John Rose Bio
John believes that a strong corporate culture is the key ingredient for an organization’s long-term success. “Leaders create the culture and the culture creates results.”
John worked in a family business alongside his father for 13 years. The company, Kirkland and Rose was a manufacturer and distributor to the bakery/grocery industry across Western Canada. The company was sold in the early 90’s to an International Dutch company.
John brought the key elements of a successful family business along with him to Nuheat Industries, where he served as President and CEO for 16 years.
John’s focus on the culture at Nuheat earned the company significant external accolades:
They were awarded Platinum Status (10-time winner) within Canada’s Best Managed Companies Program; they received a Cultural Diversity Award (employing staff from 24 different countries), as well as acknowledgement as one of BC Best Places to Work and BC Exporter of the year award.
The company grew from 15 staff, and little known, to becoming the North American industry leader in electric radiant floor heating with a manufacturing facility in Richmond BC, and US sales offices in Chicago Illinois and Millburn New Jersey. Nuheat employed 120 full-time staff across North America and had approximately 4,000 distribution partners before it was sold in 2015 to a strategic American buyer called Pentair.
In addition to John’s work life, he is also an engaged community leader. John was a Director of Canuck Place Children’s Hospice for two years and later became its Chair for six years. He was also Chair of the Board of Mackay CEO Forums.
John currently works with companies and helps them with Leadership - Succession & Transition.
John sits on the Boards of VanAir Design, Mormak Manufacturing Inc., Highgate Senior Living, RainStick Shower and Tap & Barrel Restaurants. John served previously on the boards of Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, Acuva Technologies, Precision Mounting Technologies, Frost Fighter, Stormtec, Nuheat,The Woods Foundation,and MacKay CEO Forums.
John is happily married to Susan and together they have three children, David and Michael, age 33, and a daughter Elizabeth age 31.