EXCELLENCE - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• the Unconventional Historian

iA's long track record of responsible investing funds and large independent advisor network convinced Adam Elliott to join iA Clarington, its mutual fund division, in 2018. Adam Elliott took an unusual path to leadership in the asset management industry. However, this trajectory helped provide lessons along the way that are surprisingly useful in his role as president of iA Private Wealth. After graduating from McGill University with a History degree, Adam went to London, UK for three years and got his first "real" job underwriting the credit risk of British exporters' clients. "I started off covering French companies mainly because they needed a bilingual underwriter. Then I was asked to cover Russian companies when they had to reassess all their credit exposure during the LTCM crisis, and then Asian companies during their currency crisis in 1998. That was a crash course in market risks and the impact of politics in economics. It also led to a natural interest in investing and asset management. When I returned to Canada, I quickly took a number of industry courses and realized that I could combine some of the critical thinking and writing skills I had acquired through my arts degree with my growing interest in finance. As a son of two professors, I was also taught the value of reading widely, writing carefully, and thinking critically with a long-term perspective." He finds the leadership of former President Barack Obama very inspiring. "Even though I don't think he was able to accomplish all he set out to do when first elected - a reality I think a lot of business leaders have to confront - he remained optimistic, focused on change and leveraged other leaders even if they had originally opposed him." Working with others instead of focusing on competition is a philosophy he tries to apply in running iA Clarington. "It means working with other parts of iA, but also with heads of other major mutual funds companies that we compete with. There are times it pays to compete, and others where it pays to collaborate. If you don't compete respectfully, you won't make the necessary alliances to succeed in this business." Adam Elliott had over 18 years of experience in the fund industry when he joined iA Clarington in 2018 as National Sales Manager. Last year he assumed the role of CEO. He was confident he could succeed because he knew he had the right senior leadership team in place already. "The trust you have to place in your senior leadership team is incredibly high. I knew I had to give them the independence and autonomy to make the right decisions for their division." One important lesson when leading a company is that your senior leadership team knows their departments better than you do, and that great ideas can come from your most junior colleagues as well as your veterans." Adam Elliott has lived in Toronto since 2000, but he hasn't forgotten his Montreal roots. "I tried to support the Maple Leafs, but I found it impossible. I will always be a Canadiens fan," says the dedicated dad of a high-level hockey player. When he works from home, he starts his day cycling 75 minutes on the Don Valley Mountain Biking Trails, an activity that keeps him focused and ready for more professional challenges. iA Clarington has enjoyed strong momentum in recent years. "2021 was a record year for the company in every aspect. 2022 is proving more challenging across the industry , but I'm confident this company is on the right track for long-term growth."

Job Titles:

• Chief Investment Officer
• Executive Vice - President
• Member of the Executive Committee
• Financial Group 's Executive Vice - President and Chief Investment Officer

Alain Bergeron has been iA Financial Group's Executive Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer since September 2019. As such, he is responsible for managing the company's investment portfolio. His responsibilities include managing and supervising the assets in the general fund and the investment funds. Alain is known as a high integrity investor with a passion and track-record for delivering best-in-class portfolios and high performing investment teams. He brings a rare combination of experience in institutional investments and pension plans, together with experience and understanding of retail wealth needs that help iA and its clients achieve their financial goals. Before he came to iA Financial Group, Mr. Bergeron was Senior Vice-President and Portfolio Manager at a leading asset manager. Previously, he worked for over ten years for CPP Investments (the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board), where he served as Vice-President and head of Global Tactical Asset Allocation. Alain Bergeron graduated from HEC Montréal, where he received a Master of Sciences (M.Sc.) in financial engineering and a bachelor's degree in finance and quantitative methods. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Market Technician (CMT). Alain Bergeron has been involved in the financial community for many years, including serving on the Board of Directors for CFA Toronto and teaching at both HEC Montréal and the Rotman School of Management. He has also been published in academic journals including the Journal of Portfolio Management and the Journal of Alternative Investments.

Job Titles:

• Corporate Director

Alka Gautam is a corporate director. She has more than 20 years of experience in the reinsurance and insurance industries. From 2000 to 2023, she held various senior leadership positions including CFO, CRO, COO and, since 2015, President and CEO of RGA Life Reinsurance Company of Canada ("RGA Canada") where she was responsible for leading all business activities of RGA's Canadian operations, including establishing, implementing and overseeing the short and long-term goals, strategies and operating and financial plans. From 2019 to 2023, Ms. Gautam was also Executive Vice-President, Global Operations at Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated ("RGA"). From 2015 to 2023, she was an executive member of the Board of Directors of RGA Canada. Prior to joining RGA, from 1996 to 2000, Ms. Gautam was Senior Manager, Financial Institutions and Real Estate Group at KPMG LLP ("KPMG") and held positions of increasing responsibility at KPMG between 1990 and 1996. From 2016 to 2023, Ms. Gautam was a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Life and Health Industry Association (CLHIA) and throughout her tenure, she was a member and chaired the Board of Directors and various CLHIA standing committees. From 2020 to 2023 she also was a member of the Board of Directors of LL Global, Inc. (LIMRA and LOMA). Ms. Gautam holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration from Dalhousie University. She holds the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia (CPA) designation and has her ICD.D title from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Job Titles:

