Canadian auto parts founder Frank Stronach convicted of sexual assault against two women

The verdict

Frank Stronach, the Austrian-Canadian billionaire who built Magna International from a rented garage into one of the world's largest automotive parts suppliers, was found guilty Friday in a Toronto courtroom on one count of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. Ontario Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy delivered the verdict after a trial that began in February. Stronach, 93, was acquitted on three other charges involving two different women.

“The verdict was rendered Friday by Justice Anne Molloy of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto.”

Charges and trial

The case originally involved seven complainants and 12 charges. By the time arguments concluded in April, prosecutors had withdrawn or stayed several charges, leaving Stronach facing five charges from three women. The allegations spanned decades, with some dating back to 1977. Canada imposes no statute of limitations on sexual offences.

The court dropped three charges from one complainant after finding her testimony not credible. Additional charges were withdrawn by the prosecution due to a lack of evidence. Stronach had pleaded not guilty and denied all allegations throughout the proceedings.

The defendant

Born in Austria, Stronach founded Magna in 1957 and grew it into a global operation that assembled vehicles for automakers including Mercedes-Benz. During his tenure the company attempted takeovers of both Chrysler and Opel. Stronach resigned as Magna's chairman in 2011 and returned to his native Austria the following year to found a political party and run for public office. He later moved back to Canada.

The New York Times noted that Stronach also has a long history of making inappropriate public remarks about women, citing a 2007 Magna annual meeting where he asked shareholders who was more attractive to women, himself or his longtime aide.

Sentencing and second trial

Sentencing is scheduled for September 17, 2026. Stronach remains free until then. A second trial is set for May 2027 in Newmarket, Ontario, where six additional complainants are expected to testify about alleged sexual assaults. That jury trial was originally planned for autumn 2026 but was postponed and is expected to last four weeks.