Interim CEO named at Calgary Co-op

Calgary Co-op has a new boss. At least temporarily. Ken Woo, a retailing veteran, has been named interim CEO of the Calgary-based chain.

He replaces Deane Collinson who is retiring, according to Calgary Co-op.

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Woo (in photo), a 35-year retail veteran, joined Calgary Co-op last summer and was most recently vice-president of food centre operations and merchandising.

Prior to that he worked at United Cycle, an independent sporting goods retailer in Edmonton. He also spent more than a decade with Sobeys.

According to a 2013 Calgary Herald article, Woo was responsible for launching the Garden Market IGA Stores, which first opened in 1989. By the 1990s, there were 100 outlets under the banner.

After Sobeys purchased IGA,  Woo became district manager for the retailer's Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba markets, eventually becoming senior vice-president of operations.

As interim CEO, Woo will oversee all of Calgary Co-op's operations, which includes more than 20 supermarkets in and around Calgary as well as gas bars, liquor stores, travel agencies and home health-care centres.

Calgary Co-op bills itself as one of the largest retail co-operatives in North America with more than 3,600 employees and 440,000 members. Sales last year grew two per cent to $1.2 billion, with $34 million given out in member refunds.

There was no word at press time on the co-op's search for a permanent CEO.

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Collinson, the outgoing CEO, joined Calgary Co-op in October 2009. A former Loblaw executive, Collinson has overseen several new initiatives at the co-op recently, including the opening of a new-look 72,000-square-foot supermarket at the company's Crowfoot location in Calgary in September.

In March, the co-op also launched a line of Alberta produced pork, beef and goat meat under the Co-op Perfect brand.