Now available in paperback: The Canadian energy sector’ smost prominent business leader writes about the oil sands and the future of energy

Over its twenty years with president and CEO Rick George at the helm, Suncor Energy went from being Canada’s “unluckiest oil company” to becoming a stock market darling and the second-largest publicly traded corporation in the country. Both a contrarian and an optimist, George often made multibillion-dollar moves despite deep skepticism within the industry. His $2.8-billion expansion into the oil sands ignited massive growth in Canada’s most valuable, and controversial, natural resource. And his $19-billion merger with Petro-Canadain 2009 made Suncor a true global player in the rough, big-stakes game of international oil.

All of this from a guy who grew up in a small Colorado ranching town. Now one of Canadian business’s most transformative figures, in a sector fraught with debate, Rick George is a man of contradictions—both a conservationist and a leading proponent of sustainable development of the oil sands.

Sun Rise is about leadership, strategy and environmental concerns; it’s also about the future of oil sands development. This is the story of a visionary whose faith in people and innovation leads him to believe that we can overcome today’s challenges and continue to advance.

RICK GEORGE was appointed president and chief executive officer of Suncor Energy Inc. in 1991; he has retired as of spring 2012. He was named Outstanding CEO of the Year in 1999 after leading a remarkable business turnaround at Suncor, and he received the Canadian Business Leader Award in 2000. George was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in November 2011 for his leadership in the development of Canada's natural resources sector, for his efforts to provide economic opportunities to Aboriginal communities, and for his commitment to sustainable development. Originally from Brush, Colorado, George lives with his family in Calgary, Alberta.

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