Board of Directors

Sandra Abitan, Ad. E.

Partner, Insolvency and Restructuring
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

Sandra was the Managing Partner of the Montréal office from 2017 to June 2025 and has over 35 years of experience in the insolvency and restructuring practice. Recognized as a leader in Québec and nationally, she has an expertise in cross border and international matters, acting for a number of major private and public corporations operating in a variety of areas.

Sandra is lauded for her creative and practical approach to problem-solving and finding solutions to complex business and legal problems. The excellence of her work has been highlighted on multiple occasions, as evidenced by the numerous rankings and awards received over the years, as well as appearances in the following publications: The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, The Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Business Lawyers, IFLR 1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms, Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Lawdragon, and The Best Lawyers in Canada.

Sandra is a Past President of the Board of the Turnaround Management Association – Montréal Chapter, and is a member of the board of directors of the Insolvency Institute of Canada, in addition to being deeply engaged in her community.

Isabelle Adjahi

Executive in strategic communications

Isabelle Adjahi is a seasoned executive in strategic communications, with nearly 30 years of experience in corporate communications, internal communications, public and media relations, and investor relations, in both the private and public sectors.

She most recently served as Vice President, Communications at La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. Prior to joining La Caisse, she was Vice President, Investor Relations and Sustainable Development at Lion Electric. She also held various senior roles in investor relations and communications at WSP Global and Axcan Pharma.

Ms. Adjahi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Languages and Literature from the University of Lyon II. She has also pursued further studies in securities, communications, and finance.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM), as well as on the board of Mères avec pouvoir, a non-profit organization that supports the autonomy and the social and professional integration of low-income single mothers.

Highly respected by her peers, she has received numerous awards for excellence in investor relations, including several national-level distinctions.

Grégoire Baillargeon

President
BMO Financial Group, Quebec

Appointed President of BMO, Quebec and Vice Chair, BMO Capital Markets, in November 2022, Mr. Baillargeon has been with the Bank of Montreal since 2004. A trained lawyer working as a business banker for nearly 20 years, Grégoire has been actively involved in our community, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal and Finance Montréal’s Board of Governors.

Grégoire also supports many organizations working to reduce social and economic inequality, including as a Chair of the Board of Directors for Centraide of Greater Montreal and Chair of the Board of academic perseverance organization Youth Fusion.

Passionate about transition and fighting climate change, Mr. Baillargeon has also been acting as Vice Chair of the BMO Climate Institute since September 2024. He recently joined the advisory board of Volt-Age: Electrifying Society. He also serves on Carbon Removal Canada’s advisory board. Under his leadership, BMO became the first bank to join the Montréal Climate Partnership, as well as the launch of convertgence, two movements aimed at accelerating decarbonization and integrating sustainable business practices in the city.

Janie C. Béïque

President and chief executive officer (CEO)
Fonds de solidarité FTQ

CEO of the Fonds de solidarité FTQ. A lawyer and MBA graduate, Janie has an impressive track record, having worked in business and corporate law, and for many years in the investment industry. Her expertise has been recognized by her peers and by the business and political communities. She has twice been named as an Innovation Leader by the Government of Canada and in 2022 won the MBA Inspiration Award presented by the Québec MBA Association. Janie is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and sits on the boards of Groupe CH, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal.

Since her arrival at the Fonds, Janie Béïque has been able to combine the organization’s social and financial vocations in her work with partner companies. For over 20 years, she has embodied the Fonds’ core mission and convictions: to help Quebecers prepare for a better retirement, to ensure a balance between financial and societal returns in all regions of Québec, and to guide the organization in an effort to build a sustainable and just society for all generations.

Under her leadership when she was Executive Vice-President, Investment, the Fonds’ five-year average investment volume in the Québec economy doubled. At the helm of the Fonds for three years now, Janie has built on its foundations and mission a clear and ambitious vision of where she wants to take the organization, propelled by both financial and societal returns, in order to move Québec forward economically, socially and environmentally.

Janie co-chaired the 50th Centraide of Greater Montreal fundraising campaign in 2023, alongside Guy Cormier, President and CEO of Desjardins Group.

Janie’s commitment to women's causes runs deep. She has supported the appointment of many female colleagues to management positions within the organization, set ambitious female representation criteria for Fonds appointments to partner company boards, and formed a gender equality steering committee. Domestic violence is another issue that is near and dear to Janie’s heart. She is therefore intent on mobilizing the Fonds’ assets and resources to make a difference in the lives of victims.

