Leadership

Olivier Desmarais

Olivier Desmarais

Senior Vice-President

Mr. Desmarais has been Senior Vice-President of Power Corporation since 2017. He is also the driving force behind Power Sustainable, an alternative asset management company focused on responsible growth, as Chairman and CEO.

Building upon his experience at Power Energy Corporation, where he led the Company's transformation in 2019, the business, now known as Power Sustainable, has grown rapidly through a climate first approach focused on creating long-term value. Indeed, this investment philosophy delivers market or better returns beyond the energy sector.

In addition to these roles, Mr. Desmarais chairs the Canada China Business Council (CCBC) and sits on the Canada Institute Advisory Board of the Wilson Center and the Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council (ABLAC). He sat on the boards of directors of Canada Life, of IG Wealth Management, of Mackenzie and of LMPG until 2023.

Mr. Desmarais is also deeply invested in his community and actively engages in philanthropic activities. As a founding member of McGill University's Sustainable Growth Institute through Power Sustainable, he brings together academics, students, industry, and policy leaders to develop practical solutions for businesses transitioning to a sustainable economy. Furthermore, he supports the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation and initiatives by the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Arts.

Mr. Desmarais holds a Bachelor of Civil Law from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Political Science from McGill University. A member of the Québec Bar since 2009, he also sits on the University of Ottawa’s Advisory Board of the Civil Law Section.