The Institut international des coopératives Alphonse-et-Dorimène-Desjardins of HEC Montréal is governed by an International Governance Council. Chaired by Guy Cormier, current President and Chief Executive Officer of Desjardins Group, it brings together influential individuals of national and international stature from the cooperative sector, including leaders of major cooperatives and associations, as well as internationally renowned researchers.

Guy Cormier (Chair)
President and Chief Executive Officer of Desjardins Group

Guy Cormier has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Desjardins Group since April 2016. Desjardins is the leading cooperative financial group in Canada and sixth in the world, with assets of over $248 billion. It is one of the 20 largest employers in the country, supported by the skills of its 47,000 employees and the commitment of more than 5,000 elected officers.

Mr. Cormier has been with Desjardins since 1992, and was General Manager of several caisses in the network. He was Vice-President of Cooperative Network Finance from 2009 to 2012, before being appointed Vice-President of Cooperative Network, in 2012, and then Senior Vice-President of Cooperative Network and Personal Services in 2013.

Mr. Cormier has always encouraged audacity, agility and innovation to improve the experience of members and clients. Under his leadership, the organization’s AccèsD Services earned their 11th Customer Operations Performance Center (COPC) certification, making Desjardins the only financial institution in the world to hold the certification that long. It was also under Mr. Cormier that new innovative technology-focused service centres were launched, earning several awards internationally.

In 2014, he was invited to give lectures and take part in roundtables for events organized by the World Health Organization and the International Summit of Cooperatives.

In 2013, the Quebec MBA Association recognized Mr. Cormier as one of 40 Quebecers with a major influence on business in the province.

He was selected as one of 55 leaders for the 2011 G20 Youth Summit to provide valuable input to managers from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the European Bank.

Mr. Cormier is a graduate of HEC Montréal, where he earned both a Bachelor of Business Administration and an MBA, as well as teaching finance for eight years. He is actively involved in a number of community organizations including the fundraising campaigns for the Université du Québec à Rimouski, the Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation, and the Victor-Gadbois palliative care centre.

Rafael Ziegler
Director of the Institut international des coopératives Alphonse-et-Dorimène-Desjardins, HEC Montréal

Rafael Ziegler is a professor at HEC Montréal and the director of the Institut international des coopératives Alphonse-et-Dorimène-Desjardins. He holds a BSc. from the London School of Economics and a PhD from McGill University. He is associate editor of the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities and the Journal of Social Entrepreneurship.

Rafael Ziegler has published the books Creating Economic Space for Social Innovation (Oxford 2019, with Alex Nicholls) and Innovation, Ethics and Our Common Futures (Edward Elgar 2020). Before joining HEC Montréal, he founded and coordinated the research group GETIDOS (“Getting things done sustainably”) in Germany.

Eric Brat
Secretary General of the Governance Council of the Institut international des coopératives Alphonse-et-Dorimène-Desjardins, HEC Montréal

Eric Brat is an Associate Professor and the Secretary General of the Board of Governors of the Institut international des coopératives Alphonse-et-Dorimène-Desjardins at HEC Montréal. He is a CFA and member of the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute. During his career, he has worked for Credit Suisse Group, Oliver Wyman and Accenture.

From 2002 to 2016, Eric Brat was a senior partner at Boston Consulting Group, initially in the Paris office, then at their Montreal office, which he founded in 2012. He was responsible for the strategic and organizational transformation of insurance companies. He was also a professor at Paris-Dauphine program at the Centre des Hautes Études d’Assurances (CHEA). A graduate of the Solvay Business School in Brussels, Mr. Brat also holds an MBA from Columbia University in New York.

Caroline Aubé
Professor, Department of Management, HEC Montréal

Caroline Aubé is the director of the Research and Transfer Division and a professor in the Department of Management at HEC Montréal.

Also the holder of the Research Chair in Work Team Management and Effectiveness, her research activities focus on teams in extreme situations, project teams, and teams in a governance context. Her research touches various sectors of activity, including public safety, the financial sector, the health sector, and so on.

In addition to her active involvement in HEC Montréal Executive Education, Caroline Aubé is associated with various research laboratories and is also an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Montreal. In 2017, Ms. Aubé and her colleague Vincent Rousseau of the School of Industrial Relations of the University of Montreal earned a prestigious distinction for a scientific article as part of the Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence.

Ms. Aubé holds a PhD in psychology from the University of Montreal.

Bernard Bizimana
Director, HEC Montréal Library

Bernard Bizimana has been Director of the HEC Montréal Library since May 2016.

