Executive Committee

Career

Denis Ricard has been President and Chief Executive Officer of iA Financial Group since September 2018. He is an engaged leader who values the development of people in a learning, socially responsible organization.

He is responsible for strategic planning and ensuring the company’s sustainable growth, taking into account the interests of shareholders, clients, employees and the communities in which the company operates. He is recognized as an experienced team builder, passionate about new challenges and dedicated to iA Financial Group’s long-term goals.

Mr. Ricard began his career at iA Financial Group in 1985, after completing his degree in actuarial science at Université Laval. Over the years, he has assumed positions of increasing responsibility, from actuarial to business development to corporate management. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) and of the Society of Actuaries (FSA).

Denis Ricard has been actively involved in the community for many years. He currently serves on the campaign cabinet of Fondation CERVO, which supports care for mental health issues and research in neuroscience. He is also a member of the campaign cabinet for the Fondation IUCPQ whose primary mission is the health of people with cardiovascular, respiratory and obesity-related diseases. He also serves as honourary chair for various charitable events and campaigns, including the Musée des sciences and the Musée de la civilisation Foundation in Québec City.

Career

Alain Bergeron has been iA Financial Group’s Executive Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer since September 2019. As such, he is responsible for managing the company’s investment portfolio. His responsibilities include managing and supervising the assets in the general fund and the investment funds.

Alain is known as a high integrity investor with a passion and track-record for delivering best-in-class portfolios and high performing investment teams. He brings a rare combination of experience in institutional investments and pension plans, together with experience and understanding of retail wealth needs that help iA and its clients achieve their financial goals.

Before he came to iA Financial Group, Mr. Bergeron was Senior Vice-President and Portfolio Manager at a leading asset manager. Previously, he worked for over ten years for CPP Investments (the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board), where he served as Vice-President and head of Global Tactical Asset Allocation.  Alain Bergeron graduated from HEC Montréal, where he received a Master of Sciences (M.Sc.) in financial engineering and a bachelor’s degree in finance and quantitative methods. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Market Technician (CMT).

Alain Bergeron has been involved in the financial community for many years, including serving on the Board of Directors for CFA Toronto and teaching at both HEC Montréal and the Rotman School of Management.  He has also been published in academic journals including the Journal of Portfolio Management and the Journal of Alternative Investments.  

Career

François Blais has been our Executive Vice-President, Dealer Services and Special Risks since May 2020. Mr. Blais has been working at iA Financial Group since May 2004.

He has held several positions at iA Auto and Home, including President and Chief Operating Officer. Recognized for his ability to combine creativity and rationality, he stands out as a leader with his inspiring ideas that venture off the beaten track and drive his team to reinvent itself. Bringing people together towards a common goal is one of his passions that he applies in his everyday professional life, both in the insurance and financial services industry and in his community involvement.

Mr. Blais received a bachelor’s degree in actuarial science from Université Laval in 2004. He also became a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society in 2007 and of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries in 2009. Mr. Blais has supported the Canadian Red Cross for many years.

Career

Stéphanie Butt Thibodeau was named Executive Vice-President and Chief Talent and Culture Officer in May 2022, coming from a career at Export Development Canada (EDC). She has many years of experience in financial services and human resource management, as well as in business transformation and organizational agility.

She is responsible for developing and executing of the company’s human resources strategy and its alignment with the values, objectives and needs of the entire organization. Her mandate is to shape human resource transformation programs aimed at optimizing our workforce, technology and operational excellence in service delivery.

Stéphanie Butt Thibodeau holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Finance and International Business from the University of Ottawa, certification from the Advanced Management Program at Columbia University in New York and the Chartered Financial Analyst designation from the CFA Institute.

She is on the board of directors for the Ottawa Network for Borderline Personality Disorder, an organization that helps families living with this condition. An avid camper and hiker, she has a passion for travel, which has shaped her career and family life.

Career

Éric Jobin has been the Executive Vice-President, Group Benefits and Retirement Solutions since July 2020.

Mr. Jobin began his career at iA Financial Group in 1999 in Corporate Actuarial Services. Thereafter, he held took on many challenges which led him to take on the role of Vice-President, Corporate Actuarial Services in 2015 and then Vice-President, Actuarial and Finance, Group Benefits and Retirement Solutions in 2017. He also served as president of the iA Financial Group Employee Pension Committee.

Éric Jobin has a degree in actuarial science from Université Laval and has FSA and FCIA designations. He also has a certificate in leadership and management skills from Concordia University.

Career

Renée Laflamme has been iA Financial Group’s Executive Vice-President, Individual Insurance, Savings and Retirement since 2018. She is responsible for the Individual Insurance, Savings and Retirement growth strategy as well as all operations including distribution, underwriting, product development, marketing and administration.  She also leads operations for PPI Management.

Renée Laflamme’s strategic vision and business sense, combined with her energy and experience, contribute to the growth of iA Financial Group and its positive impact on the community.

