Bio: Born in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada in 1954, Mr. Paul Desmarais, Jr. studied at McGill University where he obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree. He then graduated from the European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD) in Fontainebleau, France with a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA).
In 1984, Mr. Desmarais was appointed Vice-President of Power Financial Corporation, a company he helped establish and of which he was named Chairman of the Board in 1990. He was appointed Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Power Corporation of Canada in 1996.
Paul Desmarais, Jr. is a member of the Board of Directors of several companies in Canada, the United States and Europe, including Power Corporation of Canada, Power Financial, Investors Group, Great-West, London Life, Canada Life, Gesca Ltd., Parsega Holding S.A. (Switzerland), Groupe Bruxelles Lambert S.A. (Belgium) and Suez and Total S.A. (France). He is Vice-Chairman of the Board and member of the Strategic Committee of Imerys and Chairman of the Advisory Board of SAGARD Private Equity Partners in France.
Mr. Desmarais is a member of the Board of Directors of INSEAD and a member of the INSEAD’s International Council. In Canada, Mr. Desmarais is Chairman of the HEC’s (Hautes Études Commerciales) International Council. He is also founder and member of the McGill University Faculty of Management International Advisory Board.
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Paul Desmarais, Jr. is an Honorary Fellow of the Academy of International Business as the recipient of the 2005 AIB Fellows International Executive of the Year Award.
Last Updated: June 2005