News release

New President Appointed

Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation

Andrew Barker has been appointed president and CEO of the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation. The announcement was made today by Rodney MacDonald, Minister responsible for the Administration of the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation. Mr. Barker's appointment follows an extensive national search and is effective May 1.

"We're very pleased to have attracted such an accomplished, executive, with the broad management and retail experience that Andrew Barker brings to the corporation," said Mr. MacDonald. "Mr. Barker has achieved impressive results throughout his career, through effective strategic planning by building profitable customer relationships, developing high-performing teams and providing sound business and financial management."

Mr. Barker joins the corporation from a senior operational role with a major pharmacy chain in central Canada. Previously, he was responsible for operations and business development with a large grocery co-op chain in his native Alberta. Prior to that, he spent several years in a variety of management capacities with a major oil company.

Mr. Barker holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science and an Honours Bachelor of Arts in human resources and marketing from the University of Waterloo. During his career, he has been active in the voluntary sector, including serving with the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation, Junior Achievement and Foster Parents International. He is married with two sons.

"Mr. Barker's extensive experience in the retail industry and work within a unionized environment and the co-operative movement provides him with a strong background for the corporation," said Peter McCreath, chairman of the corporation's board of directors. "He is well qualified to lead the corporation."

Acting president Bruce Rogers will resume his position as executive vice-president, Retail Services.

Mr. Barker's contract with the corporation calls for a salary of $135,000 per year with the opportunity for performance incentives if the corporation exceeds planned performance. The minister tabled the contract in the legislature today.

The Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation was established as a provincial Crown corporation, replacing the former Nova Scotia Liquor Commission last year. The corporation has close to a thousand employees, operates 100 retail outlets and has revenues of about $400 million per year.