André R. Desmarais

Biography

Mr. André R. Desmarais, O.C., O.Q., has been the President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of PowerCorporation of Canada since 1996. Mr. Desmarais was a Co-Owner at Club De Hockey Les Remparts De Quebec Inc. He has held several executive positions in Power Corp. of Canada since 1983. Prior to joining Power in 1981, he was a Special Assistant to the Minister of Justice of Canada and an institutional investment counselor at Richardson Greenshields Securities Ltd. He serves as Executive Officer at Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc. He served in the real estate firm Corporation Campeau Limitée from 1979 to 1980 and served as its Chairman and Head of Operations since 1991, then Chairman and Co-Chief Management Officer since 1996. He serves as the Chairman of the La Presse Ltée (Canada). Mr. Desmarais has been an Executive Co-Chairman at Power Financial Corporation since May 2008. From May 1994 to May 1996, he served as the Chairman at Power Pacific Limited.

Research Interest

He has been a Non-Executive Director at Pargesa Holding SA since 1996. He has been a Director of Power Financial Corp. since May 1998. He serves as a Director of Audiofina S.A., and Mackenzie Inc. He serves as a Member of the Supervisory Board of PowerFinancial Europe B.V. and Parjointco N.V. He has been a Director of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Co. since 1997. Mr. Desmarais served as a Non-Executive Director of Citic Pacific Ltd. from December 10, 1997 to May 14, 2014.