Unlimited Possibilities
Volume 16 Issue 1 » 101
OpenRoad CEO Wins Entrepreneur Award
Christian Chia, CEO of OpenRoad Auto Group, earned the
prestigious distinction as the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year
2018 Pacific winner. Chia was chosen as the Pacific region’s top
entrepreneur and an industry trailblazer from an elite group of 62
nominees and 35 finalists based on his proven success and leadership
in the automotive retail and service industry.
“It is a tremendous honour to be recognized amongst such an
esteemed group of entrepreneurs,” said Christian Chia, CEO of
OpenRoad Auto Group. “At OpenRoad, we’ve worked very hard to
stay ahead of the competition and to offer a superior car ownership
experience, so this award is truly a testament to the dedication of the
entire OpenRoad team.”
“One of OpenRoad’s biggest strengths is understanding its people,”
said Lui Petrollini, Entrepreneur Of The Year Pacific Program
Director. “Buying a car is a big investment decision for many people,
and the experience often doesn’t end at the point of purchase.
Christian aims to build on that by delivering an engaged and
meaningful car ownership experience from one end of the customer
journey to the other.”
Established in 1978 as Multiland Investment, the small, family-run
business of one car dealership eventually grew to four stores and
three brands by the time Christian became president in 1998. He
then led the transition from Multiland to OpenRoad in 2000 and
has since paved the road for explosive growth. Today, OpenRoad is
the largest auto retailer in BC, with 32 retail locations, including 29
dealerships and 3 collision centres.
Christian Chia is the Pacific Region 2018 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year.
2019 Best Managed Companies Award
OpenRoad Auto Group has been named one of Canada’s Best
Managed Companies for the seventh year in a row, and has been
honoured with the prestigious Platinum award, the program’s
highest level of corporate recognition. As BC’s largest automotive
dealership group, the company is pleased to be recognized with this
extraordinary achievement within the Canadian retail industry.
“We are continually striving to offer a better experience and
unlimited possibilities for our employees and customers, so to
achieve the Platinum level as one of Canada’s Best Managed
Companies truly validates our efforts to raise the bar within our
industry,” said Christian Chia, CEO of OpenRoad Auto Group.
Now in its 25 th year, Canada’s Best Managed Companies is the
country’s leading business awards program, recognizing Canadian-
owned and managed companies for innovative, world-class practices
and excellence in management abilities. Every year, hundreds
of entrepreneurial companies compete for this designation in a
rigorous and independent process that evaluates the calibre of their
management abilities and practices.
President & COO Mark Lin accepts the Best Managed Companies Platinum Award
alongside Jon Chang, Human Resources Manager (left), and Dev Walia, Vice President
Finance & CFO (right).