Co-op GM Search

The Search for the Next GM

To Our Community,

I have several updates for you today.

Operating Plan for 2022

The development of an operating, or business, plan is a journey not a destination. It is a complex process that needs to balance an organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The review must be as outward looking as it is inward looking. It is also important to appreciate that it is not just about sales (which do not equate to profits). It is also about the investments a business must make in its assets—plant and equipment, and most importantly, its employees. Once the short-term goals and objectives are developed, an operating budget is created. Make no mistake about it, this part of the process is long, detailed, complex and tedious.

I am happy to report we have created a draft working operating plan and budget for 2022. It is still a work in progress as we need to look at every line item of expense across all of our business units. This is the tedious but critical part—to ensure finite resources are allocated in the most advantageous way for the Co-op. As always, it has been a team effort, with many people throughout the organization contributing to the process.

Today I would like to acknowledge my entire team at the
Co-op—all of our employees—for their contributions.

The draft operating plan and budget will be distributed to the Board this month and will be discussed in detail with Board members at an off-cycle meeting in January.

Net Zero Emissions

This month our consultants on this important project, VEIC, delivered their final report to us on different scenarios detailing recommended next steps to achieve net zero emissions by 2030. VEIC will present their recommendations to the Board at the December meeting, and the report’s contents will also be discussed during the off-cycle meeting in January.

GM Search

Given my upcoming retirement in the spring of 2022, the search is on now for the next Co-op General Manager! Our GM Search Committee is composed of a highly engaged group of Co-op members, Board members, and employees. Their goal is to provide the Board with a list of qualities the next GM should possess. This will help the Board select highly qualified candidates for consideration.

Over the next few weeks, the committee will be reaching out to Co-op employees, members, shoppers, and community partners to give one and all the opportunity to share their voices in this process.

I will tell you from personal, professional experience, here and overseas, it is rare that a company asks for so many diverse opinions on such an important appointment.

Your voices are wanted and needed as we search for who the next GM will be to lead the Co-op into the future. Stay tuned for details.

Interested in Running for the Board of Directors?

Finally, an important reminder. If you have ever wanted to run for the Co-op board, now is the time to consider your candidacy. (I am considering running myself, although good corporate governance suggests that I wait at least one year after retiring from my current role.) Although the election is not until next April, the Board begins the process now in order to give members time to learn more about Board work.

For more information about running for the Co-op Board, please contact Board member and election committee chair Conicia Jackson at coniciajackson@board.coopfoodstore.com.

Wrap Up

To all of our members and shoppers, thank you for your support, as always. We will talk again next Thursday. In the meantime, 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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