Saying Goodbye.

Today I said goodbye to a mentor and friend.




Nicola Kettlitz was President of the Coca-Cola Canadian Business Unit. He lost his battle with cancer earlier this month at his home in Atlanta, but a memorial service was held this afternoon in Toronto to give his many Canadian friends the opportunity to celebrate his life. Nicola's wife Meg and young daughter Alessia were both in attendance; there was a touching irony at the strength and poise both women demonstrated as so many people expressed their feeling of loss to the two people who would have been feeling it the most. 

Nicola was a wonderful individual, and to know him was to admire him both as a person and a leader. He had a brilliant mind, and he used it to spark thoughtful conversations, ask insightful questions, and win more than his fair share of debates. He had a terrific sense of humour, and he wouldn't hold back his laughter when he thought something was funny (however inappropriate the joke might have been). He was kind and compassionate, but also strong and determined when he needed to be. And he was one of the most authentic leaders I have ever had the pleasure to meet.

Whenever I worked from the office, I would start my day early so that I could be home at a reasonable hour for my young children. Because of that, I was one of the few people at my desk by 8am when Nicola would walk around looking for someone to chat with about the business, about life, or about the latest videogame he was trying to finish. (At 52, Nicola was officially the oldest gamer I knew, and it wasn't even close.)  I always enjoyed these morning chats, not only because Nicola was an interesting and articulate man, but also because they demonstrated a leadership trait I have always felt was important: he didn't care about your title, he cared about you as a person.

It was easy to forget Nicola was the most senior leader of the Canadian organization when he would sit down beside you in the cafeteria during lunch and join in on your conversation. At events, he wouldn't let the politckers and brown-nosers monopolize his time; after speaking with them for a while, he would politely excuse himself and proceed to strike up a conversation with another group standing nearby. He encouraged -- demanded, even -- that you asked questions if you weren't clear and challenged his thinking if you didn't agree. And the organization was stronger because of it.

The news of his death impacted me greatly, not only because I had lost a mentor and friend, but because the loss was so unexpected. On my last day at Coca-Cola, I sent out a farewell email to a number of my work friends. I had included Nicola, and although he had been away from the office for several months battling his cancer, he replied to my email almost immediately with a brief but touching note: 

Good luck. I am sorry I could not have been there for the last few months, but when I get back (and I will!) I will look you up and would love to spend some time with you. 

That email response was sent on January 16th, and just six weeks later he was gone. 

Today's service was an outpouring of affection and grief for a man well-respected and well-loved. The people who had been asked to speak about Nicola were from all aspects of his life. A long-time friend (and one-time manager) at Coca-Cola flew in from Greece to share some heartfelt memories of a man he clearly knew well. Two CEOs of Boards on which Nicola had served (ParticipACTION and Breakfast Clubs of Canada) each gave tearful tributes to their close friend. And his brother-in-law ended the service with a poignant speech; when he admitted that he saw Nicola as a father, you could see gentle nods of understanding throughout the room.

Nicola Kettlitz was a mentor and a friend. I will miss him greatly, and the world is worse off for him having left it.