Monique Jérôme-Forget, Quebec’s minister of finance, announced Thursday that Robert Tessier is the new chairman of the board for the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.

His appointment as chairman of the Caisse takes effect immediately.

Tessier has served under several Quebec governments as a senior civil servant in the public sector, in particular as secretary of the Conseil du trésor and deputy minister in the ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles.

He has also been chairman of Groupe MIL, Alstom Canada and Gaz Métro. And he has served on the boards of AXA Canada and CGI Group.

Jérôme-Forget said Tessier will instil considerable rigour in the Caisse’s governance. His first task will be to make future recommendations to the government concerning the choice of the next president and CEO of the Caisse and the composition of the
board. “Our government is working actively to ensure stability at the Caisse,” she said.

The Caisse has come under fire for losing nearly $40 billion in 2008.

“On behalf of the members of the Executive Committee, as well as the employees of the Caisse, I would like to welcome Mr. Tessier and assure him
that he will have our full co-operation in carrying out his mandate,” said Fernand Perreault, acting president and CEO of the Caisse.

IE