Two Women of Desjardins Group's Senior Management Named to Canada's Most
Powerful Women: Top 100

LÉVIS, QC, Nov. 30 /CNW Telbec/ - Desjardins Group is proud to announce that two women of its senior management are now part of the Top 100 of Canada's Most Powerful Women.

Marie-Huguette Cormier, Executive Vice-President, Communications, Desjardins Group, and Sylvie Paquette , Senior Vice-President, General Manager of Property and Casualty Insurance, Desjardins Group, were named to the Top 100 of Canada's Most Powerful Women - Corporate Executives category.

Organized by the Women's Executive Network (WXN) of Toronto , for a seventh straight year this prize recognizes women who have stood out throughout their career and who serve as role models and mentors to others. The two Desjardins nominees are very proud to accept this award. According to them, this award goes beyond recognizing their work: it also highlights the infinite possibilities offered to women at Desjardins.

With her natural leadership, Ms. Paquette has been influencing the direction of property and casualty insurance at Desjardins since 1984. She pioneered and innovated in a field where renewing and challenging the way things are done are essential to strong business. "It is an honour to be one of Canada's top 100 most powerful women. This public acknowledgement is proof of how important it is to believe in your own potential and to remain determined," she said.

Ms. Cormier , who recently celebrated her 20th year at Desjardins, is also proud to accept this nomination. As a high-level athlete, she enjoys tackling on challenges and is considered as a source of inspiration and an influence model by both athletes and business people alike. She is particularly proud that she never chose her career at the expense of her sport and vice-versa. "Quite the contrary: I was able to juggle both worlds. And I hope that my experience will help all those who ask themselves whether it is possible to have a career while remaining committed to the things that means a lot to us," Ms. Cormier said.

Over the past few years, many Desjardins women have received similar honours. Louise LeBrun, Senior Vice-President, Operations and Administration, Desjardins Group, was among Canada's most powerful women in 2008, and Monique F. Leroux, Chair of the Board, President and CEO of Desjardins Group, was inducted into the Women's Executive Network Hall of Fame after three nominations to the Top 100 of Canada's Most Powerful Women.

About Desjardins Group

Desjardins Group is the largest cooperative financial group in Canada , and the eighth largest in the world, with overall assets of $163 billion . Drawing on the strength of its caisse network in Québec and Ontario, as well as its subsidiaries, several of which are active throughout Canada , Desjardins offers a full range of financial products and services to its 5.8 million individual and business members and clients. Desjardins Group is also home to a wealth of expertise in property and casualty insurance, life and health insurance, wealth management, services for businesses of all sizes, securities brokerage, venture capital, asset management and secure leading-edge virtual access methods, all part of an integrated offer that is the only one of its kind in Canada . One of the largest employers in the country, Desjardins is backed by the knowledge and skills of its 42,000 employees and the commitment of its 6,300 elected officers. To find out more, consult www.desjardins.com.

For further information: (for journalists only): Caroline Phémius, Adivsor, Press Relations, Desjardins Group, [phone], ext. 7646, 1-866-866-7000, [email protected]