Canadian outdoor retailer Sail has been acquired by three members of its leadership team: Isabelle Lemay, president and chief executive officer; Stefania Cella, vice president and chief financial officer; and Catherine Venne, vice president of marketing. The succession plan was initiated by previous owners Dale Tschritter and Daniel Desmarais, who expanded Sail from a single surplus store to 12 locations before preparing for retirement, according to reports.
“As women entrepreneurs, we are very proud to continue Sail’s story here in Canada. We share a common vision: to keep evolving the company while staying true to its mission of supporting outdoor, hunting and fishing enthusiasts in all their activities. We aim to position Sail as the go-to partner for outdoor activities in Canada — an even stronger, more relevant and more inspiring destination for the years ahead,” said Lemay.
The three executives are reported to “have an in-depth knowledge of both the organization and the retail sector, which led the group’s two principal founding shareholders to invite them to take over the company as part of this transaction,” said the company in a media announcement.
“The complementarity of their expertise, along with the long-term strategic vision of Isabelle, Stefania and Catherine, are key strengths to support the company’s growth in a rapidly evolving market,” said Tschritter and Desmarais, in a statement.
Le Fonds de Solidarité FTQ, which has held a stake in Sail since 2005, remains a major shareholder and supported the transaction.
Sail, based in Quebec, plans to open five new stores over the next five years, strengthening its presence in Quebec and Ontario.
