70th richest Canadian by Canadian Business Magazine in 2009 with a net worth of $817 million.[1]

Contents

Early life

Nygård was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1943. His parents were Eeli and Hilkka Nygård, bakers who immigrated to Canada in 1952, settling at first in Deloraine, Manitoba (where Nygård Park would later be named in honor of Peter in 2002). They moved shortly after to Winnipeg.[2]

He graduated from the University of North Dakota with a business degree,[3] and has received several awards from them.[4][5]

Nygård has seven children.[6]

Nygård International

On December 1, 1967, Peter Nygård used his life savings and an additional loan of $8,000 to purchase 20% of a woman’s clothing manufacturer. A few years later Peter Nygård owned the company and renamed it Nygård International.[7]

Nygård apparel manufacturing company was founded in 1967 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Its Canada headquarters is now in Toronto, Ontario with its world headquarters in Times Square, New York.[8]

Peter Nygård's fashion concept retail store opened in Times Square in Manhattan on Friday, November 6, 2009.

Nygård Cay

In 1987, Nygård built a 150,000-square-foot (14,000 m2) compound at Lyford Cay in the Bahamas. It was partly destroyed by a fire on November 10, 2009.[9]

On April 14, 2010 Peter Nygard announced he was planning a $50 million renovation of Nygård Cay, which would take two years to complete and repair the damage and employ 200 construction workers.[10][11]

The Cay is inspired by the Mayan civilization’s architecture. One of the major buildings is a 32,000 ft2 grand-hall with a 100,000 lb glass ceiling.[12]

Charity

Nygård has supported the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation[13]

Nygård has been a long time sponsors of amateur sports in the Bahamas. In June 2010, is the main sponsor of Amateur Boxing Federation of the Bahamas' team for Continental Elite Boxing Championships Invitation only event slated for June 13–19 in Quito, Ecuador.[14] Wellington Miller, the president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee, said Nygard has contributed significantly to the Amateur Boxing Association of the Bahamas and their Olympic success.[15]

In April 2011, Nygård held the "2011 National Family Island Regatta" at Nygard Cay, which included a press conference to honor sailor and music entertainer ‘King’ Eric Gibson.[16][17]

In the same month, Nygård also donated $10,000 to Josie Poitier, a member of Holy Redeemer Church, during a Passover/Good Friday Breakfast/Brunch.[18]

Fifth Estate documentary

On April 10, 2010, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation's (CBC) Fifth Estate aired a documentary titled "Larger Than Life" that delved into Nygård's alleged mistreatment of employees.[19][20] To prevent its airing, Nygård launched a copyright complaint with the US District Court in New York against the CBC, an executive producer, journalist and cameraman for using footage from the November 6 opening of the flagship store in Manhattan.[21][22][23] He also launched a lawsuit in Manitoba against the CBC to prevent them from airing the piece, and sued two former employees for releasing confidential information.[24] Nygård's lawyer claimed CBC harassed many of the employees at home and eight have since filed formal complaints against the CBC.[24]

Later, Nygård hired a retired Scotland Yard detective to investigate the documentary.[25] He interviewed an ex-FBI agent, who said he was paid by the CBC to trash fashion tycoon Peter Nygard. The agent admitted making the comments, but then said they were untrue as he "likes to brag".[25] Nygard has launched a civil suit against his neighbor and the Lyford Cay Property Owners Association alleging they conspired with the CBC to damage his reputation so his permanent residency on the island would be revoked and his resort converted back into residential property.[26] Nygard has also filed a private criminal prosecution against three CBC journalists accusing them of conspiring to discredit him and his clothing empire.[27]

