Who we are

Founded in 2001, HDG is the financial holding of Daniel Gauthier. HDG’s mission is to create wealth by contributing to the development and growth of exceptional companies. HDG offers capital to companies to help them grow, as well as its strategic, operational and financial expertise.

The team

Daniel Gauthier O.C., O.Q.Major shareholder and chairman of the board

 

Chairman of the board of HDG and Groupe Le Massif, Daniel cofounded, in 1984, Le Cirque du Soleil with Guy Laliberté. He was President of Le Cirque du Soleil between 1990 and 2001. He has also held multiple positions, such as Vice-President of Admission, the online ticket network, from 1988 to 2000, and Vice-President of Scéno Plus from 1995 to 1999.

In addition, Daniel, as a board member,  has contributed to the development of many cultural organizations such as l’ADISQ (from 1995 to 1996), the Société du 400e de Québec (from 2005 to 2010) and L’Office du tourisme du Québec from 2010 to 2015.

He was named Officer of the Order of Canada in 2004; honoured as a Great Montrealer; and designated as a “Builder of the Century”, by Commerce magazine in 1999. In 2012, Daniel was named Officer of the Ordre national du Québec, the province of Québec’s most prestigious award.

Daniel is currently Vice-President of La Fondation Dufresne & Gauthier.

Claude Choquette, FCPA, FCAPresident

As a Fellow of the l’Ordre des comptables professionnels agrées du Québec, Claude is the President of HDG and Groupe le Massif. He received le Prix Hermès 2005, which is the highest honour given by La Faculté des sciences de l’administration de l’Université Laval. He was also awarded the Govenor General’s medal for his philanthropic involvement in education.

He is presently on the board of various firms and organizations, such as SSQ, la Société d’assurance-vie inc., Groupe Germain Inc. and Les Chocolats Favoris inc.. He is also the President of La Fondation des Musées de la civilisation, a member of accessibility committee of the Québec city Airport, a member of the Donateurs majeurs commitee and Co-President of it’s 2013 financing campaign. Claude is also a member of the board of Financial Innovation of L’Université Laval,a member of the Great financing campaign for L’Université Laval endowment fund from 2014 to 2019.

Philippe LeclercVice-president - Legal Affairs

Philippe Leclerc is Vice President, Legal Affairs at HDG. A graduate of Université Laval’s Faculty of Law and a member of the Québec Bar since 1992, Philippe oversees the legal framework for HDG’s investment activities, corporate affairs, and governance, as well as that of its subsidiaries.

Philippe stands out for his deep expertise in commercial law, corporate law, and securities law. He is frequently recommended in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory across several areas, including mergers and acquisitions, technology, and life sciences. He is also ranked by Chambers Canada at the national level—Band 3 for Life Sciences and Band 5 for Corporate/Commercial Law in Québec.

Before joining HDG, Philippe spent his entire career at McCarthy Tétrault, where he became a partner and practiced for more than 25 years. He led numerous major transactions, including public offerings, acquisitions, takeovers, and both private and public financings, in Canada and internationally.

Philippe also serves as a lecturer at Université Laval, where he has been teaching business and securities law for nearly 15 years. Beyond his professional practice, he is Chair of the Board of Collège François de Laval and has served on the boards of several non-profit organizations. He has also been a member of an advisory committee of the Toronto Stock Exchange.

François AmyotVice-president of Investments and Chief Legal Officer

A graduate in law from Université Laval and member of the Quebec Bar since 1980, François is Vice-President of Investments and Chief Legal Officer at HDG since September 2018. As part of his duties, he participates in investment process and supervises the legal affairs of all the subsidiaries and investments of HDG. In this role, he accompanies the business partners of HDG in their development and growth. He is also part of the board of Groupe Germain Inc. and a member of the Advisory committee of the fund BDG-Appalaches II.

A recognized professional, François has been awarded numerous prizes and distinctions, including the recent distinctions of 2018 Legal Counsellor of the Year from M&A Club Canada, Star Lawyer 2018 Acritas UK and named Lawyer of the Year in corporate Law for Quebec City in the 2019 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada.

Before joining HDG, he was an associate for over 29 years at the law firm McCarthy Tétrault where he practised business law, mainly in mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, business finance and securities.

François is chairman of the board of the Carrefour international de théâtre as well as chairman of the board of Excellence Sportive Québec-Lévis. He is also a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and holds the ICD.D designation.

François is the chairman of the board of the Carrefour international de théâtre as well as the chairman of the board of Excellence Sportive Québec-Lévis. He is also a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and holds the ICD.D designation.

Bernard Sansour, CPA, CAVice-president of HDG inc. and Premier Vice-president of Groupe Le Massif

As a member of L’Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec, Bernard has been Vice-President Investments and Finance at HDG since 2014. Bernard is in charge of the development and the management of the investments made by HDG. Bernard is HDG’s representative on numerous boards of directors.

Bernard is also Premier Vice-President for Groupe Le Massif where, since 2004, he has worked as the General Manager of the ski resort Le Massif, and as Vice-President HR and IT.

Nicolas Rhéaume, CPADirector, Finance and Operations

A member of the Ordre des CPA du Québec, Nicolas joined HDG Inc. in 2019. He currently serves as Director of Finance and Operations, contributing to the group’s financial oversight, investment management, and the implementation of operational processes.

Over the years, Nicolas has been involved in numerous projects for HDG and its affiliated entities, including MontClerc Capital and Groupe Le Massif, supporting the growth and performance of their investment portfolios.

Involvement in the community

  • Fondation Dufresne & Gauthier

    Fondation Dufresne & Gauthier was founded in 2001 by Hélène Dufresne and Daniel Gauthier. It supports projects in Montréal, Québec and Mongolia aiming to make a difference in the lives of the many children who live in underprivileged communities and also young people who are at risk.

    Daniel Gauthier is Vice-President of La Fondation Dufresne & Gauthier. Claude Choquette is secretary and treasurer.

  • Centraide

    Centraide supports a network of dynamic agencies and projects that break the cycle of poverty and social exclusion.

    Claude Choquette is a member of the Donateurs majeurs committee and was Co-President of the 2013 financing campaign.

  • Fondation des Musées de la civilisation

    Fondation des Musées de la civilisation has the objective of supporting the accessibility to the Museums so its visitors may have a positive and enriching experience, while assuring its financial sustainability. Today’s children make up tomorrow’s world and our museum is their home and that of everyone.

    Claude Choquette is the President of Fondation des Musées de la civilisation.

  • Université Laval

    L’Université Laval is the first French-language university in North America.

    Since 2006, Claude Choquette has been a member of the RBC chair in financial innovations. He was also a member of the Investment committee of the Université Laval endowment fund between 2010 and 2015, and has been a member of the Great financing campaign between 2014 and 2019. Groupe Le Massif inc. is also a member of the Chaire de recherche sur l’attractivité et l’innovation en tourisme de l’Université Laval.

  • Other examples of social involvement

    Claude Choquette was responsible for the One Drop fundraising campaigns from 2009 to 2011 in the Quebec region. Claude Choquette was also Co-President of the CHU financing campaign in 2014-2015-2016.

    Daniel Gauthier was a member of the board of the financing campaign for the Fondaction de l’Institut universitaire de cardiologie et pneumologie in 2014-2015. Daniel Gauthier was also the Governor of the Equiterre Benefit Cocktail in 2015 for the Quebec and Montreal regions.

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