Ethos Public Relations Manchester

Dr John Butler to step down as Co-operativesUK Secretary

by Ethos public relations

Co-operatives^UK - the national trade association for all forms of co operative enterprise - has announced that Dr John Butler is stepping down as Secretary after 30 years with the organisation.

John, who joined the Co-operative Union (now Co-operatives^UK) in 1978, started his career as South West Sectional Secretary, before moving to Holyoake House, Manchester, in 1983 where he worked on consumer society mergers.

In 1987, John helped to establish the Institute of Co-operative Directors (ICD) to increase knowledge and skills in the co-operative movement and improve corporate governance. John was also the Secretary of the two working groups on corporate governance which have played a significant role in improving the good governance of co-operative societies.

After becoming Co-operatives^UK Secretary in 2005, John worked tirelessly on consumer society mergers and corporate governance to help further promote co-operative enterprise and, as former Chair and Secretary of the UK Society for Co-operative Studies, continued his commitment to co-operative research.

Commenting on his retirement, John said he had thoroughly enjoyed his 30 years with Co-operatives^UK.

"It has been a very rewarding career for me and I would like to thank the Chair and Directors of Co-operatives^UK, my colleagues and all our members for their support over the last thirty years."

As he plans for his retirement, John says he is looking forward to travelling more and spending time with family and friends.

"Already, I am planning on visiting family over in Goa as well as arranging regular trips to France. Over the years I have hosted many foreign visitors to Co-operatives^UK and I am looking forward to the possibility of visiting them on their home soil."

Ben Reid, Chair of Co-operatives^UK, said: "We will be sorry to see John leave after such a long and successful career with us. He has played a vital role at Co-operatives^UK and I know he has friends across the movement who will wish him well.

"John has achieved a huge amount in the time he has been with us and his experience and knowledge is invaluable to the organisation."

Dame Pauline Green, Chief Executive of Co-operatives^UK, said: "John is the most experienced officer we have in the context of our key funders - the retail consumer category of members.

"The knowledge and detailed work that he has conducted with this group of members over the last 30 years represents a significant and important memory bank which we must ensure is not lost but passed on within the organisation."

John will leave the senior management team and retire as Co-operatives^UK Secretary on 1 October 2009. However he will continue to work two days a week for Co-operatives^UK for the next 18 months in a new capacity as Liaison Officer for the retail consumer members.

Posted at 25^th September 2009