LÉVIS, QC, June 14, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Desjardins Group, the leading cooperative financial group in Canada, reveals the new management team tasked with helping President and CEO Guy Cormier fulfill his goal to once again make Desjardins everyone's number one choice. To make this happen, the organization will be pursuing three ambitions, which are to reconnect Desjardins with its purpose, harness its full potential and invest in people first. Desjardins wants to be known for being simple to do business with, people-focused, modern and high-performing.
Appointment of Denis Berthiaume
Desjardins announces the appointment of Denis Berthiaume to the position of Senior Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer. Reporting directly to the President and CEO, his mandate will be to supervise Desjardins Group's overall operations. Mr. Berthiaume will continue to act as Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Wealth Management and Life and Health Insurance, a position he has held since 2011, on an interim basis until his successor has been appointed. "Over the course of his career with Desjardins, Denis has taken on key management roles, with Desjardins Financial Security in particular. He's a team player and I have great faith in his ability to carry out the mandate I've given him," said Guy Cormier.
"As President and CEO, I want to first and foremost focus my attention on defining our cooperative's key priorities and mobilizing our people – the elected officers and employees who help keep our cooperative moving forward each day. I'm also going to make sure we continue to fulfill our role as a socio-economic leader in Quebec, Ontario and the rest of Canada to the best of our abilities," added Cormier.
The President and CEO's responsibilities will therefore also include supervising the teams in charge of officer relations and support, the cooperative difference, internal audit, as well as Desjardins Group strategy and innovation.
Consolidation of expertise supporting the Caisse Network
All employees of the Federation and its subsidiaries involved in the distribution of products and services offered to members of caisses in Quebec and Ontario and to clients in Quebec will be grouped together to promote a better member/client experience. They will be reporting to the new Caisse Network and Member and Client Services Executive Division.
Four other executive divisions will be responsible for designing the offers for the various client groups served by Desjardins Group, thereby also supporting the Caisse Network and the other distribution networks across Canada.
The following appointments were announced today:
- Éric Lachaîne, Senior Vice-President, Caisse Network and Member and Client Services
- André Chatelain, Senior Vice-President, Personal Services and Desjardins Group Marketing
- Marie-Claude Boisvert, Senior Vice-President, Business Services
- Denis Berthiaume, Senior Vice-President, Wealth Management and Life and Health Insurance (interim)
- Denis Dubois, Senior Vice-President, Property and Casualty Insurance
Four other executive divisions will oversee support activities under the leadership of:
- Marie-Huguette Cormier, Senior Vice-President, Human Resources and Communications
- Réal Bellemare, Senior Vice-President, Finance, Treasury and Administration
- Francine Champoux, Senior Vice-President, Risk Management
- Chadi Habib, Senior Vice-President, Information Technology
Finally, Sylvie Paquette and Denis Dubois will serve as co-Presidents of Desjardins General Insurance Group until the end of 2016 to ensure a seamless transition for this business line.
These appointments take effect immediately.
"I'd like to congratulate my colleagues on the new Desjardins Management Committee and also extend my heartfelt thanks to those who helped manage Desjardins so successfully over the past several years," concluded Cormier.
About Desjardins
Desjardins Group is the leading cooperative financial group in Canada and the sixth largest cooperative financial group in the world, with assets of $255.1 billion. It has been rated one of the Best Employers in Canada by Aon Hewitt. To meet the diverse needs of its members and clients, Desjardins offers a full range of products and services to individuals and businesses through its extensive distribution network, online platforms and subsidiaries across Canada. Considered North America's strongest bank according to Bloomberg News, Desjardins has one of the highest capital ratios and credit ratings in the industry.
SOURCE Desjardins Group
(for journalists only): Marc-Brian Chamberland, Public Relations, Desjardins Group, 514-281-7000, ext. 5553575 or 1-866-866-7000, ext. 5553575, [email protected]
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