Elected directors and young intern director program

You can express your desire to become an elected director at any time. Speak to the general manager or an employee who will tell you what you need to do.

To become an elected director, you must meet eligibility requirements and apply for the position during the application period, which ends a few days before the caisse Annual General Meeting in April or March each year. Directors are elected by members at the Annual General Meeting. The number of elected directors varies from caisse to caisse.

The Board of Directors is made up of 5 to 15 members elected by members during the Annual General Meeting. In addition to attending board meetings, the board members also work in committees to address certain specific issues.

The Board of Directors makes decisions, guides and controls, meaning it:

• Ensures the caisse upholds its mission, cooperative values, Desjardins values and distinctive nature in its practices and activities
• Determines caisse strategic plan and priorities
• Hires and supervises the General Manager
• Adopts the business plan and annual budget, oversees their follow up and decides what corrections must be made to them to improve caisse performance
• Ensures the caisse is managed soundly and prudently
• Ensures member satisfaction and contributes to community development
• Ensures the caisse maintains good working relationships with other caisses, Desjardins Group components and other cooperatives in the community
• Represents the caisse in the community and within Desjardins Group to promote visibility and development

All members wishing to apply for a director position must, to hold the position, meet legal eligibility requirements.

In addition, a provision in the Desjardins Code of Professional Conduct states that members who work in the field of financial services or insurance, for example, may not be accepted for reasons of incompatibility due to their activities or work with a competitor.

Lastly, in keeping with Autorité des marchés financiers and Desjardins policies, all applicants must also authorize the caisse to perform security and credit checks to confirm their eligibility for the caisse director position.

How to apply
If you wish to be an director, contact your caisse to learn about the eligibility requirements, the process and the application period.