Alexander Tilley

Alexander Joseph Tilley (January 8, 1938 – October 28, 2025) was a Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist known for founding hat manufacturer Tilley Endurables in 1984. After selling the company in 2015, he focused on supporting various charitable causes and supporting young business owners. At age 12, Tilley suffered a head injury in a car accident, leading to ongoing memory issues.

At the recommendation of his father, Tilley obtained bachelor's degrees in Economics and Psychology from the University of British Columbia and took a job at Bell Canada. During this time, he grew increasingly frustrated with the unavailability of a suitable sailing hat, and in 1980 he worked with a milliner to create a new hat to address the issues present in existing ones.

Tilley met his fourth wife, Hilary Clark Cole, in 1993, when he purchased a large moose statue from her. They married in 2008.