Longtime Sobeys leaders retire
Longtime Sobeys leaders retire
Brothers David F. Sobey and Donald C. R. Sobey have announced their retirement from the boards of Sobeys Inc. and parent company Empire Co. Ltd., respectively. Each held the position of chair emeritus. Both have served on Empire's board of directors since 1963.
“No two individuals have played more significant roles in the growth and development of Empire and Sobeys than David and Donald Sobey,” Rob Dexter, chair of Empire Co. Ltd., said in a press release “For more than half a century, their contributions — both within the leadership of Empire and Sobeys as well as at the board level — have transformed these companies, facilitating their emergence and subsequent growth on the national stage."
David Sobey was introduced to the grocery business at an early age, honing his skills and knowledge working virtually every job there was in the family’s ever-expanding business, including store manager. His career took him into increasingly senior leadership roles, including serving as chairman and chief executive officer of Sobeys from 1986 to 1995 and chairman from 1995 to 2001. When he retired in 2001, he was appointed chair emeritus by Sobeys Inc.’s board of directors. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1995
After graduating from Queen’s University in 1957, Donald Sobey joined his father and brothers in the family business; first in real estate financing for the rapidly expanding Sobeys grocery business and then with the fledgling Empire Co. Ltd., which had been set up to diversify the family’s business interests. He was appointed president of Empire in 1969 and chairman in 1985. When he retired in 2004, he was appointed chair emeritus by Empire’s board of directors. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2014.
“The Sobey family continues to be well represented by other generations on the board of directors, including some of David and Donald’s children,” Dexter said in the release. “As major shareholders, I know that both David and Donald will continue to remain engaged and very well informed on the strategic direction and decisions of the company.”