• Corporate Director

Benoit Daignault is a corporate director. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of EDC between February 2014 and February 2019. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Daignault served as Senior Vice-President, Financing and Investments, after having served as Senior Vice-President, Business Development. Prior to joining EDC in 2004, Mr. Daignault worked for more than 10 years at General Electric Capital, where he held increasingly senior positions in both Canada and the United States. Mr. Daignault currently serves on the Advisory Committee of COPAP Inc., a corporation offering international trade finance and supply chain solutions. He also previously served on the Board of Directors of the Conference Board of Canada. Mr. Daignault holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from HEC Montréal and is a designated Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). He completed the Proteus Programme at the London Business School and the Senior Executive Program at Columbia University.

Charles is also a wine aficionado. He has travelled to France and California to stock his cellar. "I like wine for its social aspects. I already have in mind some fine bottles I plan to share with my loved ones on special occasions."

Job Titles:

• Corporate Director

Danielle G. Morin is a corporate director. She has extensive experience in finance, including more than 35 years of experience in various sectors of the financial services industry. She worked for Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada from 1977 until 1990 and for the Laurentian Imperial Company from 1990 until 1994, where she was Senior Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer. She then worked for Desjardins Group in the group pensions and pooled investment funds areas, before joining Canagex Inc., a Desjardins Group investment subsidiary, as Vice-President, Finance and Operations, in 1999. In 2001, she joined the Public Sector Pension Investment Board as Senior Vice-President of Financial Operations. Ms. Morin then worked as Senior Vice-President, Distribution and Client Services, at Standard Life Investments Inc., from 2006 until 2013. Ms. Morin has been on the boards of ASSURIS, Standard Life Investments Inc., Université Laval and the Fondation de l'Université Laval. Ms. Morin graduated from the Institute of Corporate Directors where she got her ICD.D designation and obtained her bachelor's degree in actuarial science from Université Laval. She was a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries from 1980 to 2019.

Job Titles:

• Executive Vice - President
• Member of the Executive Committee
• Executive Vice - President, Strategy and Performance and Co - Head of Acquisitions

Denis Berthiaume has held the position of Executive Vice-President, Strategy and Performance and Co-Head of Acquisitions since August 2023. He supervises two key areas of responsibility. The first area involves the company's strategy and performance, with an aim to maximize strategic and operational alignment. His second key responsibility focuses on acquisitions. As an experienced manager, Denis Berthiaume boasts over 25 years of experience as an executive in the financial sector with a wide range of specialties. He has been head of both life insurance and wealth management business segments. He has also led various corporate functions including IT, corporate actuarial, client experience, employee experience, risk management, general insurance, and commercial and retail banking. He holds a degree in actuarial science from Université Laval and is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) and the Society of Actuaries (FSA).

Job Titles:

• Chief Executive Officer
• Member of the Executive Committee
• President
• CEO and Philosopher
• Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries
• President and Chief Executive Officer of IA Financial Group
• Reporters

On September 1 st, 2018, Denis Ricard assumed his new role: president and chief executive officer at iA Financial Group, a role synonymous with great responsibilities for a man who, now more than ever, is bound by a sense of duty. Denis Ricard, President and Chief Executive Officer, will meet with reporters at a press conference that will take place immediately following the annual meeting, at around 3:30 p.m. (ET) Mr. Ricard is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) and of the Society of Actuaries (FSA). Denis Ricard has been President and Chief Executive Officer of iA Financial Group since September 2018. He is an engaged leader who values the development of people in a learning, socially responsible organization. He is responsible for strategic planning and ensuring the company's sustainable growth, taking into account the interests of shareholders, clients, employees and the communities in which the company operates. He is recognized as an experienced team builder, passionate about new challenges and dedicated to iA Financial Group's long-term goals. Mr. Ricard began his career at iA Financial Group in 1985, after completing his degree in actuarial science at Université Laval. Over the years, he has assumed positions of increasing responsibility, from actuarial to business development to corporate management. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) and of the Society of Actuaries (FSA). Denis Ricard has been actively involved in the community for many years. He currently serves on the campaign cabinet of Fondation CERVO, which supports care for mental health issues and research in neuroscience. He is also a member of the campaign cabinet for the Fondation IUCPQ whose primary mission is the health of people with cardiovascular, respiratory and obesity-related diseases. He also serves as honourary chair for various charitable events and campaigns, including the Musée des sciences and the Musée de la civilisation Foundation in Québec City.

