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Paul Desmarais III – Senior Vice-President of Power Corporation of Canada
Paul Desmarais III serves as Senior Vice-President at Power Corporation of Canada. He is also the Chairman and CEO of Sagard, an alternative asset management firm active in venture capital, private equity, private credit, real estate, healthcare royalties, and private wealth. Within the Sagard ecosystem, Paul is the Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Portage Ventures and the Chairman and Co-Founder of Diagram.
📊 The CEO of Power Corporation of Canada, R. Jeffrey Orr, makes approximately C$14.7 million per year.
📊 Company Overview: Power Corporation of Canada
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Ticker | POW.TO (TSX) |
| Sector | Financial Services |
| Industry | Insurance, Wealth Management, Asset Management |
| Market Cap | C$33.96 B (as of July 2025) |
| Headquarters | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Employees | ~30,000 (2025) |
| Founded | 1925 |
| Key Subsidiaries | Great-West Lifeco, IGM Financial, Sagard |
Power Corporation of Canada is a diversified international management and holding company with interests in financial services, including insurance, retirement, wealth management, and investment management. The company operates primarily in North America, Europe, and Asia.
👤 Executive Profile: Paul Desmarais III
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Nationality: Canadian
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Education: Bachelor of Science in Economics from Harvard College; MBA from INSEAD
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Career Highlights:
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Senior Vice-President at Power Corporation of Canada since 2017
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Chairman and CEO of Sagard
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Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Portage Ventures
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Chairman and Co-Founder of Diagram
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Board member of Great-West Lifeco, IGM Financial, Pargesa, Groupe Bruxelles Lambert, and Imerys
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💰 CEO Compensation
| Component | Value (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Base Salary | C$5 million |
| Bonuses & Stock Awards | C$9.7 million |
| Total Compensation | C$14.7 million |
Note: Total compensation includes base salary, bonuses, stock awards, and other incentives.
🏆 Strategic Priorities Under Desmarais III
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Fintech Investments: Through Sagard and Portage Ventures, Desmarais III focuses on investing in innovative financial technology companies to modernize financial services.
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Alternative Asset Management: Expanding Sagard's presence in private equity, private credit, and real estate to diversify investment portfolios.
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Global Expansion: Aiming to grow Power Corporation's footprint in international markets through strategic partnerships and acquisitions.
🧭 Notable Achievements
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Leadership in Fintech: Instrumental in establishing Portage Ventures and Diagram, fostering innovation in the financial sector.
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Strategic Acquisitions: Led Sagard's acquisition of EverWest, enhancing its real estate investment capabilities.
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Board Contributions: Active board member in multiple subsidiaries, influencing strategic decisions across the corporation.
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Qayyum Rajan, CFA
Qayyum is the CEO of Wealth Awesome, a leading Canadian personal finance publication. As a CFA charterholder with extensive experience in fintech, data science, and quantitative finance, he brings a unique analytical perspective to investing and wealth management.
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