Frank Stronach, founder of a global auto parts empire, was found guilty of sexual assault and indecent assault in two cases. He was also acquitted on three other charges. The decision was made by Justice Anne Molloy of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto.
The verdict is notable given Stronach’s past success in building one of the largest auto parts companies, Magna International. Starting in a rented garage, he grew the company to prominence, even venturing into vehicle assembly for brands like Mercedes-Benz. His influence once led him to attempt takeovers of Chrysler and Opel, marking his impact on the automotive industry.
Stronach faced a dozen charges related to allegations from seven different women, dating from the 1970s to the 1990s. While he pleaded not guilty, the court found sufficient evidence in two of the cases.
His career has also been marked by controversial public comments, particularly about women. During his bid for Chrysler, Stronach made remarks comparing his attractiveness to that of his aide, Manfred Gingl, during a company meeting.
The charges against him primarily involved incidents connected to women he encountered through his business endeavors at Magna and other companies he managed.