The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is appointing Marc-André Blanchard as executive vice-president and head of CDPQ Global, effective Sept. 8, 2020.
In the new role, Blanchard will have direct responsibility for the Caisse’s three main regional hubs outside of Canada: the United States/Latin America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. He will lead activities in the organization’s international offices and will be supported by Anita George, executive vice-president and deputy head of CDPQ global, whose expanded mandate will now cover all geographies.
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“After building multidisciplinary teams in Asia, Latin America, the United States and Europe, and increasing our international exposure by over $140 billion in five years, moving toward a more integrated structure is the natural next step in our evolution,” said Charles Émond, president and chief executive officer at the Caisse. “Under Marc-André’s leadership, and with Anita’s support, this new structure will allow us to continue diversifying our portfolio and go to market with a cross-functional and global view, backed by strong leadership in Montreal and strengthened responsibilities in our key regional hubs and satellite offices.
“With his experience in leading roles on the international stage, Marc-André is the ideal person for the position. He possesses a remarkable ability to develop and maintain business networks and understand regional specificities while mobilizing diverse teams located around the world under a shared vision. Marc-André has a strong sense of public service and commitment that is perfectly aligned with CDPQ’s mandate. I firmly believe that he will be a major asset in expanding the reach of our institution — and Quebec — in international markets.”
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Blanchard is a lawyer and has served as ambassador and permanent representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York since 2016. From 2010 to 2016, he was chairman and chief executive officer of McCarthy Tétrault LLP. Prior to that, he was the firm’s managing partner for Quebec and was a legal advisor and strategist in several major lawsuits and business transactions.
“It’s an honour for me to join the CDPQ team and continue the work of recent years and further enhance the organization’s international leadership,” said Blanchard. “At the U.N., I witnessed first hand the impact that investors can have on major issues around the world, both through their choice of partners and investments and in advancing key themes, such as climate change and sustainable investment. I’m looking forward to working with CDPQ’s local teams and to continue positioning this great Quebec institution as a partner of choice in the markets, always to benefit its depositors and to help create new international opportunities for our companies.”