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One of the brightest lights in the London business community has been dimmed.
Archie Leach, the London entrepreneur who founded and sold hospital bed manufacturing businesses and was the visionary behind 100 Kellogg Lane, has died.
Leach, 70, died at home Sunday with family by his side. He had suffered from esophageal cancer.
“He was a true visionary. He believed nothing was impossible,” said his daughter Martha Leach, manager of 100 Kellogg Lane.
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Having begun his business career as a chartered professional accountant at Clarkson Gordon in London, Leach became a partner at Deloitte and Touche. He bought Carroll Health Care in 1996 with business partner Don Roussy, and they sold it in 2003.
They founded CHG Hospital Beds in 2003 that was sold to U.S-based health care company Stryker Corp. in 2015.
Leach went on to create SonderCare that makes beds for home care and ships them across North America. The company remains in business and his daughter Victoria is vice-president of marketing.
Though those are the more high-profile ventures, Leach often invested in small, fledgling businesses and in real estate, said Roussy, also an entrepreneur.
“He was a very, very close friend,” Roussy said. “His interests in business were not restricted to any sector. If he saw an opportunity, if he felt he could build something, he would dive in and pursue it with passion and optimism.”
Leach had been a director at Contrans Group from 2002 to 2011 and a partner with E and E McLaughlin Ltd. on buying and creating warehouse space.
“He was a larger-than-life character for sure. He carried so much passion and compassion for people. He was an inspirational leader,” Roussy said. “He loved working with people and seeing people and businesses grow.”
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But he is perhaps best known as the driving force behind turning a former cereal manufacturing plant into an entertainment hub, 100 Kellogg Lane, that bills itself as Canada’s largest entertainment complex. The venue includes The Factory and The Clubhouse as well as offices for several companies, including CARFAX.
“He really liked people. He had a way of impacting them just by having a conversation. He was a motivator for human beings. He lit a spark,” Martha said.
The family will hold a private funeral. A celebration of life for Leach will be held at The Beer Kitchen at 100 Kellogg Lane, on Sunday, Oct. 6 from 11a.m.-2 p.m.
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