Peninsula Co-op CEO Corey Gillon and a Global Retail Career Worth Living

The Voice of Retail

Welcome to The Voice of Retail podcast. My name is Michael LeBlanc, and I am your host. This podcast is produced in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.

Back on the podcast in a new role, veteran retailer Corey Gillon joins us as the CEO at Peninsula Co-op, a Victoria, B.C.-based multi-business unit retailer specializing in fuel & convenience, liquor and grocery. Tons of great insights from this global retailer whose career has spanned massive retailers to cannabis start-ups.

About Corey

Currently holding the role of CEO at Peninsula Co-op a Victoria, B.C. based multi-business unit retailer specializing in fuel & convenience, liquor and grocery with annual revenues exceeding $300 million. Corey is well-versed in a spectrum of competencies including Retail operations, eCommerce, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), marketing, and people leadership. These skills have been honed through years of hands-on experience in both domestic and international markets.

Corey’s career has straddled the breadth of the corporate landscape, from holding senior executive roles at global brands such as Walmart and Aritzia to agile start-ups. This unique blend of experiences has equipped him with the versatility to navigate and lead in both structured, complex organizations and in the fluid, dynamic start-up ecosystem.

His style and philosophy of leadership is backed by his vast experience. He identifies as both a builder and an operator, ever keen on achieving results through decisive action. Apart from his corporate commitments, he also serves on a nonprofit board and actively mentors students at Simon Fraser University who attend the Beedie School of Business, ensuring that the next generation of leaders benefits from his wealth of knowledge and experience.

About Michael

Michael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.

Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.

Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Canada's top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail. He produces and co-hosts Remarkable Retail with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world.

Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers.

Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America.

About Michael

Michael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada’s Retail Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.
Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail,
Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois.
Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.
Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.