CPIA’s Lavoie to retire in early 2009

Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) president and CEO has announced that he will retire from his position in early 2009. Lavoie made the announcement at the association’s annual general meeting last week in Toronto.

Lavoie joined the CPIA in early 2003 as president and CEO in 2003. Including the CPIA, he has served as the chief staff officer for seven different trade and professional associations throughout his career.

“My coming here in 2003 and the downturn in the industry happened at the same time,” he joked at the meeting. “The time was right [to retire] … I thought so, and my wife thought so doubly.”

Lavoie lives in St. Thomas, Ont. with his family, and makes a two and a half trek each day to CPIA’s Toronto offices.

“This is really the right time for me to make that career leap,” he said. “It’s been a really exciting six years … this is an industry that has got innovation in spades, and people who think outside the box.”

Lavoie and CPIA board chairman Dave Birkby also made note of the association’s forthcoming restructuring efforts. Although very few details were made available about the course the association plans to take, Birkby said that Lavoie would be an integral part of the restructuring office.

Although his announcement came as a surprise to many of the people in attendance, Lavoie later told Canadian Plastics that he had submitted his resignation earlier this year. According to the CPIA, the search for Lavoie’s successor will get underway later this year once the restructuring is further along, and the association has a better understanding of its leadership needs.

“We all owe a lot to Serge as he has demonstrated exemplary leadership in turbulent times,” said Birkby. “His communications to the world outside our industry have helped establish a solid, credible voice for the plastics industry.”

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