LAC MEGANTIC, Quebec — Jacques Hetu has resigned as president and CEO of ready-to-assemble furniture manufacturer Bestar.


The company said his resignation, which took effort immediately, was personal reasons.

Hetu join Bestar in March 2004 and will be replaced on an interim basis by Paulin Tardif, chairman of the company’s board of directors. Before Hetu was hired, Tardif was chairman, president and CEO of Bestar.

“Jacques has made a great contribution to Bestar and we are sad to see him leave for personal reasons. The board of directors and me express our sincere gratitude to for his contribution to the company during his tenure,” Tardif said in a statement.

Bestar has struggled to regain profitability in recent years. Like many Canadian factories, it has struggled with a weak U.S. dollar and a sagging North American retail market. Under Hetu’s leadership, the company developed a new business plan, which includes manufacturing components for other manufacturers.