MONTREAL, Feb. 26, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Laurentian Bank's Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of François Desjardins as Chief Operating Officer. The Board also announced its intention to name Mr. Desjardins President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank effective November 1, 2015.
"The Board of Directors and I are very happy about François Desjardins' appointment," underlined Board Chair Isabelle Courville. "Upon completion of the selection process which was conducted internally and externally in accordance with the Bank's succession plan, Mr. Desjardins proved to be the best candidate. During the course of his career with the organization, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership, notably at the helm of B2B Bank, and we are convinced that he will successfully propel Laurentian Bank's development."
For his part, current President Réjean Robitaille expressed his positive reaction to the Board's decision to select an internal candidate to assume direction of the Bank. "Thanks to his able leadership, competencies and knowledge of the organization, I have no doubt that François will continue to advance the Bank's growth and take it to increasingly higher levels. I will be working very closely with him in the coming months to ensure a harmonious transition."
"It is an immense honour for me to have been entrusted with these important responsibilities," emphasized Mr. Desjardins upon his appointment. "I have spent my entire career at Laurentian Bank, and I profoundly believe in its potential. The organization's growth over the past number of years clearly testifies to the heritage that Mr. Robitaille is leaving to the Bank, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank him sincerely for this support. Working hand-in-hand with my colleagues on the Management Committee and our employees, we are committed to building on this momentum and continuing to serve our clients with pride."
François Desjardins is presently 44 years of age. Upon joining the Bank in 1991, he occupied several different positions within the branch network, before being entrusted with a mandate to establish the organization's first telephone and electronic services. In 2004, he was named President of B2B Bank (known as B2B Trust at the time), which has continued to grow under his direction to become a Canadian leader in serving financial advisors and brokers. Most recently, he was named at the head of the Bank's Retail Services sector.
In his role as Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Desjardins will continue to lead B2B Bank and Retail Services.
François Desjardins' bio can be consulted by clicking here.
About Laurentian Bank
Laurentian Bank of Canada is a banking institution whose activities extend across Canada. The Bank serves one and a half million clients throughout the country and employs more than 3,700 people whose talent and dedication has made it a major player in numerous market segments. The Bank has more than $37 billion in balance sheet assets and more than $42 billion in assets under administration.
Laurentian Bank distinguishes itself through the excellence and simplicity in its services. As such, the Bank caters to the needs of retail clients via its branch network and virtual offerings. The Bank has also earned a solid reputation among small and medium sized enterprises and real estate developers thanks to its specialized teams across Canada, namely in Ontario, Québec, Alberta, British Columbia and Nova Scotia. For their part, B2B Bank is a Canadian leader in providing banking and investment products and services to financial advisors and brokers, while the expertise and effectiveness of Laurentian Bank Securities' integrated brokerage services are known nationwide.
SOURCE Laurentian Bank of Canada
Image with caption: "François Desjardins, Chief Operating Officer, Laurentian Bank (CNW Group/Laurentian Bank of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150226_C9824_PHOTO_EN_43396.jpg
PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2015/02/26/20150226_C9824_DOC_EN_43398.pdf
Gladys Caron
Vice-President,
Public Affairs, Communications and Investor Relations
514 284-4500, extension 7511
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