Geoffrey Bernard

Vice-president Marketing, Data and Consumer insight
La Presse
Chair of the Board of Directors
Jeune Chambre de commerce de Montréal (JCCM)

As Vice President of Marketing, Data Science, and Consumer Insights, Geoffrey sits on La Presse's executive committee and is responsible for the Marketing, Research, and Data portfolios, including the deployment of generative AI within the company.

With a combination of expertise in digital, technology, and data, he has proven experience in transforming and improving operations.

Geoffrey also acts as an advisor/board member to companies for private equity and venture capital funds.

Geoffrey is also involved in the community, notably as a member of the Board of Directors of the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation and President of the Jeune Chambre du Commerce of Montreal.

Isabelle Dessureault

President and CEO
The Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal

With proven strategic acumen, Isabelle Dessureault is a committed, inspiring leader focused on action and collaboration. She is driven by her desire to uplift others and her community, helping them achieve their aspirations and having a positive impact on the careers of team members.

Ms. Dessureault joined the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal as President and CEO in June 2025, after serving as Québec’s delegate in Barcelona, Atlanta and Miami from 2019 to 2025. Prior to that, she spent 25 years in the private sector, where she held senior management positions in communications, public affairs, marketing and innovation, including at Videotron, Quebecor, Groupe Sélection and NATIONAL Public Relations, where, at age 33, she became the youngest partner in the firm’s history.

With her international experience, her understanding of global issues and her ability to build bridges between economic ecosystems, she brings her ambition and determination to advancing the economic development of the metropolitan area.

Ms. Dessureault holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UQAM and an MBA from Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business, which recognized her in the ranks of its Top 50 Under 50 in 2019. She is pursuing studies in international relations at Harvard University.

From 2018 to 2019, she lived in Mumbai, where she was a mentor, advisor and speaker for women entrepreneurs. In 2019, she also became an angel investor with Anges Québec.

Nassib El-Husseini, Ph.D

President and CEO
The 7 Fingers

Committed to exploring the horizons of human creativity in all its complexity. Nassib El-Husseini has charted a singular and eclectic course.

Following studies in public administration and international relations at the American University of Beyrouth (AUB), he obtained a Ph.D in political science from l'Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) in 1996, and published L'Occident Imaginaire (Éditions PUQ) in 1998. After leaving his native Lebanon in the 1980s, Nassib worked as an advisor and volunteer with numerous Quebecois, Canadian, and international governmental and non-governmental agencies.

In the 90s, Nassib put his conflict resolution and international business development expertise at the service of Canadian Crown corporations as well as other actors from the private sector in Quebec and Canada, mainly in the postal and telecommunications sectors.

Nassib El-Husseini's trajectory took a major turn in 2003, when his path crossed that of seven artists determined to make their mark on the world of contemporary circus. With their first show just created, a clear-eyed ally was all the troupe needed to conquer the world. Nassib placed his experience and his passion for art and innovation at the service of the nascent troupe that would become one of the jewels of artistic expression.

As Chief Executive Officer of the company, Nassib has brought his resolutely avant-garde, innovative vision and has turned towards a vast exploration of possibilities. Propelled by these ideas, The 7 Fingers have become a major player in the world art scene.

Involved in his community, Nassib El-Husseini is currently the President of the board of directors of CINARS (International Exchange for the Performing Arts). He sits on the boards of the Société des arts technologiques (SAT) as well as that of the Quartier des spectacles and he is a founding member of the Movement Arts Creation Studio in Boston. Previously he was a member of the board of Le Conseil des arts de Montréal, the National Theatre School of Canada as well as a member of the organizing committee of the Canadian Arts Summit in 2019 and a member of the National Advisory Committee for the National Creation Fund of the National Arts Center of Ottawa (CNA).

Nassib is Laureate Cèdre et Érable of the Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie Canada-Liban. In 2013, he was awarded the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)'s Prix Reconnaissance in recognition of his exceptional career. In 2014, he received the Artists for Peace Award on behalf of The 7 Fingers. In 2019, he received the Carmelle and Rémi Marcoux Chair in Arts Management's Cultural Manager Award from HEC Montréal. Shortly after, he was named Knight by the Ordre de Montréal. In 2022, he received the Charles Biddle Award in the international category. In 2023, Nassib was named to the Ordre national du Québec, the highest distinction given by the government of Quebec.

Catherine Ferland-Trudel

Managing director, Business relations & impact, Québec
La Caisse

Catherine Ferland Trudel is the Managing Director, Business Relations and Impact, Québec. She works closely with the investment teams responsible for various asset categories to maximize the organization’s impact in Québec. While supporting the management team on strategic projects, she also contributes to building lasting relationships throughout the organization and with our external partners in Québec.

