Jean-Guy Desjardins, chairman and CEO of Montreal-based Fiera Capital Corp. was appointed to the Order of Canada last month.

Desjardins was honoured for his contributions to the financial sector as a portfolio management entrepreneur.

Desjardins began his career as a financial analyst and portfolio manager. He co-founded TAL Global Asset Management and was its principal shareholder until it was purchased by a financial institution.

In 2003, he acquired 70% of Elantis Investment Management’s assets under management and recruited most of its key professionals to create Fiera Capital (TSX:FZS). Making more than ten acquisitions in a decade and growing from a team of 50 to more than 400 today, Fiera Capital now boasts close to $85 billion in assets under management.

Desjardins sits on the Board of Directors of the Société de services financiers Fonds FMOQ Inc., HEC Montréal, DJM Capital Inc., Centria Inc., and Fiera Axium Infrastructure Inc., and he also serves as chairman of Fiera Properties Limited. He sat on the Bank of Canada’s board of directors for five years, and was elected lead director in 2007.

Desjardins is a member of the Council of Governors of Centraide of Greater Montreal, the Investment Committee of the Canadian Centre for Architecture, and the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.

He graduated from Collège Mont-Saint-Louis in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in arts. In 1969, he earned his L.Sc. Comm. (Finance) from the École des Hautes Études commerciales – Université de Montréal. Mr. Desjardins is a CFA Charterholder.

The Order of Canada was established in 1967 to recognize outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.