IA FINANCIAL GROUP - 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 and CEO of iA Clarington.
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 for 22 years, 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."
Alain Bergeron - Chief Investment Officer, EVP
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.
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.
Caroline has a Bachelor's of Business Administration with a focus on human resources. She began her career in human resources at a computer company but she wanted more career advancement opportunities. That's why she joined iA Financial Group six years ago. Currently a recruiting advisor, she enjoys working on different types of innovative projects, like the HR system integration project. She also enjoys helping our managers find the best talent on the market.
Job Titles:
- Employee Experience Advisor
Holder of an MBA in management and member of the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés, Catherine has been at iA Financial Group since 2010. She's had various roles within the Human Resources team and is currently a senior global health advisor. Her career path has given her an understanding of the company's culture and practices, and keeps her abreast of market trends. Catherine is convinced that employees' overall health is a major contributor to their appreciation of their work at iA Financial Group. With health-related services, resources and initiatives, she wants to make a tangible contribution to employees' personal and professional wellbeing.
After working for around 10 years in donations and sponsorships, Catherine joined iA Financial Group in 2016. Since 2018, moved by her desire to make a difference in people's lives, she has worked as a philanthropy advisor. Her role involves developing the various facets of our community engagement across Canada. She happily welcomes the philanthropic initiatives of our employees and the general public, and when they are in line with our donations policy, she ensures they receive not just financial support, but also concrete, mobilizing assistance to ensure their long-term success. Her ultimate mission: for all of us to take joint action for our communities.
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:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President
- CEO and Philosopher
- Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries
- 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
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:
- Claim Adjuster - Auto and Home Insurance
Fanny has been with iA Financial Group for almost ten years. For the first three years of her career in insurance, she was a general insurance agent. She then became a claim adjuster and switched to the compensation side of the business. Her strong desire to help people led her to become a training officer. Today, Fanny is a reference for iA Financial Group claim adjusters and she stands out through her involvement in and passion for her field.
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:
- Corporate Director
- Member of the Board of Directors of RGA Life Reinsurance Company of Canada
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.
Job Titles:
- CFO
- Chief
- Executive Vice - President
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Executive Vice - President, CFO and Chief Actuary
Jacques Potvin is an unassuming team player whose conscientious efforts ensure the strength and prosperity of iA Financial Group.
If the senior managers of iA Financial Group were a hockey team, Jacques Potvin would definitely play defense. "An offensive defenseman!", insists the Executive Vice-President, CFO and Chief Actuary. "I'm not the guy to put it in the net, even if I can. Instead, I'm there to support the attack, restart the play and go the extra mile", illustrates the guard dog of the Canadian insurance and wealth management company's financial strength.
Jacques Potvin oversees Actuarial Services, Accounting Services and Taxation, Investor Relations, Legal Services and Material Resources. In short, he has many responsibilities. Despite everything, he doesn't feel the pressure to perform. "My trick is to enjoy my work. I'm convinced that you can be serious while having fun, even if it seems contradictory", he explains. In his spare time, this fun-loving man enjoys fishing, gardening, and cooking.
During his journey at iA Financial Group, he has worn many hats and occupied many positions. For example, in 1994, he moved from Actuarial Services to IT, where he recalls being "left behind on the very first day". He immediately learned to swallow his pride and leave his comfort zone to the benefit of the Group's insureds and investors. "It's like they're my family: there's no doubt that I want to treat them well", he concludes.
Jacques Potvin has been iA Financial Group's Executive Vice-President, CFO and Chief Actuary since February 2018. He is responsible for ensuring the company's sound financial management and long-term financial sustainability. He is also responsible for corporate fundraising activities.
Mr. Potvin leads the Actuarial, Accounting and Taxation, Investor Relations and Public Affairs, Legal Services and Material Resources sectors.
Jacques Potvin has a degree in actuarial science from Université Laval and has FSA and FCIA designations. He started his career at iA Financial Group in 1990. He has held various senior positions in the organization, including Chief Risk Officer; Vice-President, Marketing, Life and Individual Annuity; and Vice-President, Brokerage Sales, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. These various roles, both in operations and support, have given him an in-depth knowledge of the entire Group.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice - President
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Development
- the Dedicated Architect
As soon as she joined iA Financial Group, Lilia Sham was dedicated to being a part of the success of the company and to creating a work environment that promotes the wellbeing of her colleagues.
As far back as she can remember, Lilia has always strived to work with people in an open, collaborative and stimulating environment. She finds exactly that at iA Financial Group.
After many years of working in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) on different continents, including North and South America, Europe and Asia, she applied her knowledge and experience in a different way - by teaching an MBA course on M&A. "What I really enjoyed about teaching was that I got to learn about other industries from my students. There were brilliant professionals who wanted to apply what they learned in my class in their respective fields. I also had international students who shared different perspectives about the business environment in their home countries. In other words, it was very much a two-way learning process." After this experience, she started a new chapter of her professional life at iA Financial Group in May 2019.
