RRSPs, not an election, influenced timing of David Levi's departure

Venture capitalist David Levi has downplayed the likelihood of him challenging Premier Gordon Campbell in the 2009  B.C. election.

Last Friday, Straight.com carried a speculative article suggesting that Levi's impending resignation  as president and CEO of GrowthWorks could be linked to the next provincial campaign.

GrowthWorks manages the Working Opportunity Fund.

Levi, a longtime supporter  of the NDP,  is quitting in March, two months before election day. "Right up until you said I should run, I had no plans," Levi quipped when reached by the Straight.

He said that he timed his departure to coincide with the end of RRSP season in the spring.  

Levi, 53,  said his goals in life are to run a marathon in under four hours (he now runs a 4:30 marathon) and spend at least 40 days next year snowboarding. He said this should keep him occupied well beyond the next provincial election.

Levi, whose father  Norm was an NDP cabinet minister,  created the Working Opportunity Fund in 1992. He will be succeeded as president and CEO of GrowthWorks by Les Lyall, who is now the chief operating officer.