Ms. Laflamme started her career at iA Financial Group in 1998. She has held various management positions, including Vice-President of Mortgages and Group Savings and Retirement. She serves on the Major Giving Committee for United Way Québec-Chaudière-Appalaches, more recently, as team leader. She also supports various other organizations, including the Programme Philanthropes Émergents Centraide (United Way Emerging Philanthropists Program) and the Quebec Cancer Foundation.

Renée Laflamme has a bachelor’s degree in administration from Université Laval and has obtained her Chartered Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst designations. In 2017, she was awarded the title of Fellow CPA.

Career

Pierre Miron was appointed as Executive Vice-President and Chief Transformation Officer in August 2021. Previously, he had been Executive Vice-President, Information Technology since August 2018.

Mr. Miron is responsible for managing and steering the Transformation Bureau, which is tasked with simplifying and improving the organization’s efficiency. This transformation includes clarifying and architecting the roles and mandates of the various sectors in line with the company's digital transformation objectives. All activities related to information technology, client experience and employee experience are under his responsibility.

His contribution to the development and evolution of iA Financial Group includes improving the efficiency of various business lines through the appropriate use of technology and process optimization. He also supports business growth objectives, operational efficiency and personnel development and evolution.

Pierre Miron is on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee for Finance Montréal as well as the board of Forces AVENIR. He is also a consultant supporting Sollio Cooperative Group's information technology committee and has supported various community organizations for many years, including FitSpirit and the United Way.

Career

Sean O’Brien joined iA Wealth in May 2020, bringing to the firm a 25-year track record of building, leading and growing businesses. He previously held a number of senior positions with iA Financial Group, most recently Executive Vice-President, Dealer Services and Special Risks.

Before joining iA Financial Group, Mr. O’Brien was Chief Operating Officer of Ontario-based CTL Corp., the largest privately owned consumer vehicle financing company in Canada (acquired in 2015 by iA Financial Group). Prior to that, Mr. O’Brien spent over 15 years in progressively senior roles at a major Canadian financial institution.

Sean O'Brien is a strong entrepreneur who has developed a true passion for growing businesses. His entrepreneurial passion is complemented by a pragmatic and disciplined approach to managing day-to-day operations, costs and capital allocation. He believes that you should run a business like you own it. His innate business acumen and vast experience make him a major player in Canada’s financial industry. Mr. O’Brien is also on the board of the Cancer Research Society.

Career

Jacques Potvin has been iA Financial Group’s Executive Vice-President, CFO and Chief Actuary since February 2018. He is responsible for ensuring the company’s sound financial management and long-term financial sustainability. He is also responsible for corporate fundraising activities.

Mr. Potvin leads the Actuarial, Accounting and Taxation, Investor Relations and Public Affairs, Legal Services and Material Resources sectors.

Jacques Potvin has a degree in actuarial science from Université Laval and has FSA and FCIA designations. He started his career at iA Financial Group in 1990. He has held various senior positions in the organization, including Chief Risk Officer; Vice-President, Marketing, Life and Individual Annuity; and Vice-President, Brokerage Sales, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. These various roles, both in operations and support, have given him an in-depth knowledge of the entire Group.

Career

Philippe Sarfati has been Executive Vice-President and Chief Risk Officer of iA Financial Group since September 2021. He has over 30 years of experience in risk management and has worked with major companies and a regulatory body in the financial sector.

His experience includes the design and improvement of risk management frameworks for several large organizations in North America. Mr. Sarfati has also provided strategic leadership in several roles, managing teams with complex mandates.

He has two bachelor degrees, in economics and commerce, and an MBA in finance and international commerce from the HEC Montréal business school.

Career

Lilia Sham has served as Executive Vice-President, Corporate Strategy and Development since 2019. She previously held senior positions with other financial organizations in Canada and the United States. Ms. Sham has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions in North America, Latin America and Asia.

In addition to formalizing the company’s strategic planning process and leading the development of the strategy, Lilia Sham is responsible for communicating it across the organization to ensure transparency and accountability as well as alignment with the company’s standards and objectives. She is also responsible for leading the Diversity and Inclusion initiative, which aims to build a team at iA Financial Group that is as diverse as the people and communities the company serves across North America.

Ms. Sham holds a Master of Science degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey and is a member of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA).

Career

Michael L. Stickney has served as Executive Vice-President and Chief Growth Officer since September 2019. He oversees growth initiatives for all of the company's business segments, both in Canada and the United States. He is also responsible for the U.S. operations.

Mr. Stickney has a strong track record in building successful businesses and benefits from a deep knowledge of the company’s businesses and many years of industry experience.

Mr. Stickney started his career in the insurance industry in 1976 and held various insurance-related positions. He joined iA Financial Group in 1999 when the company completed its acquisition of Seaboard Life. Prior to assuming responsibility for the U.S. operations, he led the Dealer Services and Special Markets Solutions divisions. Mr. Stickney has been involved in the developing of businesses and making a significant contribution to results. The U.S. operations, for example, have experienced strong growth organically and through acquisitions under his leadership.

Michael L. Stickney holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and an MBA from the University of British Columbia. He is also a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.