BDC adds to its economic expertise as Pierre Cléroux joins the senior management team as Vice President, Economic Analysis

MONTREAL, Feb. 23, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is pleased to announce that Pierre Cléroux recently joined the organization as Vice President, Economic Analysis. His appointment to this new position will help BDC take its analysis of economic trends even further and increase its understanding of their impact on Canadian business.

"Mr. Cléroux has extensive experience with issues affecting small and medium-sized businesses and the economic environment entrepreneurs have to deal with," said Jean-René Halde, BDC President and CEO. "His contribution will help BDC to develop financing solutions and consulting services that are ever more tailored to the reality of entrepreneurs and provide practical support in their efforts to innovate and grow."

Pierre Cléroux has more than 25 years of experience, mainly in the public sector. Before joining BDC he worked for the government of Saudi Arabia as Vice President, Business Analysis in the National Industry Clusters Development Program. His role was to create program strategies, define sector policies and do financial and economic analyses of industrial projects.

Prior to that, Mr. Cléroux was the Quebec Assistant Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, responsible for the implementation of economic policies and programs to support small and medium-sized businesses and encourage entrepreneurship. He also worked for 12 years at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business in various roles including economist and Quebec Vice President.

He holds a BA and Master's degree in Economics from Université Laval, and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

About BDC
Canada's business development bank, BDC puts entrepreneurs first. With almost 1,900 employees and more than 100 business centres across the country, BDC offers financing, subordinate financing, venture capital and consulting services to 29,000 small and medium-sized companies. Their success is vital to Canada's economic prosperity.

Johanne Bissonnette
514 283-7929
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