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Pierre Boivin tapped as new Metro chairman

Retiring Réal Raymond set to step down next month

Russell Redman

December 16, 2020

2 Min Read
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Plans call for Pierre Boivin, who's currently president and CEO of private investment firm Claridge, to take the reins as chairman upon being elected at Metro’s annual shareholders meeting on Jan. 26.Metro Inc.

Canadian food and drug retailer Metro Inc. has named independent director Pierre Boivin as chairman of the board, succeeding Réal Raymond, who is retiring.

Plans call for Boivin to take the reins as chairman upon being elected at Metro’s annual shareholders meeting on Jan. 26. Raymond, who has served as chairman of Montreal-based Metro since January 2015, will step down at that time.

Pierre Boivin_Metro_headshot.jpg“It is an honor and a privilege to be selected by the board as incoming Chairman. I very much look forward to helping Metro, one of the best food and pharmacy distributors and retailers in Canada, continue its growth and development,” Boivin (left) said in a statement. “Réal Raymond has been an excellent chairman of the board at a time of significant growth for the company. On behalf of the board, I extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to Réal for his contribution to Metro’s success.”

Boivin, 66, has been on Metro’s board since 2019. He currently serves as president and CEO of Claridge Inc., a private investment firm that represents the interests of the Stephen Bronfman family. Boivin also is a board member at other large Canadian corporations, including the National Bank of Canada and Canadian Tire Corp. In addition, he serves on the board of CH Group, which manages the Montreal Canadiens, Bell Centre, evenko and L’Équipe Spectra. From 1999 to 2011, Boivin was president and CEO of the Montreal Canadiens, Bell Centre and evenko.

Related:Metro highlights e-commerce acceleration in strong Q4

Real Raymond_Metro_headshot.jpgRaymond (left) 69, joined Metro’s board in 2008 and served as lead director on Metro’s board from 2010 to 2015 before ascending to chairman in 2015. He spent his entire career at National Bank of Canada, where he held a range of leadership postions, including president and CEO from March 2002 to May 2007. 

“On behalf of all shareholders, I wish to acknowledge the strong leadership of Réal Raymond, who is retiring as chairman after serving Metro so well for all of these years,” stated Eric La Flèche, president and CEO of Metro. “Réal's guidance and steadfast support of management have been essential to the success of Metro’s growth strategy. We wish him the very best as he retires from our board.”

For its 2020 fiscal year ended Sept. 26, Metro saw sales rise 7.3% to nearly $18 billion (Canadian). Net earnings climbed to $796.4 million, or $3.14 per diluted share, from $714.4 million, or $2.78 per diluted share, a year earlier. The company’s retail network includes about 950 food stores under the Metro, Metro Plus, Super C, Food Basics and other banners in Quebec and Ontario, as well as 650 drugstores, mainly under the Jean Coutu, Brunet, Metro Pharmacy and Food Basics Pharmacy banners.

Related:Metro extends online grocery with new e-commerce hub store

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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