Frank Hasenfratz

Frank Hasenfratz founded Canadian auto parts manufacturer Linamar in 1966. A Hungarian refugee, he fled his native country after the Soviet Union invaded in 1956. Hasenfratz attended trade and engineering schools while working as a toolmaker. He started Linamar in his basement in 1964 and named it after his two daughters, Linda and Nancy, and wife, Margaret. Today Linamar is one of Canada's largest auto parts makers, employing 19,000 across 45 plants. Hasenfratz remains its chairman while daughter Linda runs the Ontario-based company.