Alliance director general, Charles Gould, is set to retire after seven years in office. Mr Gould has been with the Alliance since 2010, having worked with the board of directors on developing its Blueprint for a Co-operative Decade as well as increasing its influence within global policy-making bodies.
He has also seen the Alliance through the launch of the World Co-operative Monitor, a report mapping the global co-operative sector, which includes stats and comparative data.
The Alliance’s board appointed a human resources committee, chaired by Seah Kian Peng, to lead the search for Mr Gould’s replacement. The next director general will help set out a new strategic plan for the Alliance, as the Blueprint draws to a close. The Alliance’s incoming board will make the final selection at its General Assembly in Malaysia this November.
Commenting on his retirement, Mr Gould said: “The past seven years with the Alliance have been extremely fulfilling. It has been a real privilege to work with such a great staff team, board and members. I’m now looking forward to continuing to support the co-operative movement from a distance at this time when it especially has so much to offer the world.”
Alliance president, Monique Leroux, added: “On behalf of the entire board of the International Co-operative Alliance, I want to thank Mr Gould for his service and his support. Mr Gould could not have done a better job at unifying our global movement and targeting the right issues to ensure our relevance and our growth. He will be remembered for his important contribution to the Blueprint for a Co-operative Decade. I am so appreciative of his work and that he will continue to work with us for the next months to ensure a smooth transition”.
