Monique F. Leroux

Chair of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Desjardins Group

Elected President of the Desjardins Group in March 2008, Monique Leroux distinguishes herself by her remarkable rise as senior executive in the financial world, backed by a solid background in auditing, accountancy and tax.

She started her career at Ernst & Young, where she worked during 17 years before joining the Royal Bank Group, first as Senior Vice-President, Finance of the Group, and later as Senior Vice-President, Quebec. Ms. Leroux also worked at Quebecor, where she was Senior Executive Vice-President & Chief Operating Officer.

She joined the Desjardins Group in 2001 as President of Desjardins Financial Corporation and Chief Executive Officer of its subsidiaries. At the time of her election, she was Chief Financial Officer of the Desjardins Group since August 2004.

Monique Leroux' leadership, influence, expertise and dynamism are widely acknowledged in the business circles. Fellow of the Order of Chartered Accountants of Quebec and of the Society of Management Accountants of Canada, she is recognized as one of the 25 most influential personalities in the Quebec financial services industry, and as one of the "Top 100 – Canada's Most Powerful Women". She was also awarded the 2007 "Leadership Prize" by the Quebec Financial Women's Association and has been honoured with several titles including : "Personnalité de la semaine de La Presse", "2007 Female CFO", "Business Woman of the year 2008" and "Personnalité de la Francophonie économique" in 2008.

Ms. Leroux has extensive experience as director of several corporations and institutions in Canada and abroad. She also serves numerous causes in the areas of health, arts and education. Amongst other functions, she was President of the Ordre des comptables agréés du Québec and Governor of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.