Job Titles:

• Regional Director
• Senior Vice - President

Job Titles:

• Corporate Director

Emma K. Griffin is a corporate director. From 2015 to 2018, she was a director and strategic advisor for Golder Associates, now part of WSP Inc. From 2016 to 2019, Ms. Griffin was also a director of Aimia Inc. From 2014 to 2015, she was managing director and co-founder of Refined Selection Limited, a holding company created to invest in the professional services and recruitment industries. From 2002 to 2013, Ms. Griffin was a founding partner of Oriel Securities, an independent brokerage firm recognized for its independence and for providing trusted advice, which was sold to Stifel Financial Corp. Until November 2016, Ms. Griffin was also Chair of the board of Cancer Research UK's Catalyst Club, a pioneering venture that raises money for personalized medicine research. Since November 2017, Ms. Griffin acts as director of Claridge Inc., a private investment company. Since January 2020, she is a director at Groupe Solotech inc., an audiovisual and entertainment technology services company. In December 2020, she joined the Board of Directors of ED&F Man Holdings Limited, an agricultural commodities merchant. Ms. Griffin holds a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree from Oxford University.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board of Directors of La Fondation Le Chaînon
• Vice - President, Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer at Aéroports De Montréal

Ginette Maillé has been Vice-President, Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer at Aéroports de Montréal since April 2017. She has more than 30 years of financial, operational and strategic experience in startups and large companies, both private and publicly listed (TSX and NASDAQ), operating nationally and internationally. In particular, she was with Yellow Pages Ltd. for 14 years, where she held the position of Vice-President and Chief Accounting Officer to later be promoted to Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer. She has also held several management positions in the field of information technology, particularly in the area of digital transformation. She sat on the board of Financial Executives International Canada (Quebec chapter) from 2014 to 2017. Ms. Maillé is currently a member of the Board of Directors of La Fondation Le Chaînon. A Chartered Professional Accountant, Ms. Maillé holds a Bachelor of Accounting Science from Université du Québec à Montréal and has her ICD.D title from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Job Titles:

• the Even - Keeled Adventurer

In both her personal and professional life, Gwen Gareau has taken the helm of ambitious pursuits with composure and confidence A CPA for nearly 20 years, Gwen Gareau's business acumen and work ethic formed at an early age, first on the family farm, and then in high school when she got involved with Junior Achievement, an organization that supports budding entrepreneurs. In her twenties she moved to Toronto from Saskatchewan, where she was raised. After she graduated from Ryerson University with a business degree in accounting and obtained her CPA with PwC, she gained management and finance experience through progressive roles at public mining companies. In 2013, she and her husband decided to seize the moment and take a travel sabbatical. They set sail for the Eastern Caribbean on a voyage that was supposed to last a year or two but grew into a three-year adventure!

Job Titles:

• Corporate Director

Jacques Martin is a corporate director. He has been the Chair of the Board since September 2018. He spent 17 years at Goldman Sachs in London and New York where he was Managing Director and Head of International Equities at the time of his departure in 2003. From 2004 until 2008, he was Senior Vice-President, International Equities, based in New York, for the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Quebec. Mr. Martin is currently a member of the Board of Directors of RGA Life Reinsurance Company of Canada. Mr. Martin holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University and a Bachelor of Law from Université de Montréal. He also holds an MBA and a certificate in corporate governance from INSEAD. He is a member of the Quebec Bar.

Joe Dunlap's story is closely hitched to central Texas. Born and bred in Waco, the home of Baylor University, Joe decided to expand his horizons, heading to Huntsville to study at Sam Houston State. After successfully receiving his bachelor's degree in finance in 1978, he returned to his roots with plans of becoming a banker.

Job Titles:

• the Entrepreneur

For the president of Investia, Louis H. DeConinck, working at iA Financial Group means the chance to have his own company inside a larger group. "I was privileged to join iA Financial Group. That an entrepreneur like me can be an intrapreneur - I still pinch myself almost every day. I'm very lucky." This is how Louis H. DeConinck describes his work since 2001 at Investia, iA Financial Group's group insurance brokerage firm. And for good reason: Mr. DeConinck has seen its inner workings since day 1. "I had been working for a brokerage firm for four years when iA Financial Group acquired it and turned it into Investia. At that time, it was a small brokerage firm with $200 million in assets and about a hundred advisors, mostly in Quebec." Named national director for development, Mr. DeConinck set forth on a path to develop the company. A communicator and entrepreneur at heart, he was surrounded by mentors. "Phenomenal people, leaders who believed in me and gave me the tools I needed and said: ‘Go ahead! Develop it!'" In 2008, he was appointed as president of the company, which is now the second-largest mutual fund brokerage firm in Canada and the largest in terms of independent advisors. Louis H. DeConinck is "very, very proud" to be part of the company's development and growth. Now at the head of a network of 1,500 independent financial advisors across Canada and a portfolio of nearly $60 billion in assets, he salutes his team, without whom he could not have achieved this meteoric growth. "They are incredible women and men, with unique skill sets," he says. He also emphasized that the company's philosophy is based on respect and dedication. "Often when I meet representatives from Alberta or British Columbia, I ask them why they do business with our company. They tell me: ‘Louis, this is your passion and it shows. We want to work with people who are passionate, like you.'" Passionate. It's a word that describes Mr. DeConinck very well. With his passion for technological development and digital applications, he is committed to Investia's digital shift. An avid downhill skier, golfer and hip-hop musician, he also volunteers to lead activities at the seniors' residence his wife runs. "It's my way of giving back to the community." To hear him talk, there is no doubt that Mr. DeConinck is passionate about his work. An adherent of the Lean management strategy - which improves the performance of an organization by improving its business processes - Mr. DeConinck confirms that he switched up his management style to "put himself in the client's shoes" and connect with the everyday realities advisors face. "I want to help others grow within the company. The people around me, that's what I'm really proud of - our succession and our retention," he says. His plan for Investia is to grow to $100 billion in assets. "For me, this is my Olympics. I have the opportunity to build something that can last. I want the company to have continuity, bright young people and growth. That will be my greatest achievement."

