Dear Members, 

My name is Ben Le Huray. I am passionate about helping organisations live their values, and I wish to express my desire to serve as a Director of the Channel Islands Co-operative Society.  

I was born and raised in Guernsey, and now live in St Martin’s with my wife, our three young children, three cats and a dog. I have been a CI Coop customer my whole life, albeit I was fortunate enough to live and work overseas for 15 of those years.  

As a society of 120,000 members and 1,000 employees, the CI Coop means a great deal to many people within our island communities. The Coop certainly means a great deal to me and my family. We rely on it to nourish us, to help us celebrate the good times and to be there for us in the difficult times.  

The Society promotes the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. It upholds that honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others are fundamental to its aim: to be the leading responsible retailer in the Channel Islands.  

Being responsible – thinking and acting responsibly – and being seen to uphold a publicly declared set of values, is no mean feat. And yet it is perhaps the single most important focus that a Board of Directors must maintain if it is to remain effective in its elected role. This is where it gets personal, as the energy required to sustain that focus, especially in the face of adversity, cannot be underestimated. This is the reason why I believe I would be effective as a Coop Director; because the values and the principles that the Society is founded upon resonate deeply with those of my own.  

Throughout my career, I have championed colleague and customer satisfaction as being the cornerstones of organisational success. In my experience, colleagues who feel cared for, supported and valued are far more likely to go on and deliver great service to their customers. By leading with clarity, compassion, and a strong sense of purpose, I have engaged company boards and management teams to deliver great customer experiences within public, private and third sector environments. For the past three years I have served in a voluntary capacity as Chairman of St John Commercial Services, the trading arm of the wider St John Charity and Ambulance Service. 

As the Managing Director of The Little Green Energy Company, I see it as my role to make renewable energy products and services accessible to everyone that would wish to benefit from them. I see a strong correlation with what the Coop is seeking for all its members in terms of offering affordable yet healthy produce, alongside enhanced services for those who need it the most. If appointed, I would be relentless in my pursuit to enable the Society to achieve its aspirations in these areas. 

I believe my professional background has equipped me with the skills and insights necessary to contribute meaningfully to the governance of our Society. With a track record in strategic, financial, and commercial leadership, I have successfully navigated complex challenges and driven transformative change in diverse settings. 

In summary, my career reflects a deep-rooted commitment to excellence, integrity, and collaboration. I am eager to leverage my skills and experiences to make a positive difference within our Society. 

Thank you for considering my candidacy. 

Yours faithfully, 

Ben Le Huray