QUÉBEC, June 27, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Dr. Peter Morand, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SOVAR is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Paule De Blois as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the company. Beginning mid-July, Ms. De Blois will take over from Pierre Pedneau, who has led the organization since its founding in 2000.
"We are delighted to welcome Ms. De Blois to the leadership of SOVAR. Her breadth of experience and hands-on achievements in business and enterprise management, including start-ups and commercial maturation, will be definite assets for the company and the development and valorization of applications derived from university research," said Peter Morand. "At the same time, we wish to extend our best wishes to Mr. Pierre Pedneau for his well-earned retirement. Mr. Pedneau introduced the model of "Sociétés de Valorisation la Recherche Universitaire" in Quebec. Over the past seventeen years, he has carried out with great determination the mission of SOVAR, which has had a significant economic impact in the region, "said Peter Morand.
"Today, more than ever, innovation management and entrepreneurship contribute to economic and social development. In particular, Université Laval and its affiliated research centres offer a wealth of fundamental and applied expertise and solutions that are ready to compete with the best in the world. Led by this strong conviction, I will assume with great enthusiasm the leadership of SOVAR. I take this opportunity to sincerely thank Mr. Pedneau for his seminal achievements that paved the way and established solid foundations for the future of SOVAR", said Ms. De Blois.
Ms. De Blois has more than twenty-five years of experience in company leadership and management. Throughout her career, she has served as an executive and consultant in large and small businesses in the financial, life sciences and technology sectors, including Vice President of Operations at DiagnoCure and Chief Operating Officer of B-Temia. For more than eight years, including three years as Chairperson, she was involved with the Fondation de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec, fostering a shift to support brain research. Ms. De Blois holds an MBA and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science.
About SOVAR
Founded in 2000, SOVAR is the university research commercialization company for Université Laval, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec-Université Laval, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, and Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux de la Capitale. The company is dedicated to the development, transfer and commercialization of new applications derived from university research activities or originating from partner research centers. It also meets the needs of companies seeking innovation. SOVAR's specialized and experienced team works closely with researchers to take the difficult step of transforming an innovation from the conceptual stage into concrete and marketable applications or solutions that meet social development needs. At the same time, it develops partnerships with key players in the Québec and Canadian innovation system and with potential investors. To date, SOVAR has analyzed more than 600 technologies, contributed to the creation of 35 spin-off companies and 500 jobs, and leveraged investments amounting to $220 million. For more information about SOVAR, visit www.sovar.com.
SOURCE Gestion SOVAR inc.
Dr Peter Morand, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Gestion SOVAR inc., 613-248-9157, [email protected]
Share this article