Job Titles:

• Corporate Director
• Senior Executive

Ludwig W. Willisch is an accomplished senior executive and corporate director with 40 years of success spanning automotive, finance and economics. Mr. Willisch has spent over 20 years holding positions of increasing responsibility with BMW, including Head of BMW Japan, Head of Sales Region Europe of BMW Group, President and CEO of BMW of North America LLC, and Head of BMW Group Region Americas. In that capacity, he was responsible for all sales, marketing, after-sales and distribution activities of BMW Group in the Americas (North and South America plus Caribbean). He has held board positions with BMW (US) Holding Corp., BMW NA, and Designworks/USA, Inc. In addition, he has served as Vice Chair of the German American Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Manufacturing Council to the United States Secretary of Commerce. Mr. Willisch currently serves on the Board of HYDAC Corp. Bethlehem PA. He is a member of the Automotive Advisory Board of Roechling SE, Mannheim, Germany. Furthermore, Mr. Willisch serves on the board of the American Council on Germany, New York. He is also a business advisor to the consulting company Accenture. In addition, Mr. Willisch also serves on the boards of certain U.S. subsidiaries of iA Financial Group. Mr. Willisch holds a Diplom-Volkswirt (equivalent to a master's degree) in economics from the University of Cologne.

Job Titles:

• Corporate Director
• Member of the Human Resources and Corporate Governance Committee of Richelieu Hardware Ltd

Marc Poulin currently serves as a corporate director. He was a senior-level manager in the food industry in Canada. Over the last 19 years he was at Sobeys Inc., he held, successively, the roles of Vice-President, Purchasing and Merchandising, Executive Vice-President and Assistant General Manager (Quebec), Head of Operations for Quebec and, from 2012 to 2016, President and Chief Executive Officer. He also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Empire Company Limited from 2012 to 2016. Prior thereto, Mr. Poulin had held the strategic positions of Vice-President at Desjardins-Laurentian Life Group and at Culinar. Mr. Poulin is a member of the Human Resources and Corporate Governance Committee of Richelieu Hardware Ltd. He also currently advises various private companies in the food industry. Mr. Poulin holds a bachelor's degree in actuarial science from Université Laval and an MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management in Evanston (Illinois).

Job Titles:

• IA Financial Group in 1995 As a Legal Advisor
• Member of the Finance Montréal Board of Directors Sustainable Finance Committee

As part of her involvement in the community, Marie-Annick is a member of the Finance Montréal Board of Directors Sustainable Finance Committee. She also sits on various other committees in the industry, including the Sustainable Finance Virtual Network of the Canadian Fixed-Income Forum, a group set up by the Bank of Canada. She takes part in a number of events and gives talks to pass on her expertise and draw inspiration from others. In addition to her industry work, Marie-Annick is also on the Board of Directors of the Little Brothers Foundation, which works to alleviate social isolation of the elderly, and of the Fondation du Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (Quebec City fine arts museum). "The museum has an educational mission that aligns with my values. In a broader sense, I believe that having access to beauty, whether in nature or through art, is beneficial for mental health."

Job Titles:

• Corporate Director

Martin Gagnon is a corporate director. He has over 25 years of experience in banking, asset management and brokerage firms. From 2016 to 2023, Mr. Gagnon was Executive Vice-President, Wealth Management and Co-President and Co-CEO of National Bank Financial (NBF) where he was responsible for all Wealth Management activities. He was an active member of the Office of the President, participating in its transformation and chairing many of its subsidiaries, and lead the development of a high performing team that delivered top results in the Canadian Wealth Management industry while transforming the business. Between 2003 and 2016, he held positions of increasing responsibility with National Bank of Canada and its subsidiaries. Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Gagnon held senior positions in Canada and the United States, notably with Goldman Sachs and Laurentian Bank between 1995 and 2003. Mr. Gagnon has always been committed to various charities, foundations and associations. He volunteers for the homeless at the Welcome Hall Mission down-town Montreal and is a member of the Relais & Ch teaux organization committee at the Foundation of the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec, an institution for training in tourism, hospitality and restaurant services in Quebec. He was a member of the board of directors of the Association of Quebec Women in Finance, Chair of the board of directors of the Montreal Mental Health Institute, Chair of the Human Ressources Committee of the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal. He was also Governor and Co-President of some of the United Way campaigns of the Greater Montreal. Mr. Gagnon holds a Bachelor in Commerce, Finance from Université du Québec à Montréal and a Master's in Business Administration from the University of British Columbia. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

