Hélène Desmarais is an important and influential figure in the Canadian business community. For decades, she has led major Canadian institutions as well as several public and private companies in the industrial sector, either as Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer. Mrs. Desmarais is the founder and Co-Chairman of SCALE AI, which accelerates the integration of AI across business sectors. It is funded by the Canadian federal government under the Canadian Supercluster Program.
She founded and oversaw the rapid growth of IVADO Labs as Chairman and co-CEO now positioned as a leader in its field in North America. This commercialization lab for supply chain AI research develops customized AI solutions that help large companies compete on a global scale.
Her passion for supporting startups is highlighted by her involvement as President of Next AI and CDL AI in Montreal, two of Canada’s leading AI entrepreneurship development programs. She was also founder Chairman and CEO of CEIM for more than 25 years the largest technology incubators in Canada.
She serves on the Board of LVMH parent company DIOR SE and its Audit committee, and also presides its Renumeration and Compensation committee. She also serves on the Board of Garda World and in its Audit and Governance committees. Mrs. Desmarais has been Chairman of HEC Montreal for the last twenty years. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the C.D. Howe Institute.
Mrs. Desmarais holds honorary doctorates from Polytechnique Montreal, St. Francis Xavier, Lumière Lyon 2 and McMaster universities. She has been awarded the Medal of Honor from the Faculty of Medicine and the Order of Merit from the University of Montreal, in addition to being a member of the Order of Canada, an Officer of the National Order of Quebec and a Commander of the Order of Montreal. She is the recipient of the Legion d Honneur in France.