Leadership, Legacy, and the Future of Canadian Retail

Following the success of Part One, Rob Kumer returns for a candid conversation —this time joined by Larry Rosen, Chairman & CEO, Ian Rosen, President & COO, and Graham Rosen, CFO of Harry Rosen.

Together, they’ll explore what it takes to lead an iconic Canadian brand through periods of transformation while staying grounded in values, culture, and customer trust.

This discussion will examine modern leadership within a legacy organization, navigating change in an unpredictable retail landscape, and how Harry Rosen continues to evolve while preserving the standards that made it a national institution. From operational excellence and people-first leadership to long term vision and resilience, this fireside chat offers rare insight into decision making at the highest level of Canadian retail.

An unfiltered conversation about stewardship, strategy, and what the next chapter of retail leadership demands. Speakers Rob Kumer, CEO, KingSett Capital (Moderator)

Larry Rosen, Chairman & CEO, Harry Rosen

Ian Rosen, President & COO, Harry Rosen

Graham Rosen, CFO, Harry Rosen

*The views expressed on the Economic Club of Canada platform are not that of the Economic Club or its affiliates but of the speakers alone and the organizations they represent.*

Audio Recap

Key Takeaways

• Succession as strategy, not chance: Speakers emphasized that multi‑generational family ownership can be a competitive asset when succession is intentional: setting clear entry criteria for the next generation, bringing in outside expertise to avoid “made‑up jobs", and shifting senior leaders from day‑to‑day control to mentorship so the business can keep evolving while preserving core values.

• Competing through curation, service, and a distinctly Canadian lens: The conversation highlighted that Harry Rosen’s long‑term resilience rests on two “existential truths”, curation and great service, executed through deep knowledge of the Canadian customer.

• Capital discipline and long‑term value creation in a volatile retail landscape: Panellists underscored the importance of conservative leverage, patient investment, and partnership with stakeholders to navigate volatility. To read further and explore the full insights from this event, download the complete Key Takeaways document below.