LÉVIS, QC, Nov. 13, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Desjardins Group takes pride in Monique F. Leroux's appointment to the position of President of the lnternational Co-operative Alliance (ICA). Founded in 1895, the ICA has its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, and its mission is to support and promote the development of the cooperative movement worldwide.
The election took place during the ICA's General Assembly in Antalya, Turkey. Desjardins Group's Chair of the Board, President and CEO was one of four candidates in the running. The other candidates represented Argentina, Brazil and France. Ms Leroux is the first Canadian and first North American to be appointed to this prestigious role, replacing Dame Pauline Green who had been at the helm of the ICA since 2009.
"We're obviously very proud to see Ms. Leroux take on the role of President of the ICA," said Denis Paré, Vice-Chair, Board of Directors of Desjardins Group. "This appointment is a testament to all that she has accomplished for the cooperative movement since she began her mandate as President of Desjardins Group. One of the highlights of her work has been the 2012 and 2014 editions of the International Summit of Cooperatives, which she helped organize to promote the cooperative movement both in Canada and internationally. In a way, this appointment recognizes the strength of the cooperative movement in Canada and North America."
Mr. Paré also noted that Desjardins Group has always encouraged its senior executives to serve on the boards of other major international organizations. Like her predecessors, Ms. Leroux will use this high-profile platform to draw attention to some of the major issues facing the cooperative model, particularly with respect to regulation, capitalization and education.
Ms. Leroux has been a member of the ICA Board of Directors since November 2013 and will serve as President for the next two years. She was nominated for the position by Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada with the support of Conseil québécois de la coopération et de la mutualité. Visit moniqueleroux.coop to learn about her vision for the future of the ICA.
An overview of the international cooperative movement
- 2.6 million cooperatives and mutuals serving 1 billion members
- Annual revenues of US$ 3,000 billion
- 250 million direct and indirect jobs representing 12% of total employment for the G20
- If the co-ops were a country, and their combined business numbers were the country's GDP, the 300 largest co-ops in the world would be G-10 members.
SOURCE Desjardins Group
(for journalists only): Public Relations, Richard Lacasse, 418-835-8444, ext. 3163, [email protected]
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