The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) has confirmed that CEO George Soleas will retire at the end of next month.
The Canadian province’s alcohol retail monopoly said this week that Soleas (below) will step down on 31 January. The board has appointed current chief of staff Aaron Campbell to step in as interim CEO from the start of February.
Soleas first joined LCBO in 1997 in the quality assurance sector, moving up to become executive VP in 2013 for three years. He has since held the CEO position for just shy of ten years.
“It has been a true honour to lead this incredible organisation, and to work alongside such talented and passionate team members across all areas of the business,” he said. “I am deeply proud that, together, we’ve grown into one of the world’s leading beverage alcohol wholesalers and retailers, built on a culture of integrity, innovation and service.”
In October, the democratically elected head of Ontario, Doug Ford, threatened to remove Diageo’s Crown Royal whisky brand from LCBO’s shelves as part of a row surrounding the group’s previously-announced intention to close a bottling facility in the province.