Job Titles:

• Scotia Capital

Job Titles:

• Chief Growth Officer
• Executive Vice - President
• Member of the Executive Committee
• Team Leader
• Executive Vice - President, Chief Growth Officer US Operations, Co - Head of Acquisitions

Stickney says he "believes in iA's values of longevity and loyalty," and is still looking for ways to contribute and grow. "I don't know what happened. For years, I was the youngest guy at meetings. Now I'm the oldest guy in the room!" says 64 year-old Michael Stickney, President of iA American Life Insurance Company, speaking from his office in Scottsdale, Arizona. Although Stickney hasn't seen the time pass in his 40 years in the insurance business, he feels he still has a lot to contribute. Michael Stickney "entered the iA" world 20 years ago while he was working for Seaboard Life in Vancouver (acquired by iA in 1999). When iA purchased American Life Insurance Company in Waco, Texas, in 2010, the door opened for an exciting change. "If we were ever going to succeed in the U.S., I knew I had to move out of Vancouver," says, Stickney who moved south and opened an office in Scottsdale that year. Working from Arizona, Stickney applies some of the same lessons he learned when he was based in Vancouver, itself far from iA's head office in Quebec. "Eastern and Western Canada are very different. To operate in Western Canada you need to have people there, to spend time there," he says. "You need to build relationships with local people, whether sales people or others in the business. I think building these kinds of relationships is one thing we do well as a company." Stickney's career in the insurance business started with a passion for math. A Whitehorse, Yukon native, he grew up in Vancouver, where he studied math in university before writing his actuarial exams. He got his first job in the insurance business before even completing the exams. Yet after several decades in the business, Stickney wanted to broaden his skills beyond calculation. "Actuarial work is very detail oriented. And as much as I could do it, I was starting to have to force myself to." Stickney completed an MBA in the early 1990s, while he was CFO at Seaboard Life Insurance in Vancouver. "The MBA opened up my eyes to the other things that go on in business that are just as important as the technical and financial aspects." When he was 44, iA offered him a job running different Vancouver-based businesses. "Shifting into a general business and marketing role was great. It's been like a second career for me. I really enjoy it." In Scottsdale, Stickney enjoys golf and hiking and running, and travels extensively with his wife. "We have seen most of Europe, and a lot of the U.S. as well." He still has roots in Vancouver, where two of his three grown children live: his daughter works for a business that insures movie productions and son is a partner in a lobby firm in Vancouver. Stickney's other son works as Chief of Staff for the Minister of Supply and Procurement in Ottawa. Stickney says he "believes in iA's values of longevity and loyalty," and is still looking for ways to contribute and grow. "I enjoy working with younger people and I feel like I'm connecting to them whether they want input or guidance. iA really values teamwork and that's part of how I'm wired." Michael L. Stickney has served as Executive Vice-President, Chief Growth Officer US Operations and Co-Head of Acquisitions since August 2023. He oversees growth initiatives for all US business. He is also responsible for acquisitions activities. Mr. Stickney has a strong track record in building successful businesses and benefits from a deep knowledge of the company's businesses and many years of industry experience. Mr. Stickney started his career in the insurance industry in 1976 and held various insurance-related positions. He joined iA Financial Group in 1999 when the company completed its acquisition of Seaboard Life. Prior to assuming responsibility for the U.S. operations, he led the Dealer Services and Special Markets Solutions divisions. Mr. Stickney has been involved in the developing of businesses and making a significant contribution to results. The U.S. operations, for example, have experienced strong growth organically and through acquisitions under his leadership. Michael L. Stickney holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and an MBA from the University of British Columbia. He is also a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

Job Titles:

• Corporate Director

Monique Mercier is a corporate director. She is also a Senior Advisor with the law firm Bennett Jones. During her career, she has held various executive roles in the telecommunications and technology industry. From 2014 until she retired in December 2018, she held the position of Executive Vice-President, Corporate Affairs and Chief Legal and Governance Officer at TELUS. She oversaw legal and regulatory affairs, government relations, media, real estate and sustainable development. She began her career at Stikeman Elliott as a tax lawyer in 1984. She then worked at BCE and Bell Canada International before joining Emergis in 1999, which was acquired by TELUS in 2008.

