Our team

Nicolas Richard, M.Sc., CFA

President and Chief Operating Officer

Nicolas Richard started his career in 1995 with Citigroup, where he worked in portfolio management, research and financial strategy before becoming managing director at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Until recently, he headed Desjardins Global Asset Management’s Systematic Strategies and Asset Allocation activities.

Mr. Richard has a Master's degree in Finance from the London Business School and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics (Actuarial Science) from Université de Montréal.

Christian Duceppe, M.Sc., CFA

Vice-President and Co-Chief Investment Officer, Public Markets

Christian Duceppe is head of investments for fixed income mandates, corporate credit, infrastructure investments and private placements. He is also responsible for tactical portfolio management and works jointly with Marc Provost to lead the tactical asset allocation group.

He joined Desjardins Group in 1994 as a portfolio manager before taking on the roles of manager and later vice-president of fixed income securities.

Mr. Duceppe has a Master's degree in finance from the Université de Sherbrooke and a Bachelor's degree in business administration from Université Laval.

Marc Provost, CFA, IAS.A

Vice-President and Co-Chief Investment Officer, Public Markets

Marc Provost is head of the investment team for Canadian equity and co-manager of the general portfolio. He is also in charge of our systematic equity strategies, including responsible investment, and works jointly with Christian Duceppe to lead the tactical asset allocation group.

He has worked in the investment industry since 1983. Before joining Desjardins Global Asset Management in 2015, he spent 11 years serving as senior vice-president, managing director and chief investment officer of Intact. Prior to this, he was an executive at the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Montrusco Bolton and ING Canada.

Mr. Provost has a Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance) from HEC Montréal.

Michel Bédard, CPA, CA

Vice-President, Real Estate Investments

Michel Bédard manages a nationwide real estate portfolio for Desjardins Global Asset Management’s partners and clients. He worked for a number of real estate companies before joining Desjardins Group in 1995 as regional vice-president of real estate investment. He has held his current position since 2001.

Mr. Bédard is a chartered accountant with a Bachelor of Business Administration from HEC Montréal.

Richard Allard, MBA

Director, Asset Management Operations

Richard Allard heads up the operations team. Since 1984, he has held several leadership roles in the Canadian financial industry, especially in the areas of information technology, business development, marketing and investment product management. He joined Desjardins Group in 2011 as manager of desktop management before taking on his current role in 2013.

Mr. Allard has an MBA from McGill University and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (Management) from Concordia University.