With over 15 years of experience in financial management, Catherine brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. Before joining the Caisse in June 2022, she worked for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra for more than five years, notably as Chief Financial and Administrative Officer. Her career also includes valuable experience as a management controller and financial analyst for renowned global retail organizations such as L’Oréal and Aldo.

Ms. Ferland Trudel holds a degree in Business Administration from Université Laval and has been a CPA since 2010.

She is Chair of the Board of Directors of Espace CDPQ and sits on the Board of Directors of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Foundation. In the past, she has also contributed her time and expertise to the boards of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the OSM Foundation, and La Musique aux enfants.

Marie-Josée Gagnon, Fellow CPRS, ICD.D

CEO and Founder
Casacom and Brave

Marie-Josée Gagnon is recognized by peers and clients alike as one of Canada’s most progressive business strategist, public relations and governance experts. She helps CEOs and executive teams improve their reputation and increase their positive impact for them to make history. She is known for her clear and ambitious vision as shown by the unique positioning of Casacom, the integrated PR and communications firm she founded in 2001.

Bachelor’s degree in political science from the Université de Montréal, Alumni of Harvard Business School’s Owners/Presidents Management program and a graduate from ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program (DEP), Marie-Josée brings innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial flair into all she does. Marie-Josée began her career first as a journalist (Montreal La Presse) and then as the press attaché at the Québec Government. Thereafter, she held several key positions within major organizations (Quebec General Delegation in Paris, Laurentian Bank of Canada and AXOR).

She is actively involved in her community, notably through the Université de Montréal, as CoChair of the major fundraising, Institute of Corporate Directors as VP of the executive committee, and board member of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal and Capsana. She is also involved with the Garde-Manger pour tous, a Montreal charity that distributes 3,500 school lunches to kids. Over the years, she received many awards whether from the Fellowship from Canadian Public Relations Society, the 2023 Mercuriades award for Exceptional Women Leader, SME’s category and the Canada’s Most Powerful Women : Top 100TM in 2024.

In 2017, Marie-Josée launched Brave, a series of interviews with women who dared recorded during networking events and broadcast in podcasts. With this media, she aims to encourage men and women to use courage to live their best life.

Marie-Josée is married to Louis-Martin O'Neill, a corporate litigator, and is the mother of two boys, Philippe and Henri.

Marjolaine Hudon

President - Quebec Headquarters
RBC Royal Bank

Marjolaine was appointed Regional President of RBC in Quebec in June 2024. She has a proven track record of bringing the full power of RBC to personal and commercial clients along with her teams and colleagues.

Marjolaine joined RBC 30 years ago. She progressed through multiple increasingly senior leadership roles within Personal & Commercial Banking. She worked in several provinces (Ontario, Quebec, Alberta) and in different lines of business including Regional Banking, both on the personal and commercial sides, Operations, Risk Management, Human Resources as well as RBC Employee Ombudsman.

Most recently, as Regional President, Ontario North & East Region, Marjolaine led a team of 2,000 strong financial advisors and partners supporting personal and commercial clients throughout Eastern Ontario, Durham Region, Simcoe County and in northern Ontario.

Known for being an authentic and caring leader who inspires others to be their very best, Marjolaine believes in creating meaningful connections with colleagues, clients and the community.

Marjolaine personally devotes her time to many causes. Following her appointment in Quebec, she joined the board of directors of Youth in Mind Foundation—which focuses on youth mental health—and of The Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM)—which supports the prosperity of businesses across the city. Marjolaine also acts as Governor for Finance Montréal to promote the Quebec industry of financial services. Committed to the arts, she sits on the National Arts Centre Foundation Board and on the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards National Committee. Finally, Marjolaine is Regimental Patron for The Royal Canadian Dragoons.

In October 2024, Marjolaine won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Businesswoman of the Year Awards (BYA) for her significant philanthropic and business involvement to date.

Originally from Montreal, Marjolaine holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and an Executive Master of Business Administration from the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). She studied at Cambridge University and London Guildhall University in England.

Marjolaine and her husband, John, have three daughters.

Philippe Johnson

Managing Partner
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg

Philippe Johnson has been the Managing Partner at the Montréal office of Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP since 2017. He has spent more than two decades advising leading Canadian, American and international companies with respect to their most important Canadian investments and strategic issues. He regularly counsels clients on mergers and acquisitions, private investments, financing, corporate reorganizations and joint ventures.