Job Titles:

• Chief
• Director

Nicolas Darveau-Garneau is Chief Growth and Strategy Officer of Coveo Solutions Inc. (TSX: CVO), a leading applied artificial intelligence software company providing digital solutions for companies. Prior to that, Mr. Darveau-Garneau was Chief Strategist at Google Search. He started with Google as Manager of the Montreal Office and then was Director of Sales in charge of a $1.2 billion division. Prior to Google, Mr. Darveau-Garneau was an Internet entrepreneur, consultant and investor. Since 1995, he has co-founded many Internet companies, including Imix.com, BigDeal and Liquor.com. Mr. Darveau-Garneau is also an angel investor in Silicon Valley, California. He worked as a business analyst at McKinsey & Co. in Montreal and senior analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC in New York. He specializes in marketing and Internet product development. Since 2012, Mr. Darveau-Garneau has been a director of several not-for-profit organizations. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Alida Inc., a customer experience software company. Mr. Darveau-Garneau holds an MBA with honours from Harvard Business School and a bachelor's degree in mathematics from University of Waterloo.

Job Titles:

• Corporate Director

Ouma Sananikone serves as a corporate director. She has extensive experience in finance, particularly investment management and ESG, covering all asset classes, including private equity, infrastructure, real estate, renewable energy and real assets, having spent over 30 years in the industry at both executive and board levels.

Job Titles:

• Chief Risk Officer
• Executive Vice - President
• Member of the Executive Committee
• Executive Vice - President and Chief Risk Officer of IA Financial Group

Philippe Sarfati joined iA Financial Group in September 2021, embarking on a new stage in a remarkable 35-year career in the financial industry and risk management. He says he was "surprised and flattered" that the company thought of him, and that the positive impression was mutual. "What really interested me was the interpersonal interaction and the nature of this significant challenge. Maintenance is not one of my strengths! I get bored, and bored very quickly, and that's not good!" With a variety of work experiences for several large organizations in North America under his belt, it's no surprise that as soon as he started in his new position, Philippe Sarfati had already come up with a game plan for the next three years and started to put in place a succession plan for his departure. "I'm in good health and I'm hungry for challenges. It's very exciting. I love building, transforming and improving." A team player, Philippe Sarfati gives a lot of credit to his colleagues, and puts a lot of trust in them. "I'm proud of many accomplishments, including certain changes we've already started to make. In just a few months, I've received support and approval for my vision of the work to be done. It's work that can't be done alone," he says, adding that the spirit of cooperation, professionalism and the level of skill is very important for the success of these projects. He holds two bachelor's degrees, one in economics and the other in business, as well as an MBA in finance and international business from the HEC business school in Montreal. Mr. Sarfati has always been passionate about risk management. "Making sure a company has control systems that ensure healthy performance for our shareholders and protect the company's creditors is fascinating!" Passion is also at the heart of his personal life - running, fitness, jazz and classical music and good wine are all part of his daily life. "I strongly believe in a healthy mind and a healthy body." His interest in wine even led him to achieve the Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 2 Award. With an analytical mind, incredible focus and a good dose of intuition, Philippe Sarfati is a reserved man with a great sense of humour. "I don't take myself too seriously, but I take what I do seriously," he says, "In my opinion, there always has to be a certain element of humour, interpersonal skills and a desire to connect with people." Whether it's at iA Financial Group or outside of work, Philippe Sarfati lives life to the fullest. "Some colleagues might say that I move too fast!" he says with a smile. Philippe Sarfati has been Executive Vice-President and Chief Risk Officer of iA Financial Group since September 2021. He has over 30 years of experience in risk management and has worked with major companies and a regulatory body in the financial sector. His experience includes the design and improvement of risk management frameworks for several large organizations in North America. Mr. Sarfati has also provided strategic leadership in several roles, managing teams with complex mandates. He has two bachelor degrees, in economics and commerce, and an MBA in finance and international commerce from the HEC Montréal business school.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Executive Committee
• Executive Vice - President, Chief Growth Officer Canadian Operations

Pierre Miron was named Executive Vice-President, Chief Growth Officer Canadian Operations in August 2023. Previously, he held the positions of Executive Vice-President and Chief Transformation Officer starting in August 2021 and Executive Vice-President, Information Technology starting in August 2018. Mr. Miron brings extensive experience to his latest mandate. He supervises all Canadian business segments, including Wealth Management; Individual Insurance, Savings and Retirement; Group Benefits and Retirement Solutions; Global Client Experience; Dealer Services; our subsidiaries in auto and home insurance; auto finance; and special projects. Pierre Miron is on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee for Finance Montréal as well as the board of Forces AVENIR. He is also a consultant supporting Sollio Cooperative Group's information technology committee and has supported various community organizations for many years, including FitSpirit and the United Way.

