Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries parts ways with CEO John Stinson

John Stinson has been turfed as CEO of Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries by its new board of directors, less than two years after he was appointed.

Stinson will "depart the organization" as the Crown corporation takes a "new direction" with a focus on core operations, board chair Polly Craik announced Tuesday.

• Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries scraps $75M relocation plan

"John worked very hard and worked well at getting us through the last 18 months, through the changes that the organization went through then," said Craik. "Now we're going to look into the future and whatever the organization needs we'll put the right leader in place when it's time to do so."

"This is just the next step in the evolution."

She said the decision "wasn't anything about John as a person or to do with his specific skills."

"We've got separate lines of business and some shared services, and when we do put the leader in it'll just be a bit of a different structure with a different skillset required for the CEO," she said.

The board doesn't have a successor in mind, Craik said, and isn't planning any furtherchanges in management.

"As a board, our job is to maximize the positive impact MBLL can have on the Manitoba economy and in the lives of all Manitobans," Craik stated in a news release.

"Clear strategic direction, sound business principles and strong executive leadership are the keys to ensuring we are well positioned to support the province through our core operations."

The corporation's plan includes improving liquor products and gaming and entertainment services, Craik said.

Peter Hak, an executive who has been with Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries since 1984, takes over as interim CEO, effective immediately.

Craik credited Stinson, who joined Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries in February 2015, with playing "a key role in guiding MLL through a period of significant change."

"It was a privilege to serve Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries during a time of change, and I wish the organization every success moving forward," Stinson stated in Tuesday's news release.

Craik and other members of Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries' current board were appointed by the Progressive Conservative government following the April 19 election.

Last month, the board scrapped a $75-million plan to relocate the Crown corporation's headquarters to the former Medical Arts Building downtown.