Reappointment of Marie-Josée Desrochers as President and CEO of Place des Arts
Montreal, March 20, 2024 – The Quebec Cabinet today proceeded to renew the appointment of Marie-Josée Desrochers as President and CEO of the Société de la Place des Arts de Montréal, on a recommendation by the board of directors. Her new term comes into effect on May 6, 2024, for a period of five years.
“Since taking up her position, Marie-Josée has brought a new vitality to Place des Arts. Her collaborative leadership and unifying vision have allowed us to strengthen the organization’s positioning, further its reach, and significantly increase its revenues, in addition to building and consolidating strong partnerships with the milieu. Her mobilizing approach has also allowed for the development of a healthy and engaged organisational culture. The members of the board of directors and the entire Place des Arts team welcome this reappointment with great enthusiasm,” said Louise St-Pierre, Chair of the Board of Directors.
Under Marie-Josée Desrochers’ leadership, Place des Arts has undertaken multiple forward-looking initiatives that have notably contributed to the development of the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan entitled “The Power to Gather;” to an in-depth revision of its sustainable development plan, including an EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion) plan; as well as to the implementation of a major modernization program for its vast real estate portfolio of heritage interest. Marie-Josée Desrochers has also headed up an overhaul of Place des Arts’ Education and Communities sector, helping the organization reach tens of thousands of citizens in its spaces every year. She has also contributed to the establishment of a data management platform, giving Place des Arts’ six resident and associated organizations a considerable advantage in terms of business intelligence. Under her direction, a new series of shows was launched to further highlight the Amphithéâtre Fernand-Lindsay in Joliette. Lastly, appointed to Place des Arts just a few months before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Marie-Josée Desrochers guided the organization through the challenges faced during this period, exhibiting remarkable determination that benefitted the entire ecosystem.
”I would like to thank the members of the board of directors and the Minister of Culture and Communications, Mathieu Lacombe, for their confidence,” stated Ms. Desrochers. “The whole team and I are mobilized to meet the challenges of today’s reality so that Place des Arts can be, more than ever, the driving force that can bring people together, inviting them to share the emotions and participate in the social dialogue generated by the performing arts here and abroad.”
With almost 30 years of management experience in the cultural sphere, Marie-Josée Desrochers held various executive roles with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, actively taking part in the growth of this world-renowned organization.
About Place des Arts
Celebrating its 60th anniversary of foundation, Place des Arts is the largest cultural complex in Canada. Every year, over 900 highly diverse shows and events are presented in the complex to close to one million spectators, thanks to its producers, partners, resident organizations, and associates — DUCEPPE, Les Grands Ballets, the Opéra de Montréal, the Orchestre Métropolitain, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM), and Danse Danse—as well as festivals of every kind, which also bring its public spaces to life for hundreds of thousands of people. Place des Arts’ performance halls and other spaces are open to all citizens, notably through the cultural, educational, and outreach activities supported by its Foundation.
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Source:
Société de la Place des Arts de Montréal
Information:
Mylaine Albert, directrice du marketing, des ventes et des communications
Place des Arts
514 285-4273
malbert@placedesarts.com