Co-op Atlantic welcomes first Acadian CEO

Co-op Atlantic officially welcomed Paul-Émile Légère as its first Acadian CEO at the organization’s annual general meeting, held in Moncton on May 29.

Légère is a Moncton native and chartered accountant, and took over the reins of the 83-year-old organization, succeeding John Harvie, who had been CEO since 2002.

Légère has held senior executive positions in a number of large Atlantic and international coprorations over the past 25 years.

He joined Co-op Atlantic in 2005 as CFO and has gained a strong knowledge of its core businesses (food, agriculture and energy).

Total sales in 2010-11 were $562 million, a figure slightly higher than the prior year. Earnings before taxes were $4.2 million.

Co-op Atlantic, a regional co-operative based in Moncton, is owned by more than 100 retail and agricultural co-ops across Atlantic Canada and the Magdalen Islands. Its combined sales exceed $2 billion, employing more than 5,000 people.

Co-op Atlantic provides food, agriculture, energy and social housing/real estate services to member co-operatives and independently-owned businesses across the region.