MONTREAL, Nov. 27, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Some 450 people from the Montreal business community gathered at the Soirée Montréal inc. on November 19 at Bonsecours Market to pay tribute to Jean-Guy Desjardins, chairman of the board, chief executive officer and chief investment officer of Fiera Capital Corporation.
A financial genius and a charismatic man of vision, Jean-Guy Desjardins is a model for the new generation of entrepreneurs, with his integrity, the balance he has struck between passion and reason, his ability to surround himself with the very best and to share his success, and his unwavering desire to excel.
The tribute to this great entrepreneur was a natural fit with Soirée Montréal inc., presented by Desjardins and the National Bank to honour Montreal's entrepreneurs.
According to Mr. Desjardins, this tribute was an original way to support Fondation Montréal inc., which helps a new generation of Montreal entrepreneurs achieve success by providing start-up grants and coaching services. "To succeed, young entrepreneurs must have a vision, be able to share and communicate, be patient and careful, and surround themselves with talent," he advised the young hopefuls.
Proceeds of more than $252,000 from the event will go to Fondation Montréal inc. Thanks to the generosity of donors, the $45,000 Jean-Guy Desjardins Grant was specially created as part of a tribute to Mr. Desjardins. It will be awarded to the Foundation's most promising entrepreneurs in the coming year.
Andrew T. Molson, chairman of the board of Fondation Montréal inc., welcomed the growing commitment of business leaders to entrepreneurship. He noted that "entrepreneurs are vital to our economic prosperity. The businesses they create contribute to the development of our city and help maintain our standard of living. It is therefore essential that Montréal inc. work to create and ensure the success of new businesses that will benefit the entire community."
Tribute presented by:
Desjardins and National Bank
Tribute Committee
Paul Desmarais, Jr., Norman E. Hébert, Jr., Pierre Michaud, Jean C. Monty, Javier San Juan, François-Xavier Seigneur
Donors to the Jean-Guy Desjardins Grant
NATIONAL Public Relations, Fiera Capital Corporation, Fasken Martineau, RES PUBLICA Consulting Group, L'Oréal Canada, MARTEL DESJARDINS Chartered Professional Accountants, Pierre Michaud Molson Coors, Jean C. Monty, Power Corporation of Canada, RBC Capital Markets
About Jean-Guy Desjardins
Jean-Guy Desjardins is the Chairman of the board, CEO and chief investment officer of Fiera Capital Corporation. In 1972, Jean-Guy Desjardins co-founded and was the largest shareholder in TAL Global Asset Management until its acquisition by CIBC in 2001. In 2003, he launched Fiera Capital. Today, the firm is one of the largest investment managers in Canada with 400 employees and more than $74 billion in assets under management.
About Fondation Montréal inc.
In the past 17 years, the Foundation has invested $5.6 million in grants to support start-ups of close to 800 companies in Montreal, which in turn have created 2,377 jobs. As a result, the Foundation has contributed to creating more than $46 million in investments in Montréal.
SOURCE: Fondation Montréal inc.
Fondation Montréal inc.
Andrée Lemay
Communications director
514-872-5768
[email protected]
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