References

  1. ^ Kirbyson, Geoff (2009-11-19). "Manitobans make magazine's Rich 100 list". Winnipeg Free Press. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/manitobans-make-magazines-rich-100-list-70447987.html. Retrieved 2010-04-14. 
  2. ^ http://www4.nygard.com/uploadedFiles/News/YEAR_2010/News_2010/full_HilkkaNygard_new.pdf
  3. ^ http://www4.nygard.com/scf/News2003.aspx?id=357
  4. ^ "North Dakota Entrepreneur Hall of Fame". innovators.net. http://www.innovators.net/innovators/public_html/about_the_center/entrepreneur_hall.html. Retrieved 12 July 2010. 
  5. ^ "Entrepreneur Awards". innovators.net. http://www.innovators.net/innovators/public_html/about_the_center/entrepreneur_awards.html. Retrieved 12 July 201. 
  6. ^ http://www4.nygard.com/scf/News2003.aspx?id=356
  7. ^ "Peter Nygard's success story". lasplash.com. http://www.lasplash.com/publish/Entertainment/cat_index_la_events/Peter_Nygard_and_Nygard_International_to_Host_The_Night_of_100_Stars_Gala.php. Retrieved 28 June 2010. 
  8. ^ "Nygard International Company Profile". http://corporate.nygard.com/company-profile/?ID=31&Folder_id=14. 
  9. ^ "Fire destroys Nygard's Bahamas compound", Winnipeg Free Press, November 10, 2009
  10. ^ "Nygard pledges 50 million comeback". The Nassau Guardian. http://www.thenassauguardian.com/bixex/325682364938194.php. Retrieved June 28, 2010. 
  11. ^ "Nygard Cay is not licensed as commercial property". The Nassau Tribune. August 16, 2010. http://www.tribune242.com/searchresults/16082010_nkn-nygard-no-license_news_pg1. Retrieved August 31, 2010. 
  12. ^ "Nygård Cay". unusualvillarentals.com. http://www.unusualvillarentals.com/caribbean/bahamas/nygard/. Retrieved 28 June 2010 ". 
  13. ^ "$26.5 million Raised Nationwide as Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure Celebrates Sweet Sixteen". Cnwtelbec.com. http://www.cnwtelbec.com/en/releases/archive/September2007/30/c6818.html?view=print. Retrieved 2010-04-14. 
  14. ^ "Nygard sponsoring team for 'invitation only' amateur boxing event". The Tribune. June 1, 2010. http://www.tribune242.com/sports/06012010_Nygardsponsorship_sports. Retrieved June 29, 2010. 
  15. ^ "Nygard to sponsor Exuma regatta". The Tribune. March 29, 2011. http://www.tribune242.com/sports/03292011_Gibsonhonored_sports. Retrieved April 13, 2011. 
  16. ^ "Nygard Does It Again, Sponsors National F.I. Regatta". Jones Bahamas. March 28, 2011. http://www.jonesbahamas.com/news/123/ARTICLE/22793/2011-03-28.html. Retrieved April 13, 2011. 
  17. ^ "I did everything that I could to make it such a great sport". The Tribune. March 29, 2011. http://www.tribune242.com/03292011_Gibsonpleased_sports. Retrieved April 13, 2011. 
  18. ^ "After years of giving, volunteer gets recognition, reward". Miami Herald. April 25, 2011. http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/04/25/2184586/after-years-of-giving-volunteer.html. Retrieved April 25, 2011. 
  19. ^ "Former Deputy PM denies defending Nygard International against immigration accusations". The Nassau Tribune. April 14, 2010. http://www.tribune242.com/sports/04142010_alnygard_news_pg1. Retrieved April 20, 2010. 
  20. ^ "Documentary alleges Peter Nygard violated Bahamian immigration, labour laws". The Nassau Tribune. April 13, 2010. http://www.tribune242.com/04132010_alnygard_news_pg1. Retrieved April 20, 2010. 
  21. ^ "Fashion mogul Peter Nygård tries to block airing of CBC show". Fftimes.com. 2010-01-12. http://www.fftimes.com/node/230384. Retrieved 2010-04-14. 
  22. ^ Famous Fashionista says: (2010-01-11). "Nygård seeks damages from the CBC". fashionmagazine.com. http://www.fashionmagazine.com/blogs/fashion/fashion-news/2010/01/11/nygard-seeks-damages-from-the-cbc/. Retrieved 2010-04-14. 
  23. ^ Austen, Ian (2010-01-10). "Nygard Sues Over Unwanted Media Coverage". Canada: NYTimes.com. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/business/media/11nygard.html?partner=rss&emc=rss. Retrieved 2010-04-14. 
  24. ^ a b Owen, Bruce (2010-01-13). "CBC probe distracts staff, Nygard claims". Winnipeg Free Press. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/cbc-probe-distracts-staff-nygard-claims-81304202.html. Retrieved 2010-04-14. 
  25. ^ a b "Man hired to dig dirt on Nygard had dubious past". Toronto Sun. 4/3/2011. http://www.torontosun.com/life/2011/04/03/17859601.html. Retrieved 4/26/2011. 
  26. ^ "Nygard enemy bolts". Toronto Sun. 4/9/2011. http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2011/04/09/17935196.html. Retrieved 4/26/2011. 
  27. ^ "Fashion tycoon Peter Nygard files criminal complaint against CBC". Toronto Sun. 4/1/2011. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/fashion-tycoon-peter-nygard-files-criminal-complaint-against-cbc/article1966340/. Retrieved 4/26/2011. 

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