Job Titles:

• Senior Vice - President and General Manager of the Dragon Ambient

Rebecca Schechter is a Senior Vice-President and General Manager of the Dragon Ambient eXperience (DAX) at Nuance Communications Inc., a Microsoft Company, focused on transforming the provider-patient experience and improving total health outcomes. She holds a track record of profitably growing and transforming businesses in group benefits, retirement and healthcare. Prior to Nuance, Ms. Schechter was an executive at Optum, a leading information and technology-enabled health services business where she served as Chief Executive Officer of United Behavioral Health, during which time she drove transformation across coverage, care delivery and digital capabilities. Before that, she served as Executive Vice-President, Commercial Insurance and President of Liberty Mutual Benefits where she led a division focused on group, individual life & annuities and voluntary benefits. Before joining Liberty Mutual, Ms. Schechter worked for State Street Corporation as Senior Vice-President, Asset Servicing for corporations, nonprofits and mid-market employers. She also held executive roles as Chief Risk Officer, Asset Servicing and Senior Managing Director, Electronic Trading. Prior to State Street, she held leadership roles at Thomson Financial, as well as a consulting role at McKinsey. Ms. Schechter serves on a nonprofit board at Jumpstart. In addition, she is a member of the McGill University Desautels Global Experts Panel and of The Boston Club's Executive Advisory Committee. Ms. Schechter holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McGill University and a Master of Business Administration from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Executive Committee
• Executive Vice - President, Individual Insurance, Savings and Retirement

Renée Laflamme has been iA Financial Group's Executive Vice-President, Individual Insurance, Savings and Retirement since 2018. She is responsible for the Individual Insurance, Savings and Retirement growth strategy as well as all operations including distribution, underwriting, product development, marketing and administration. She also leads operations for PPI Management. Renée Laflamme's strategic vision and business sense, combined with her energy and experience, contribute to the growth of iA Financial Group and its positive impact on the community. Ms. Laflamme started her career at iA Financial Group in 1998. She has held various management positions, including Vice-President of Mortgages and Group Savings and Retirement. She serves on the Major Giving Committee for United Way Québec-Chaudière-Appalaches, more recently, as team leader. She also supports various other organizations, including the Programme Philanthropes Émergents Centraide (United Way Emerging Philanthropists Program) and the Quebec Cancer Foundation. Renée Laflamme has a bachelor's degree in administration from Université Laval and has obtained her Chartered Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst designations. In 2017, she was awarded the title of Fellow CPA.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Executive Committee
• Executive Vice - President, Group Benefits and Retirement Solutions

Sean O'Brien joined iA Wealth in May 2020, bringing to the firm a 25-year track record of building, leading and growing businesses. He has occupied the position of Executive Vice-President, Group Benefits and Retirement Solutions since January 1, 2023. He previously held a number of senior positions with iA Financial Group, most recently Executive Vice-President, Wealth Management. Before joining iA Financial Group, Mr. O'Brien was Chief Operating Officer of Ontario-based CTL Corp., the largest privately owned consumer vehicle financing company in Canada (acquired in 2015 by iA Financial Group). Prior to that, Mr. O'Brien spent over 15 years in progressively senior roles at a major Canadian financial institution. Sean O'Brien is a strong entrepreneur who has developed a true passion for growing businesses. His entrepreneurial passion is complemented by a pragmatic and disciplined approach to managing day-to-day operations, costs and capital allocation. He believes that you should run a business like you own it. His innate business acumen and vast experience make him a major player in Canada's financial industry. Mr. O'Brien is also on the board of the Cancer Research Society.

Job Titles:

• Executive Vice - President
• Member of the Executive Committee
• Executive Vice - President, Wealth Management
• IA Private Wealth As President and Chief Executive Officer

Stephan Bourbonnais has been the Executive Vice-President, Wealth Management since January 2023. In this role, he oversees the strategic growth plans of four dynamic subsidiaries: iA Clarington Investments, iA Private Wealth, Investia Financial Services and iA Capital Markets. A seasoned and proven leader with more than 25 years of financial sector experience, Stephan joined iA Private Wealth as President and Chief Executive Officer in February 2021. Prior to joining iA, Stephan was Senior Vice-President and Regional Director, Eastern Canada, at a large wealth management firm. In this role, he led all high-net-worth business lines, overseeing investment advisors, portfolio managers, private bankers and the wealth planning team across Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Stephan also served on the firm's national and management committees for Quebec and was Chair of its Inclusion and Diversity Committee in Quebec. Stephan has held senior executive positions at a number of major financial institutions. His extensive experience covers private banking, insurance, brokerage services, product and investment management and wealth planning. Stephan holds a bachelor's degree in international business from the State University of New York in Plattsburgh and an MBA from HEC Montreal. Since 2018, he has been a member of the Quebec Chapter of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (now the New Self-Regulatory Organization of Canada).

Job Titles:

• Member of the Executive Committee
• Executive Vice - President and Chief Talent and Culture Officer

Stéphanie Butt Thibodeau was named Executive Vice-President and Chief Talent and Culture Officer in May 2022, coming from a career at Export Development Canada (EDC). She has many years of experience in financial services and human resource management, as well as in business transformation and organizational agility. She is responsible for developing and executing of the company's human resources strategy and its alignment with the values, objectives and needs of the entire organization. Her mandate is to shape human resource transformation programs aimed at optimizing our workforce, technology and operational excellence in service delivery. Stéphanie Butt Thibodeau holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Finance and International Business from the University of Ottawa, certification from the Advanced Management Program at Columbia University in New York and the Chartered Financial Analyst designation from the CFA Institute. She is on the board of directors for the Ottawa Network for Borderline Personality Disorder, an organization that helps families living with this condition. An avid camper and hiker, she has a passion for travel, which has shaped her career and family life.

