Press release
Notice of appointment:
Michel Leblanc is named president and CEO
Of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Montréal, December 19, 2008 Mr. Rémi Racine, chairman of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal's board of directors, is pleased to announce that Mr. Michel Leblanc has been named president and CEO. The appointment, which was unanimously voted in by the organization's board of directors, will take effect on January 12, 2009.
Up until recently, Mr. Leblanc served as Associate Partner of SECOR and was a recognized expert in economic and sectoral studies. He had previously occupied senior level positions at Génome Québec, Montréal International and the Institute for Research on Public Policy. He was also an economist for the Department of Finance Canada. Mr. Leblanc holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Economics from the Université de Montréal.
Thanks to the extensive experience he acquired in the private and public sectors, Michel Leblanc is a seasoned manager with solid knowledge of metropolitan issues. An economist by trade, he has a keen understanding of today's challenging economic context and of the reality of businesspeople and the challenges they face. It quickly became clear to us that he was the ideal candidate to take the helm of the Board of Trade and effectively defend the interests of our members, said Racine.
On January 12, Mr. Leblanc will become the official spokesperson for the largest private organization in Quebec dedicated to economic development. He will be in charge of planning, managing, coordinating, and monitoring all Board of Trade operations.
Mr. Leblanc's appointment is an integral part of our strategic planning efforts. His expertise will enable the Board of Trade to pursue its mission by serving the needs of our members, especially in light of the current economic context and the major challenges that this represents for the entire business community. We are confident that he will vigorously pursue the Board of Trade's efforts to fully contribute to the Montréal metropolitan area's economic development as well as its social, cultural and environment development. This is a serious responsibility which is all the more strategic in the current circumstances. His analytical skills and leadership in complex situations are major assets for our organization, added Racine.
I also wish to thank Roger Plamondon for serving as our interim leader during the transition period. As treasurer, his intimate knowledge of the Board of Trade enabled him to support our performance team with aplomb and to maintain unity within the organization while defending the interests of our members before public agencies. We owe him a debt of gratitude, concluded Racine.
Michel Leblanc will be available for comment as of January 12, his first day on the job.
Biographical notes and photo
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has some 7,000 members. Its primary mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montréal and to provide individuals, merchants, and local businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's leading private economic development organization.
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Source:
Sylvie Paquette
Coordinator, Media relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: 514 871-4000, ext. 4015
sylvie.paquette@ccmm.qc.ca