She is inspired by the idea of continuing on her path in an organization that cares and offers all of its employees new and challenging opportunities. She rapidly embraced her role as Executive Vice-President of Strategy and Corporate Development. She is first and foremost the architect of business acquisitions, responsible for transactions across North America worth hundreds of millions of dollars. She is also highly recognized as someone who is social, loyal and transparent and she thrives on being at the heart of the action and tackling new challenges. Lilia is passionate about giving the very best she has to offer, day after day.
Lilia Sham has served as Executive Vice-President, Corporate Strategy and Development since 2019. She previously held senior positions with other financial organizations in Canada and the United States. Ms. Sham has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions in North America, Latin America and Asia.
In addition to formalizing the company's strategic planning process and leading the development of the strategy, Lilia Sham is responsible for communicating it across the organization to ensure transparency and accountability as well as alignment with the company's standards and objectives. She is also responsible for leading the Diversity and Inclusion initiative, which aims to build a team at iA Financial Group that is as diverse as the people and communities the company serves across North America.
Ms. Sham holds a Master of Science degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey and is a member of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA).
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:
- Skills Development Advisor - IA Auto and Home
Louise has worked at iA Auto and Home for 12 years. She started her career in insurance as a general insurance agent, and has grown by working in a variety of roles within the company. Her career path, which has included positions in sales, customer service and management, along with her education in communications have made her an ideal candidate to become a skills development advisor. For the past four years, Louise has been putting in place strategies to ensure that general insurance agents are developing the skills they need.
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:
- Employee Experience Advisor
Léa studied industrial relations and began her career at an employment agency. Wanting to immerse herself in a company culture, she came to iA Financial Group, where, after working as a recruiting advisor for 6 years, she's now dedicating herself to the employee experience, as an advisor. Currently responsible for several projects related to improving the employee experience, she loves collaborating with our managers and is always looking for that "WOW" factor. Her goal is to help all the company's employees across North America embody the company's values and have an ideal work experience.
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:
- Talent Acquisition and Internal Mobility Advisor
Marie-Eve holds a bachelor's degree in industrial relations and started her career as a student recruiter at the Université Laval campus in Quebec City. Human resources management has always been at the heart of her career path, which has taken her from events planning to team management to staffing agencies, and finally on to iA Financial Group.
Currently a talent acquisition and internal mobility advisor, she loves working on varied and innovative projects. Her mission? To help iA Financial Group managers fully develop their team's current and future talents.
Job Titles:
- Chief Growth Officer
- Executive Vice - President
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Team Leader
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 and Chief Growth Officer since September 2019. He oversees growth initiatives for all of the company's business segments, both in Canada and the United States. He is also responsible for the U.S. operations.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 66 years old, 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 and Chief Transformation Officer
For 12 years, Mr. Miron has been involved with a foundation that supports a cause that was still taboo. "I wasn't looking for a popular cause", he states. "I'm a rather discreet person. What I wanted was to make a difference."
Pierre Miron was appointed as Executive Vice-President and Chief Transformation Officer in August 2021. Previously, he had been Executive Vice-President, Information Technology since August 2018.
Mr. Miron is responsible for managing and steering the Transformation Bureau, which is tasked with simplifying and improving the organization's efficiency. This transformation includes clarifying and architecting the roles and mandates of the various sectors in line with the company's digital transformation objectives. All activities related to information technology, client experience and employee experience are under his responsibility.
His contribution to the development and evolution of iA Financial Group includes improving the efficiency of various business lines through the appropriate use of technology and process optimization. He also supports business growth objectives, operational efficiency and personnel development and evolution.
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:
- Chief Strategist and Senior Economist
Sébastien Mc Mahon joined the iA Financial Group economy team in January 2013. Throughout his career, Mr. Mc Mahon has held a variety of positions in leading financial institutions, including the Quebec Ministry of Finance and the Autorité des marchés financiers. Today, as a senior portfolio manager and senior economist, he manages assets of over 7 billion dollars.
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.
Job Titles:
- Sustainable Development Specialist
- Writer With the IA Financial Group Digital Experience
Yanick has been a writer with the iA Financial Group Digital Experience and Brand Management Department since 2000. Since 2005, his interest in sustainable development has grown, leading him to take on more defined mandates and complete training in this area. As a member of the iA Sustainable Development Committee, he represents the company at various workshops and conferences. He is passionate about suggesting environmental, social and governance initiatives to our employees and to members of the public that every individual or every organization can undertake to protect, cleanse and improve our environment.
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, who are now between 26 and 33. "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:
- Executive Vice - President
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Executive Vice - President, Operational Efficiency
Éric Jobin has been the Executive Vice-President, Operational Efficiency since January 1, 2023.
Mr. Jobin began his career at iA Financial Group in 1999 in Corporate Actuarial Services. Thereafter, he held took on many challenges which led him to take on 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.