Longtime Metro executive André Gagné is retiring

Metro has announced one of its key Ontario executives is stepping away from the company next month. After 19 years with the grocer, André Gagné, vice-president, fresh merchandising is retiring. He will be replaced by Michael Rose effective Sept. 19.

Gagné joined Metro in 2003 as vice-president and general manager of Loeb Canada Inc. Three years later he was named vice-president, conventional merchandising for A&P Canada and in 2010, he took his current position.

“Over the years, he has greatly contributed to the fresh category and has helped deliver market-leading performances across all departments,” said a statement from Metro provided to Canadian Grocer. “Giving back to the community and the industry has always been important to André — as such, he served on the board of The Grocery Foundation for over nine years and sat as chair, from 2012 to 2015.”

Rose brings a wealth of experience to the job. Currently he’s director, category management, conventional merchandising for Metro, but he started with the company as a part-time grocery clerk at an A&P in Brampton in 1999. In 2002, he was appointed assistant store manager and was then promoted to assistant category manager with the Food Basics merchandising team in 2007 and was named category manager a year later. He was promoted to the position of senior category manager, Metro in 2016 and to his current director position in 2017.

“Over the years, Mike has demonstrated both people and thought leadership, combined with a solid understanding of our customer, as exemplified by the design and implementation of our health and wellness strategy for the Metro banner,” said the Metro statement.

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