Harry Rosen CEO Larry Rosen named Distinguished Retailer of the Year by Retail Council of Canada

TORONTO, May 5, 2014 /CNW/ - Retail Council of Canada (RCC) announced today that Larry Rosen, Chairman & CEO of Canada's largest luxury menswear retailer Harry Rosen, will be the recipient of the 2014 Distinguished Retailer of the Year Award.

"The Canadian Retail Industry is thrilled to recognize Larry Rosen for his passion and contributions to the men's apparel business," says Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO, RCC. "Like the fashion industry, Larry and the Harry Rosen brand are constantly evolving to upgrade and expand the in-store experience and fuse their bricks-and-mortar and online businesses, all while maintaining the legendary service culture their customers have come to rely on. "

Celebrating 60 years in operation, Harry Rosen has grown from a single Toronto location to 16 stores across the country with 40 percent of the Canadian market in high-end menswear. "The continued growth of Harry Rosen year over year is a testament to his strong leadership, entrepreneurial spirit and ingenuity," notes Brisebois.

The Distinguished Retailer of the Year Award recognizes a retail leader who has led his/her company to outstanding business success and innovation and who has consistently demonstrated community commitment and support. The recipient is seen as a role model because of his/her exceptional leadership within the corporation, in the retail industry in Canada and in the community at large, through personal and/or corporate philanthropic activities.

The Distinguished Retailer of the Year Award will be presented to Larry Rosen at the Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala on Tuesday, June 3, 2014.  The Gala, part of STORE 2014 - Canada's Retail Conference, will take place at the Toronto Congress Centre from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.

About Larry Rosen
Eldest son of Harry Rosen, Larry Rosen has worked for the company for more than 25 years in many different areas: on the sales floor, as a buyer, in operations and corporate development. Larry began learning the business as a teenager, working summers as a sales associate in Harry Rosen stores. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and went on to earn a Masters of Business Administration and Bachelor of Laws Degree from Western University. After practicing corporate law in Toronto, Larry joined Harry Rosen as a buyer in 1986. He then became involved in store operations at a senior management level, and then became Buying Director. In 1997 Larry was named President and Chief Operating Officer. He was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 2000.

Larry is a member of the Ivey Advisory Board, the Ivey Entrepreneurship Advisory Council and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Board of Directors. He spearheads the Harry Rosen United Way campaign and major initiatives to raise funds for prostate cancer research, including Harry's Spring Run-Off, which has raised more than $3 million to date.

About Retail Council of Canada
Retail Council of Canada is the Voice of Retail in Canada. Founded in 1963, RCC is a not-for-profit, industry-funded association representing more than 45,000 store fronts of all retail formats across Canada, including department, grocery, specialty, discount, and independent stores, and online merchants. We speak for an industry that touches the daily lives of Canadians in every corner of the country — by providing jobs, career opportunities, and by investing in communities.

For more information about STORE 2014, Canada's Retail Conference, visit www.storeconference.ca.

Media are invited to attend STORE 2014.

SOURCE: Retail Council of Canada

Devon Pool
Retail Council of Canada
416 467-3759
[email protected]