Background
Born in Toronto, Ontario he was the son of Karl Brooks Heisey, mining engineer
Born in Toronto, Ontario he was the son of Karl Brooks Heisey, mining engineer
He went to Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute class of 1948, before receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Trinity College and an Master of Business Administration from the Harvard Business School.
He was president and chairman of Harlequin Enterprises Limited. Heisey joined Procter & Gamble in 1954 and left in 1967 to serve as executive Vice President in Sales for Standard Broadcasting. From 1971 to 1982, he was President of Harlequin Enterprises Limited, a publisher of romance novels, and from 1982 to 1990 he served as Chairman.
Described as a "marketing genius", he revolutionised the sale and marketing of books in the international publishing industry.
At Harlequin drawing upon his experiences at Procter & Gamble he first put free books in boxes of detergent and feminine sanitary napkins. Under his leadership Harlequin was the first publisher to sell books in drug stores and grocery stores.
He pioneered the mail order book club and, contrary to publishing industry practise, refused to sell publishing rights to foreign publishing companies establishing new publishing ventures in new markets. He served as a director for Aetna Life Insurance Company of Canada, Business Depot Limited., and Staples Incorporated.
He was involved with the Toronto French School where he was a Director from 1966 to 1973, Chairman from 1967 to 1971, and Foundation Trustee from 1978 to 1982.
He was a Governor of the Banff Centre from 1982 to 1988.
He was a Director of the Canadian Opera Company from 1984 to 1986 and the Chamber Players of Toronto. In addition, he served as chairman of the commercial division of the United Way of Canada in Toronto. and president of the National Ballet School Foundation.
He was also member of the Advisory Board of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.