Job Titles:

• Corporate Director
• Member of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Corporate Directors

Suzanne Rancourt is a corporate director with more than 30 years of experience in consulting and management in finance and information technology. From 2006 to 2016, Ms. Rancourt was Vice-President Enterprise Risks and Internal Audit at CGI. Since her arrival at CGI in 1985, she held increasingly senior positions in consulting, strategy and information technology, business development, project management and corporate functions in a multinational environment. Prior to her arrival at CGI, Ms. Rancourt began her career as an auditor and worked in operations, finance and accounting in distribution, retail and financial industries. Ms. Rancourt is a member of the board of directors of the Institute of Corporate Directors (Quebec Chapter). Ms. Rancourt holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Université du Québec à Montréal and an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA).

Job Titles:

• Corporate Director
• Fellow of the Society of Actuaries

William F. Chinery is a corporate director. Until early 2013, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of BlackRock Asset Management Canada. During his 13 years with BlackRock and its predecessor, Barclays Global Investors, Mr. Chinery was a Managing Director in both the Toronto and San Francisco offices with various responsibilities including heading Latin America and the Americas Institutional Business. Prior to BlackRock, he spent 6 years as Senior Vice-President Quantitative Products at YMG Capital Management Inc. where he was responsible for managing Tactical Asset Allocation products for pension plans and mutual funds. He started his career at Mercer where he had account responsibility for some of the largest pension plans in Canada. He also started the Mercer Investment Consulting practice. Mr. Chinery was formerly on the Board of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and was the past Chair of their Investment Committee. He is also a Trustee and Chair of the Board of the Toronto Fire Department Superannuation and Benefit Fund. Finally, he is a member of the Investment Committee of GreenSky Capital Inc. Mr. Chinery is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries. He holds a B.Math. with honours from the University of Waterloo and has his ICD.D title from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Yvon Charest's successor is clearly ready to take on new challenges within the Canadian insurance and wealth management company. "The passing of the torch was skillfully planned. Yvon built a spectacular team to help me through this transition", confirms the man who has worked 33 years at iA Financial Group, his first and only employer. In fact, it was Yvon Charest who hired him when he graduated from Université Laval in 1985. At the time, the young and brilliant actuary - a lecturer at his alma mater from 1991 to 1993 - was also approached by iA Financial Group's competitors. Denis Ricard admits that ending up at iA Financial Group was a happy circumstance, thanks to an impromptu phone call to Yvon Charest, who was director of the Actuarial Department at the time. "I remember that I told him that he was late starting his annual university recruiting campaign, which expedited my hiring. Lucius Annaeus Seneca said ‘Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity'. Pure talent and hard work mean nothing if the planets do not align", he recognizes. He is clearly cultured. When he's not at work, Denis Ricard reads a lot… "and not just about work", he clarifies. A true nature-lover, he tries to spend as much of his free time outdoors - he knows Wapizagonke Lake, in La Mauricie National Park, like the back of his hand, being born and raised in the area. His lifestyle includes a healthy saxophone regimen, an instrument he studied at the music conservatory in Trois-Rivières, and running. "Running helps me de-stress. I solve a lot of problems when I'm training", explains the man who regularly competes in 10 km races. He believes that seeking balance is essential. "I don't send emails on weekends, and I don't expect to receive any. Doing so would be incompatible with the performance culture at iA Financial Group, where success is measured by the goals reached and not by how many hours one spends at work", he notes. This philosophy has allowed him to be there for his four children. "Time with my family has always been essential. Our children saw us [my spouse and I] work hard, but they never heard us complain." His transition to the head of iA Financial Group will be characterized by the emergence of digital strategies in the sale of insurance, a shift that, while well underway within the organization, will continue in the years to come . "We will go from service automation to the anticipation of needs in this sector. Those who gain a foothold are those will be able to predict what clients want", he believes. "One thing is certain, we will continue to put our clients first. We have to find clients where they are and where they will be more and more, that means online. This is a challenge I'm looking forward to taking on."

Job Titles:

• Member of the Executive Committee
• Executive Vice - President, CFO and Chief Actuary
• IA Financial Group 's Executive Vice - President, CFO and Chief

Éric Jobin has been iA Financial Group's Executive Vice-President, CFO and Chief Actuary since August 2023. Previously, he held the position of Executive Vice-President, Operational Efficiency. He continues to oversee Operational Efficiency in his new role as well. Mr. Jobin began his career at iA Financial Group in 1999 in Corporate Actuarial Services. Thereafter, he took on many challenges which led him to the role of Vice-President, Corporate Actuarial Services in 2015 and then Vice-President, Actuarial and Finance, Group Benefits and Retirement Solutions in 2017, and Executive Vice-President, Group Benefits and Retirement Solutions in 2020. He also served as president of the iA Financial Group Employee Pension Committee. Éric Jobin has a degree in actuarial science from Université Laval and has FSA and FCIA designations. He also has a certificate in leadership and management skills from Concordia University.