He serves on the Finance and Audit Committee of the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) since 2015 and has been a member of its Board of Directors since 2019.

Mr. Bizimana has also served as President of the Library Subcommittee of the Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire (BCI), a body bringing together the directors of Quebec’s university libraries.

A graduate of the École des bibliothécaires-documentalistes de l’Institut Catholique de Paris and of the École de bibliothéconomie et des sciences de l’information de l’Université de Montréal, Bernard Bizimana also holds a Bachelor’s degree in management information systems and a Master’s degree in computer science from the Université du Québec à Montréal.

Marco Aurélio Borges de Almada Abreu
President and CEO, Bancoob within the Sicoob system

Mr. Almada worked with Banco de Crédito Real S.A. (Credireal) between 1982 and 1997 in different positions, among others as Head of the Budget and Management Department. After the sale of Credireal, in which Mr. Almada was involved, he worked at Banco BCN and Bradesco as Budget and Cost Manager.

Mr. Almada joined the Sicoob system in 1998, as Advisor to the Presidency and Head of Project Development at Banco Cooperativo do Brasil S.A. (Bancoob), leading the creation and structuring of several departments and businesses that today make up the Bancoob group, such as Fundo Garantidor do Sicoob [Sicoob’s Guarantee Fund] (FGS), being its first CEP. From 2002 to 2008, he was the Director of Sicoob Confederação, and in 2009 he was appointed CEO of Bancoob, Sicoob’s bank, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fundação Sicoob Previ [Sicoob’s Private Pension Foundation]. Subsequently, in 2005, he also assumed the presidency of Bancoob Par Seguridade [Bancoob by Security].

Mr. Almada has a Bachelor degree in Business Administration, an Executive MBA in Finance from IBMEC, a specialization in Strategic Management of Costs from Oklahoma Baptist University and an expertise in Project Monitoring and Evaluation by Inwent in Munich, Germany.

Richard Ferland
President of the Board of Directors of Sollio Groupe Coopératif

Richard Ferland is a dairy and maple syrup producer from the Chaudière-Appalaches region. With his partner, Odette Desrosiers, he purchased the family farm in Sainte-Marie in 1990. This is the fifth generation to run it. They manage over 200 dairy cows with one of their sons, Pierre, and own 250 acres of hay and corn crops. Together with Thomas, another of their sons, they co-own Farland sucré inc., their maple division. In addition, Odette Desrosiers and Pierre operate a vegetable greenhouse on the main site.

A graduate of the ITA in La Pocatière, he also serves on the Board of Directors of Avantis Coopérative. He was President of La Coop Unicoop for four years. He also served on the Board of Directors of Développement économique Nouvelle Beauce for three years.

Giovanni Ferri
Professor of Economics, Libera Università Maria SS. Assunta (LUMSA)

Giovanni Ferri, Ph.D. in Economics from New York University, is a Professor of Economics and Vice-Rector of Teaching and Students’ Rights at LUMSA University. Between 1999 and 2012, he was the Chair of the Department of Economics and Vice-Rector for International Relations at the University of Bari.

He previously served as Principal Financial Economist at the World Bank (1998-99) and Deputy-Director at the Research Department of Banca d’Italia (1984-1998). He has led (or consulted for) policy and research related projects in several countries. His research interests include: financial market imperfections and the transmission of monetary and financial shocks, banking structure, credit rating agencies, corporate governance, the finance-growth nexus, migration, company internationalization, sustainability. He has published extensively in these fields and he is associate editor of the journals Economic Notes, Rivista Bancaria-Minerva Bancaria, Journal of Entrepreneurial and Organizational Diversity. He is a founding member of the Think Tank at the European Association of Cooperative Banks; since 2013, he chairs the Center for Relationship Banking and Economics (CERBE) focusing on relational goods towards society’s well-being.

Uwe Fröhlich
Co-Chairman of the Board of Management & Co-CEO, DZ Bank

Mr. Uwe Fröhlich has been Co-Chief Executive Officer at DZ BANK AG since January 2019. He has been the Supervisory Board Chairman at DZ PRIVAT BANK SA, since 2018. He serves as the Supervisory Board Chairman at VR-LEASING AG. He is Executive Manager at DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral-Genossenschaftsbank, Frankfurt am Main since November 2018 and is Member of the Board of Managing Directors.

He serves as Co-Chairman of the Board of Management at DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral-Genossenschaftsbank since January 2019. He serves as the Chairman of the Supervisory board at DZ Hyp AG since August 2018 and serves as Supervisory Board Member since May 2018. He served as General Executive Manager at DZ Bank Die Initiativbank since November 2017 and as Member of the Board of Managing Directors from November 2017 until January 2019. He was President of the German Cooperative and Raiffeisen Confederation (DGRV) from 2012 to October 2017.

