La Caisse announces the appointment of Édouard Merette as Managing Director, Asia-Pacific

MONTRÉAL, Aug. 21, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - As part of its strategy of extending its reach globally to be able to seize the best investment opportunities throughout the world, La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is pleased to announce the appointment of Édouard Merette to the position of Managing Director, Asia-Pacific. Mr. Merette will be based in Singapore, where La Caisse will open an office by the end of the year.

Mr. Merette will play a vital role in developing and monitoring La Caisse's investments in Asia. He will help the organization gain a thorough knowledge of the region. He will establish and maintain close relationships with players in the public and private sectors to make La Caisse a first-choice investor in the region. With the investment teams, he will help La Caisse identify the best investment opportunities.

 "With Mr. Merette's vast experience and extensive network in Asia, La Caisse will be better positioned to identify the right partners and act on sound investment opportunities in these growth markets," said Michael Sabia, President and Chief Executive Officer of La Caisse. "We require in-depth knowledge of these markets and are therefore recruiting top talent and experts, wherever they may be in the world. We are pleased that Mr. Merette, a Quebecer of international repute, has agreed to join our organization, enabling us to take an important step forward in implementing our investment strategy."

"I am very pleased to be joining La Caisse's team and look forward to contributing to the organization's performance in the growing Asia-Pacific region, which offers attractive investment opportunities," Mr. Merette said. "With my knowledge of this market, I can add local expertise to the know-how of my colleagues on the investment teams in Québec. On a personal level, I am very proud to offer my experience and energy to an organization that is so important for my native Québec."

Mr. Merette's track record in corporate management in Canada, Europe and Asia is impressive. Before joining La Caisse, he was Chief Executive Officer, Asia-Pacific, with Aon Hewitt. He was a member of the global management committee of Aon Corporation's consulting division and oversaw the offices in the region (Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand).

Mr. Merette also worked for Mercer for more than 20 years. He was a member of its global management committee and oversaw operations in Europe, Asia and Canada. Mr. Merette is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and of the Chicago-based Society of Actuaries. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics and actuarial science from Université Laval. He taught risk theory at his Alma Mater and at Université de Montréal.

Mr. Merette has resided in Singapore for almost 15 years. His business experience in both corporate and community endeavours – including his past role as a Business Degree Program Advisory Board Member at Nanyang Technology University – will be an asset for the deployment of La Caisse in the region.

"Mr. Merette will play a key role on our team," said Rashad Kaldany, La Caisse's Executive Vice-President, Emerging Markets. "In addition to enhancing and deepening our knowledge and understanding of strategic markets in Asia, Mr. Merette will implement a complete and effective investment process, and will strengthen our relationships with major players in these markets. He will also oversee all the teams in place, not only at our office in Singapore but also at our satellite offices, currently in Beijing and eventually in Mumbai."

Mr. Merette will take up his new position on October 1^st.

ABOUT LA CAISSE DE DÉPÔT ET PLACEMENT DU QUÉBEC

La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is a long-term institutional investor that manages funds primarily for public and parapublic pension and insurance plans. As at June 30, 2014, it held $214.7 billion in net assets. As one of Canada's leading institutional fund managers, La Caisse invests in major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure and real estate, globally. For more information: www.lacaisse.com.

Image with caption: "Édouard Merette (CNW Group/Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140821_C2999_PHOTO_EN_5017.jpg

SOURCE: Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec

Maxime Chagnon, Senior Director, Media Relations, 514 847-5493, [email protected]