Desjardins Group has placed insurance at the core of its latest leadership changes, naming Chantal Gagné as executive vice-president of life and health insurance, while reaffirming Valérie Lavoie in her role as executive vice-president of property and casualty insurance.
The moves come as Denis Dubois prepares to take office as president and chief executive on September 2.
Gagné, who has been with Desjardins for 18 years, began her career in property and casualty insurance before working in actuarial services, underwriting and claims. Over the past five years, she has played a central role in transforming the group’s life and health insurance division, positioning it to meet changing member and client needs.
Meanwhile, Lavoie continues to oversee property and casualty operations, maintaining continuity in a core business line where Desjardins is a market leader. Together, the appointments highlight the central role of insurance in the group’s growth strategy as it enters a new phase under Dubois’s leadership.
Beyond insurance, the management committee will see Daniel Grossi named executive vice-president of information technology, building on his work as chief technology, operations and enterprise architecture officer, and Sébastien Vallée appointed executive vice-president of wealth management, following 15 years in investment and advisory roles at Desjardins.
In total, three new members are joining the management committee, which will comprise 12 executives from September. They will work alongside leaders across operations, risk, finance, business services, and client experience.
The reshuffle also marks the departure of two senior figures: Réal Bellemare, senior executive vice-president and chief operating officer, and Isabelle Garon, executive vice-president of marketing, communications, cooperation and the President's Office.
The changes align with Desjardins’s governance structure, which since March 2024 has separated the roles of board chair and CEO. Louis Babineau, appointed in May, serves as Chair of the Board of Directors.
As North America’s largest cooperative financial institution, Desjardins said it is sharpening its focus on insurance as a driver of sustainable growth while balancing its broader financial services offering.
