New leadership appointments that strengthen BDC’s impact on Canadian SMEs and the economy
Montreal, April 24, 2024 – Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO of the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), Canada’s bank for entrepreneurs, is pleased to announce the appointment of Diane Lafontaine as Chief Corporate Strategy and Stakeholder Engagement Officer, as well as the appointment of Geneviève Bouthillier as Senior Vice President, Growth and Impact Investments.
Bringing more than 25 years of experience in different leadership roles, half of which were spent in the financial sector, Diane Lafontaine leads BDC’s corporate strategy and stakeholder engagement since April 15. She comes to BDC from Fonds de solidarité FTQ, where she was a member of the Executive Committee and held the position of Vice President, Communications and Marketing. During this tenure, Diane had a varied portfolio of responsibilities that included market positioning strategy, stakeholder relations including government, media, and shareholders, and she also led the organization's Strategic Steering Committee.
At BDC, Diane's mandate will be to increase the reach and relevance of BDC, not only among entrepreneurs, but also within the ecosystem and as part of its complementary role. To achieve this objective, she will be called upon to leverage her great mobilization skills to position BDC as an essential partner for all stakeholders, including partners, different levels of government, and the public.
Geneviève Bouthillier has led BDC Capital's direct investment teams since March 25, which focus on growth and impact investments. She brings more than 20 years of experience in the field of finance, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate financing, joining BDC Capital from her most recent tenure as Vice-President, Medium Private Enterprises at the Caisse de dépôt et placement of Quebec. A passionate leader and strategist, she now leads a portfolio of importance to the competitiveness of the Canadian economy.
Quotes
“Geneviève and Diane are two recognized and committed leaders, who share our ambitions to do more and better for small business owners., and I am thrilled to welcome them to our team. Their collaborative approach, combined with a common passion for results, bring exciting momentum to BDC’s efforts to play an even more significant role for SMEs and the country's economy.”
Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO, BDC
“Working in partnership to help more business owners is a cornerstone of BDC’s strategy. I look forward to working more closely with our partners from all backgrounds, building ever stronger collaborations and uniting our efforts behind the cause of entrepreneurial success.”
Diane Lafontaine, Chief Corporate Strategy and Stakeholder Engagement Officer
“I am thrilled to be joining a world-class team to support business growth from coast to coast. I thank Isabelle for her confidence and look forward to innovating with my colleagues at BDC Capital to help Canadian entrepreneurs grow.”
Geneviève Bouthillier, Senior Vice President, Growth and Impact Investments
About BDC
As Canada’s bank for entrepreneurs, BDC is a partner of choice for all entrepreneurs looking to access the financing and advice they need to build their businesses and tackle the big challenges of our time. Our investment arm, BDC Capital, offers a wide range of risk capital solutions to help grow the country’s most innovative firms. We are one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers and Canada’s Best Diversity Employers. For more information on BDC’s products and services and to consult free tools, templates and articles, visit bdc.ca or join BDC on social media.
—30—