INTERVIEW
with an HR Hero:
LES DAKENS
THE “PEOPLE EXPERT”
By Lisa Gordon
This is Les Dakens’ second attempt
at retirement. In 2008, at age 53,
he retired from his job as senior
vice-president, People at CN Rail.
For the next three years, he kept busy
working as a human resources executive
coach and a writer, authoring a business
book in 2008 and again in 2009.
But Dakens couldn’t resist the opportu-nity
when Michael McCain, president and
CEO of Maple Leaf Foods, offered him a
three-year assignment as chief HR officer.
His mission at the international packaged-food
conglomerate was two-fold: provide
HR support during a major business
transformation; and, find and train his
successor before he left. For Dakens, it
was like getting a second chance to go back
and tick some things off his professional
“to do” list.
His contract with Maple Leaf Foods
ended last December, but HR Professional
caught up with Dakens in Florida, where
he was happily re-embarking upon re-tirement.
He reflected on some of the key
lessons learned during his 39-year career,
talked about HR’s role as “people experts,”
and discussed how second chances are of-ten
good opportunities to improve your
professional game.
HRP: How and when did you
decide upon an HR career?
LD: I didn’t actually plan a career in HR;
I graduated from Sheridan College with a
marketing degree. Carolyn Walda, one of
72 ❚ MAY/JUNE 2014 ❚ HR PROFESSIONAL