Fomer B.C. Finance Minister Gary Collins was appointed Coastal Contacts' new president earlier this month – but that does not mean that CEO Roger Hardy has retirement plans.
"I'm still day-to-day. I'm not done yet," Hardy told Business in Vancouver August 22. "I'm going to step back from operations and the day-to-day so I can work on a few more strategic things that will be key for the next couple years."
Hardy, who is a former BIV Top 40 under 40 winner, built Coastal Contacts (TSX:COA) into the world's largest online eyewear company. He met Collins about four years ago at a Young Presidents Organization event.
Previously, however, he was impressed with how Collins handled the province's books when he was finance minister between 2001 and 2004.
Collins then made a surprise exit from politics to become president and CEO of Harmony Airways.
He left that airline before it dissolved in 2007. After Harmony, Collins was a senior vice-president at the private Belkorp Industries, which had a diverse set of holdings including environmental services, real estate, sugar, agriculture, airlines and capital management.
Collins currently serves as a director on the public company boards of Rogers Sugar (TSX:RSI), Chorus Aviation Inc. (TSX:CHB.b) and Liquor Stores of North America Inc. (TSX:LIQ).
"It's hard to find people who are both good leaders and good managers," Hardy said. "Gary is both."
