Jean-Guy Desjardins, chairman of the board and CEO of Fiera Capital Corp. (TSX: FSZ), has been honored with the Award for Professional Excellence, the highest and most prestigious distinction bestowed by the CFA Institute.

He joins past winners Warren Buffett, John Bogle, Sir John Marks Templeton, Peter Bernstein and only nine others to win the award in the past 24 years.

“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from the CFA Institute, and to join such a remarkable group of recipients,” said Desjardins. “The credit goes above all to my team, whose hard work and innovation make Fiera Capital an investment leader and a benchmark in the asset management industry,” Desjardins said.

Desjardins, who has held the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation since 1990, is receiving this distinction thanks to the lasting mark he has made and continues to make for the investment profession. He is the first Quebecer and the second Canadian to be selected for this prestigious award.

Desjardins began his career as a financial analyst and portfolio manager. He co-founded TAL Global Asset Management in Montreal in 1972 and was its principal shareholder until it was purchased by a leading global financial institution in 2001. In 2003, he acquired 70% of Elantis Investment Management’s assets under management and recruited most of its key professionals to create Fiera Capital.

Desjardins sat on the Bank of Canada’s board of directors from 2003 to 2008, including as lead director. He also acted as chairman of the special committee for the recruitment of the previous Governor of the Bank of Canada, Mark Carney, who is now Governor of the Bank of England.

Following over 10 acquisitions in 10 years, from a team of 50 to more than 450, today Fiera Capital is a leading Canadian independent portfolio manager boasting $91 billion in assets under management.

Desjardins will receive the Award for Professional Excellence at a CFA Society Montreal event on June 11, 2015.

CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials.