Longtime Head of Retail Council of Canada to Retire

Diane Brisebois is retiring as president and CEO of the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) after three decades at the helm of the association.

“I’m proud of what our team has accomplished and am committed to moving the organization forward until a new successor is named,” says Brisebois. “I know the next CEO will bring a fresh perspective and renewed energy to ensure the continued success of the organization.”

During her 30 years with RCC, Brisebois has strengthened the association. Under her leadership, the organization played a critical role supporting the retail community and serving as a key advisor to governments during the Covid-19 pandemic. As the country emerged from the crisis, RCC focused on how it could best serve its members and the retail community at large.

Along the way, Brisebois also modernized RCC, built a skilled and respected team from coast-to-coast and positioned the organization as the most respected and credible voice of retail.

“She is a relentless advocate for all retailers, ensuring the association always acts as a united voice to support success for retailers large and small,” says RCC board chair Anne Martin-Vachon. “Her ability to work with a wide range of stakeholders, continuously building strategic partnerships, has ensured that RCC has more influence and greater impact than ever before.”

A special committee of the board will oversee the extensive selection process in tandem with the designated search firm to attract best-in-class candidates who bring experience in leading an agile organization and who have business, public affairs and communications skills. The board’s overarching goal is a smooth transition as it starts the process of leadership renewal.

Retail is the country’s largest private sector employer with more than 2.3 million Canadians working in the industry. The sector is a major economic contributor, generating more than $93 billion annually in wages and employee benefits. In 2023, core retail sales, excluding vehicles and gasoline, exceeded $502 billion.

RCC members account for more than two-thirds of these core retail sales. Membership extends across the country, embracing more than 54,000 storefronts in diverse formats, such as department, grocery, specialty, discount, independent retailers, online merchants and quick service restaurants.