GM Paul Guidone

A Note of Thanks to My Team

To Our Community,

It is hard to believe the first quarter of 2022 is almost over. As the year progresses, my remaining time at the Co-op, and with you, is dwindling.

With my retirement coming in a scant seven weeks, I find myself looking back at my time here at the Co-op and reflecting upon all that we have been through—our accomplishments and challenges.

Anyone who knows anything about a team—what it takes to create, lead, manage, motivate and cherish a group of disparate individuals—knows that we all play a different role but share one common vision and goal. In short, no one person can do it all without help. A team is dependent on every individual doing his or her part to make the vision a reality. To think otherwise, is sheer arrogance based on ignorance.

In that spirit, I want to take this opportunity to recognize my immediate team—the Co-op leadership team. This combination of highly skilled, highly experienced professionals—Amanda Charland, Bruce Follett, Lori Hildbrand, Mark Langlois, and Allan Reetz—have worked side-by-side with me for the past six years, with each of us playing different roles, and most recently through what is arguably the most difficult period in our organization’s long and storied history.

Their counsel has been invaluable, and through every difficult decision, they have been my stalwart advisors. As a high-functioning team, we have made all the decisions together, both good and bad decisions (yes, it does happen!), usually after long and sometimes intensely focused discussions in which we worked through the issues with openness and candor.

Each of these individuals carries an enormous amount of responsibility, and most of the work goes on totally behind the scenes, often at great personal expense. And unlike all team sports—we do not keep score.

There is no winner or loser on this team. The ‘winner’ is the Co-op, its employees, members, and shoppers.

To my team, thank you for the privilege of serving this organization with you. It is much easier to retire knowing our Co-op is in your collective hands.

Thank you to all our members and shoppers for the ongoing support. We will talk again next Thursday. Remember to be kind to one another and to yourselves, and we look forward to serving you in our stores and at the curbside.

Onward and upward,

Paul

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Paul Guidone

Paul Guidone, CFA, spent the better part of four decades in the investment management business here and abroad. He held positions ranging from analyst through Deputy Chairman and Group CEO, at organizations such as Citigroup (US) and The HSBC Group (London and Hong Kong). He joined the Co-op in 2016 as the CFO and in 2018 became Strategic Advisor to the General Manager. Paul was appointed by the Co-op Board as interim General Manager in March 2020 and General Manager in September 2020. To contact, email PGuidone@coopfoodstore.com.

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