In addition to serving on the firm’s Management Committee since 2012, Philippe Johnson is a member of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO), a global community of business leaders, and a director of Fondation Serge Marcil, which focuses on improving the well-being of children in Haiti and Africa.

Philippe Johnson holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University and a Bachelor of Civil Law from Université de Montréal.

Benoit Lacoste Bienvenue

Partner
BDG & Partners
Senior Strategy Consultant
KPMG in Canada

Since taking office as Managing Partner of KPMG in Quebec, in October 2016, Benoit Lacoste Bienvenue has not only impressively crafted the firm's strategy but has also injected fresh energy into the company. As the conductor of the execution of this strategy, his influence extends far beyond the company's walls to impact the lives of clients and over 2,000 employees of KPMG in Quebec.

Before assuming the role of Managing Partner, Benoit Lacoste Bienvenue made his mark as a national leader in Canadian corporate taxation. His unquestionable mastery of tax complexities and commitment to excellence laid the foundation for his future success. He translated his deep knowledge into a strategic vision that propelled KPMG in Quebec to new heights.

Benoit Lacoste Bienvenue is not just a leader; he is a catalyst for positive change within the communities where KPMG is involved. He understands that a company's success is measured not only in numbers but also in terms of social impact. His bold vision involves mobilizing KPMG employees in Quebec to become change agents in their surrounding communities. Under his inspiring leadership, these employees are no longer mere economic actors but champions of progress.

Benoit Lacoste Bienvenue's journey is living proof that leadership goes far beyond managing a company. It is a call to innovation, community engagement, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Grégory Larroque

Vice-President, Economic Affairs
CGI

Grégory Larroque is Vice-President, Economic Affairs at CGI. More specifically, he is responsible for the promotion of CGI’s economic interests, he advises the executive team on strategic orientations of the company.

Prior to joining CGI, Gregory was legal counsel and chief of staff to former Quebec Premier Jean Charest at McCarthy Tétrault's Business Law Group since 2013. During this time, he coordinated strategic mandates for international clients, participated in strengthening McCarthy Tétrault's strategic and legal positioning, and contributed to several international initiatives.

In his previous roles, Grégory was special advisor to the Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade of Quebec and advisor to the Minister of Finance of Quebec.

He was also actively involved in Montréal’s cultural community, notably as member of the board of Festival TransAmériques (FTA).

Gregory holds a master’s degree in business law from the University of Aix-Marseille III in France and obtained a second bachelor of law degree from the Université de Montréal. He has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 2007.

Sarah Legendre-Bilodeau

Senior Vice President, AI Consulting Group
Videns, powered by Cofomo

For the past 20 years, Sarah Legendre Bilodeau has been working in the field of data science and artificial intelligence, evolving across multiple application domains including marketing, finance, insurance, distribution, and technology. In 2018, she co-founded Videns, which is now powered by COFOMO. Within COFOMO, she currently holds the position of Senior Vice President, AI Advisory Group.

Since 2018, Sarah has supported numerous organizations in Canada and Europe in developing innovative, high-performance, data-driven AI solutions. She has been teaching at HEC Montréal since 2015, notably at the École des dirigeants, where she has had the opportunity to train executives from Ericsson, CHUM, and Desjardins on data, analytics, and AI.

In 2020, HEC Montréal recognized Sarah’s outstanding commitment to her students by awarding her the Best Lecturer Award. In 2021, she stood out by receiving several prestigious distinctions, including Les Affaires’ CEO of the Year, Women in Tech for Good, and the Futures Award from Femmes d’affaires du Québec.

Caroline Ménard

President
Brio Management

A graduate in Psychology and Management from HEC Montréal, Caroline Ménard has been advising executives and leadership teams of major organizations in Canada and Europe for over 20 years on strategic thinking and large-scale transformation projects.

She began her career at HEC Montréal’s Center for Organizational Transformation Studies, before holding roles at Bell Canada and CGI. In 2006, she joined Brio, and a decade later, in 2016, she took over as President from the firm’s founder, with the ambition of positioning Brio as a reference in transformation consulting. Under her leadership, Brio has accelerated its growth by broadening its service offerings, elevating brand recognition, and opening a Paris office to better support European clients. In 2024, Brio was recognized by Great Place to Work® Canada as one of the best workplaces in professional services.

Caroline is also a blogger for Gestion magazine, a committed mentor to young leaders and women in leadership, and an advocate for developing leadership that is more conscious, more human, and more sustainable.

Karine Moses

Vice Chair, Québec, and Senior Vice President, Sales
Bell

As Senior Vice President, Sales, Karine leads Bell’s sales, strategy and channel operations for the Consumer and Small Business markets. As Vice Chair, Québec, Karine oversees all Bell’s public affairs, community, and other initiatives across the province.

