The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec has named Claude Bergeron as executive vice president, legal affairs, and secretariat, the Quebec pension manager said Friday.

His appointment follows the announced retirement of Suzanne Masson, executive vice president, corporate affairs, and secretary.

“Claude Bergeron is a talented and experienced lawyer who will undoubtedly rise to this new challenge. I am delighted by the peer recognition he received when he was recently named Canadian general counsel of the year. Mr. Bergeron is a person of great value who is highly respected within the Caisse, and he has carried out many highly complex assignments,” says Michael Sabia, president and CEO of the Caisse.

Bergeron was previously senior vice president and general counsel of the Caisse.

The Caisse also announced the appointment of Véronique Mercier to the position of vice president, Communications. Mercier will report directly to the Sabia. She will manage the Caisse’s public affairs and communications.

Mercier has spent her career in the public sector. She was office manager and press secretary to Quebec’s finance minister and press secretary to the Premier of New Brunswick. Mercier was also responsible for communications at Service New Brunswick.

The changes will take effect at the end of June.

The Caisse manages funds primarily for public and private pension and insurance plans. As at Dec. 31, 2008, it held $120.1 billion of net assets.

IE