Seven months after stepping into the chief executives role at Peninsula Co-op, Ron Heal has decided to step down from a post he once considered a dream job.
Citing a young family and the need to find a better work-life balance, Heal is resigning from the co-operative effective Oct. 31.
I have a family with four young kids and I have consumed myself in work the last couple of years very heavily and I need to get a better work-life balance, Heal said. I decided I cant do both, so I will find something that isnt quite as demanding on my time. This level is not only time-consuming but mind-consuming as well.
Heal, 42, who has spent his entire business career working in co-ops, set his sights on the Peninsula Co-ops top job after he joined the board in 1999.
After 13 years as the companys controller, Heal spent the last year as general manager, being groomed to take over the chief executive role when Pat Fafard retired earlier this year.
Heal said walking away from the Co-op is difficult.
It was a very emotional couple of days last week after I handed in my resignation because of what the organization and all the people here mean to me, Heal said. I always tell the staff they are like a second family and they are.
The Peninsula Co-op has 58,000 members, a figure that has grown by about 4,000 each year as the company has expanded operations in Mill Bay and Duncan. Its annual sales are in excess of $170 million.
The company employs 320, has 15 retail gas bars, five commercial card-lock facilities, a home-heating division and a food store.
The Co-ops board of directors has started to look for a replacement. Heal is considering his next move.
I have a couple of options ... some good opportunities in front of me, he said. Im confident the board will find a very strong candidate to run the Co-op.