Starting at Bell in 1997, Karine has held progressively senior leadership roles in Bell Network, Field Services, Finance and Media.

She holds a finance degree from HEC Montréal and has completed the Harvard Business School’s General Management Program. She serves on the boards of the Montréal Canadiens Children’s Foundation, the Montréal Heart Institute Foundation, and more recently the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montréal. Born and raised in the Montréal area, Karine is fluently bilingual.

Christine Pouliot, MBA, CFA

Vice Chair and Managing Partner, Quebec and Eastern Canada Region and Partner, Deals Practice
PwC Canada

Christine Pouliot is Vice Chair and Managing Partner for the Quebec and Eastern Canada region. As Managing Partner, she is responsible for clients, market segments and offices in the Quebec and Eastern Canada region and leads PwC’s strategy for this region. She is also a member of PwC Canada’s extended leadership team.

She is also a managing director with PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance Inc., where she assists entrepreneurs and companies with capital raisings, mergers & acquisitions as well as sales and divestitures. She has more than 24 years of experience in corporate finance and has conducted numerous deal assignments involving both Canadian and international companies, with many of the latter being located in Europe and the United States. She also advises board members and executives with regard to the development and implementation of their M&A strategies.

Christine Pouliot started her career with PwC in 2000 and was named Partner in 2013.

She received both her MBA (1997) and her BBA (1996) from Université Laval. She then obtained the CFA designation in 2001. She has lectured extensively outside PwC about company transfers and successions, most notably at various symposia held at the École d'Entrepreneurship de Beauce (EEB) and HEC Montréal. Christine Pouliot is also a Board Member of the École nationale de l'humour.

Martin Robitaille

Managing Director and Head of Investment Banking, Quebec
National Bank

Martin Robitaille has over 20 years of experience in corporate finance, capital markets and mergers & acquisitions at National Bank. Since 2021, he assumes the role of Head of Investment Banking, Quebec and is responsible for the coverage of all corporate clients based in Quebec. Prior to assuming this role, Martin was responsible for National Bank's activities in the Power, Utilities & Infrastructure sectors.

Martin Robitaille leads a team of 30 professionals specializing in financing solutions, such as public equity financing, initial public offerings and private placements, as well as merger & acquisition advisory services.

Mr. Robitaille holds a Master's degree in Finance from the Université de Sherbrooke and the Chartered Financial Analyst designation from the CFA Institute.

Deep Saini

President and vice-chancellor
McGill University

Dr. Deep Saini began his term as President and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University on April 1, 2023.

A career academic and accomplished researcher in plant biology, Dr. Saini brings a unique combination of national post-secondary experience with an international perspective. He most recently served as president of Dalhousie University in Canada and, prior to that, was vice-chancellor and president of the University of Canberra in Australia. Dr. Saini had previously worked at four of Canada’s U15 universities, including as a vice-president of the University of Toronto and principal of its Mississauga campus, dean of the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo, and director general of the Plant Biology Research Institute at the Université de Montréal.

His awards and recognitions include honours from the Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists, Nanjing University, the Sikh Foundation of Canada, the Royal Society of New South Wales, the Punjab Academy of Sciences and the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce. He was featured in India Abroad’s “2011 Power List” and is the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum and Diamond Jubilee Medals, the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal and the NRI Welfare Society of India Hind Rattan Award.

His leadership roles have included governance and advisory roles at national and international levels, presidencies of national professional societies, journal editorships, membership on national and international granting panels, international trade missions, and membership of the Executive Committee for the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors for Universities Canada and was Chair of the Board from October 2023 – October 2025, and prior to that, Vice-Chair of the Board. As well, he is a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal.

Dr. Saini grew up in India and holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Physiology from the University of Adelaide in Australia. He is fluent in English, French, Hindi and Punjabi.

Laurence Vincent

President
Prével

Laurence Vincent is president of Prével, a real estate company with nearly 100 employees, founded more than 45 years ago. Over the past 20 years, she has been actively involved in the construction of many of Prével's 12 000 housing units, as well as the development of landmark projects for the urban landscape.

Recognized for contributing to built heritage as well as home ownership, Laurence Vincent is involved in creating environments that promote human interaction and diversity. She sits on the board of directors of HEC Montréal as well as the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts, History, from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from HEC Montréal.

Laurence Vincent is also the author of the book Bâtir Montréal à la table 45, published by Éditions du Septentrion.