LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Paul Desmarais
built 652 days ago
Mr. Paul Desmarais is a member of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee of several companies. In Canada: Power Corporation of Canada, Power Financial Corporation, Investors Group Inc., The Great-West Life Assurance Company, Great-West Lifeco Inc., London Insurance Group Inc. and London Life Insurance Company; in the United States: Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company; in Europe: Pargesa Holding S.A. (Switzerland) and Groupe Bruxelles Lambert S.A. (Belgium). He is a member of the Board of Directors of Gesca Ltd, Les Journaux Trans-Canada (1996) Inc. and La Presse Ltd in Canada; Suez and TotalFinaElf in France. He is Vice-President of the Supervisory Board and member of the Strategic Committee of Imerys in France and Chairman of the Advisory Board of Private Equity Partners Europe.
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Paul Desmarais is Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Power Corporation of Canada. He is ... Chairman of the Board and Deputy Director of Pargesa Holding S.A. (Switzerland). He is a director of the following companies: CLT-UFA (Luxembourg), the Power Financial Corporation, Power Broadcasting Inc.; Electrafina S.A. (Belgium), the London Assurance Group Inc., Group Investors Inc., London Life Assurance Company, Pargesa Holding S.A. (Switzerland), the Power Corporation of Canada, La Presse Ltée, the Telegraph Group Limited (England) and Total Pina (France).
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Paul Desmarais’ advice is respected and sought. His circle of friends includes several former Canadian prime ministers. He played a major role in establishing the Canada China Business Council and sat on the boards of numerous international companies. He is a Companion of the Order of Canada and a member of the Privy Council.
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According to respected Financial Post columnist Diane Francis, "In 1974, Desmarais made Martin president of the Canada Steamship Lines. And then in 1981, he made him spectacularly rich by selling the company to him and a partner for $180 million." The day to day operation of Martin’s shipping company, estimated to be worth $424 million, was handed over to his three sons last year.
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[M]ake sure your mentor (Paul Desmarais) is the most important single financier in the country with links to main political parties. He should have past and future prime ministers and premiers either on staff or as close acquaintances, and if one is brought into the family by marriage, so much the better.
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Mr. MacKay, who is deputy leader of the Conservatives, and Ms. Desmarais met at dinner at Brian and Mila Mulroney's Montreal home about a month ago. The Mulroneys played matchmaker -- Mrs. Mulroney thinks highly of Mr. MacKay and knows Ms. Desmarais. They have been seen dining together a couple of times in Ottawa since then.
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Paul Desmarais