Maryjane Martin, APR, President of CPRS Toronto (left), presents the Toronto CEO Award of Excellence in Public Relations to Phil Soper, President and Chief Executive Officer, Royal LePage Real Estate Services, Wednesday, January 28, 2015, in Toronto. The award was created in 1991 to celebrate the Chief Executive Officer in the Greater Toronto area who best demonstrates personal excellence in the understanding and implementation of public relations practices. The Canadian Press Images PHOTO/CPRS Toronto
(Toronto, Ont., January 28, 2015) – Phil Soper, President and CEO, Royal LePage Real Estate Services is the recipient of the 2014 Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) Toronto CEO Award of Excellence in Public Relations. Mr. Soper was honoured with the award at a luncheon on Wednesday January 28, 2015 at the Eaton Chelsea Toronto. This year marks the 22nd occasion of the award ceremony, which recognizes Canadian CEOs and leaders who display communications excellence and contribute to the vision of their organization.
During Mr. Soper’s ten years at the helm of the nation’s largest real estate firm, Royal LePage has earned a commanding lead in traditional and new media share. In 2014, the company generated over 422 million traditional media impressions, more than the next five major real estate firms combined.
As the one hundred year old firm’s spokesperson on national issues,
Mr. Soper offers insight into the country’s residential housing and commercial real estate markets through Canadian and international television, radio and print publications. He was an early adopter in leveraging social networks such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to expand the firm’s reach.
“An engaged, contemporary enterprise cannot survive on a diet of traditional or social media alone,” said Mr. Soper. “The wide acceptance of social networks allows us to engage with, and learn from, our clients and prospects in a back and forth manner that wasn’t contemplated even a few years ago. Yet the massive reach and impact of television, radio and print media continue to serve us well. If an organization understands which channels best suit the communication needs of a given business strategy, they will undoubtedly accomplish more.”
“Effective stakeholder communications remain a hallmark of any successful business,” Soper continued. “The real estate industry is no exception and we have had to evolve quickly to embrace advances in communication technology and consumer preference in an effort to enhance the home buying experience. It is an honour to accept this award recognizing Royal LePage REALTORS’™ success in helping Canadians pursue their home ownership dreams.”
Since assuming the leadership, Soper’s company has tripled in revenue while more than doubling the size of its agent salesforce to 16,000 professionals. These efforts have been recognized throughout the real estate industry. Real Estate Marketing Magazine recently named him “one of the 25 most important leaders of the past 25 years.” He was featured in a nationally syndicated 2011 feature entitled, “The LinkedIn Diaries” which focused on Mr. Soper’s success as a CEO who utilized social media to effectively engage with a geographically dispersed workforce that numbers in the thousands. And early in 2015, Swanepoel Trends ranked him the most influential person in Canadian real estate and the 18th most powerful globally.
After a successful career with information technology giant IBM, Mr. Soper joined the Royal LePage family in 2000 to lead the Royal LePage Corporate Relocation business. After 18 months he was named the president of Royal LePage Real Estate and in 2002 was appointed CEO.
“This is the first year the award has been given to an individual in the real estate industry,” said CPRS Toronto CEO Award Chair Vincent Power, APR. “CPRS is proud to award Mr. Soper the honour due to his ability to create communication channels available to his employees and clients across Canada, which has contributed to the ongoing success of Royal LePage Real Estate.”
The selection committee for the CPRS Toronto Award is made up of past CPRS Toronto presidents, all of whom are accredited Public Relations professionals.
CEO Award Recipients are:
- John E. Betts, CEO of McDonald’s Canada® (2014-2015)
- Sheldon Levy, President and vice chancellor of Ryerson University (2013-2014)
- Robert S. Bell, CEO of the University Health Network (2011-2012)
- Jim Leech, CEO of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (2010-2011)
- Robert Deluce, President and CEO, Porter Airlines (2009-2010)
- Galen G. Weston, Executive Chairman, Loblaw Companies Limited (2008-2009)
- Frances Lankin, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Toronto (2007-2008)
- The late Richard Bradshaw, General Director, Canadian Opera Company (2006-2007)
- Michael Budman and Don Green, Co-founders, Roots Canada (2005-2006)
- Wayne Sales, President and CEO, Canadian Tire (2004-2005)
- Piers Handling, CEO, Toronto International Film Festival (2003-2004)
- Julian Fantino, Police Chief, Toronto Police Service (2002-2003)
- Charles Baillie, Chair, TD Bank Financial Group (2001-2002)
- Dominic D’Alessandro, President and CEO, Manulife Financial (2000-2001)
- Bobbie Gaunt, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company of Canada (1999-2000)
- Diane McGarry, President and CEO, Xerox Canada Inc. (1998-1999)
- Allan Stark, President and CEO, American Express Company Canada (1997-1998)
- George Cohon, President and CEO, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada (1996-1997)
- John Cassaday, President and CEO, CTV (1995-1996)
- David Bloom, President and CEO, Shoppers Drug Mart (1992-1993)
- Peter H. Ellis, President and CEO, Sunnybrook Medical Centre (1991-1992)
The Canadian Public Relations Society is a national professional organization focused on establishing and upholding educational and ethical standards in Public Relations. CPRS Toronto is one of the largest local societies with over 600 members. For more information, please visit: https://www.cprstoronto.com.
Special thanks to our sponsors of the 2014 CEO Award of Excellence in Public Relations.
CONTACT INFORMATION
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Vincent Power, APR, CPRS Toronto CEO Award Chair
416-941-4422
pastpresident@cprstoronto.com
For Royal LePage:
Ray McIlroy
Kaiser Lachance Communications
O: 647-725-2520 x215
C: 647-680-8316
ray.mcilroy@kaiserlachance.com