Previously, Mr. Fröhlich held numerous management and board positions, including as President of the National Association of German Cooperative Banks Inc., President of the Board of Managing Directors at Bundesverband der Deutschen Volksbanken und Raiffeisenbanken e.V., Supervisory Board Member at R+V Versicherung AG, as well as Director of Bundesverband der Deutschen Volksbanken und Raiffeisenbanken e.V.

Mr. Fröhlich completed a Business Administration course at the University in Lüneburg (Fachhochschule Nordostniedersachsen).

Cynthia Giagnocavo
President of the Global Board of the International Cooperative Alliance Committe on Cooperative Research 

Dr. Cynthia Giagnocavo, President of the Global Board of the International Cooperative Alliance Committe on Cooperative Research, board member of the International Cooperative Alliance European research board, and member of CIRIEC International Scientific Commission Social & Cooperative Economy.

Dr. Cynthia Giagnocavo is a professor in the Faculty of Economics and Business Management at the University of Almería (UAL), Spain and the director of the Cátedra (Chair) of Agriculture, Cooperative Studies and Sustainable Development UAL-Coexphal. Her research focuses on sustainable food and agricultural systems, including transitions to agro-ecological-technical systems, exploring the intersection of organisational, technical, social, economic and institutional innovation, with an emphasis on cooperatives, innovative business models and social enterprise. She has led numerous European and international projects on sustainable business models, innovative knowledge systems, entrepreneurship, agri-food supply chains, and the application of new technologies and digitalisation processes from a socio-economic perspective.

She is also an experienced Barrister, Solicitor and Attorney qualified in Canada (Ontario), England and Wales and New York State. She has worked in both London and Madrid for the global law firm Clifford Chance LLP in structured finance and banking groups, advising leading European and global banks and corporate entities. Before relocating to Europe, she worked in Toronto, Canada at the international law firm of Davies, Ward, Phillips & Vineberg in the areas of corporate, banking and securities law and also as legal counsel for the Ontario Clean Water Agency. She was a law clerk for the Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.

Carlos Heller
President and CEO, Banco Credicoop

Mr. Heller has been working in the field of credit cooperatives since 1963. Between 1964 and 1974, he acted as Manager of the Caja de Crédito Villa Maipú. In 1974, he works at the Instituto Movilizador de Fondos Cooperativos (Argentine credit unions’ coordinating body), where he becomes Regional Manager of Buenos Aires.

During the implementation of the 1977 reforms of Argentina’s financial system, Mr. Heller was appointed to monitor the organization of a cooperative bank that could put together the credit unions linked to the Instituto Movilizador de Fondos Cooperativos in Buenos Aires and its region. Banco Credicoop Cooperativo Limitado was the result of this process, and it started operating in March 1979. Mr. Heller was entrusted the office of General Manager, a post he held until October 2005. In November 2005, he was elected President, and since then, has been acting in such capacity. He also acted as President of the Asociación de Bancos Públicos y Privados de la República Argentina (ABAPPRA) until May 19, 2006, and he is currently Senior Vice-President. Mr. Heller is a regular member of the Executive Committee of the International Confederation of Popular Banks, as well as a member of the Executive Committee of the International Co-operative Banking Association. Between November 2004 and November 2006, he acted as Governor for Argentina, and Board Member with Responsibility (Vocal del Comité Directivo) for the Latin American Banking Federation (FELABAN). He participated as a speaker in different international events linked to cooperative and banking activities. Mr. Heller is also a political and economics columnist in different radio and television programs. In the 2007 elections, he became a candidate for the post of Vice-Mayor of the City of Buenos Aires. He founded and became a representative of the Solidarity Party (PSOL).

Dominique Lefebvre
President, Fédération Nationale du Crédit Agricole

Dominique Lefebvre is a cereal farmer and has held numerous positions within professional agricultural organizations. He got involved in Crédit Agricole’s working bodies very early on and, in 1995, was elected Chairman of Crédit Agricole de la Beauce et du Perche, now Crédit Agricole Val de France (1997).

He also holds several national offices. Initially becoming an elected member of the Bureau de la Fédération Nationale du Crédit Agricole in 2004, he became Deputy Chairman in 2008 and then Chairman in 2010, taking over from Jean-Marie Sander who was elected Chairman of Crédit Agricole S.A. Dominique Lefebvre is Chairman of SAS Rue La Boétie, a majority shareholder of Crédit Agricole S.A.

Pierre Macé
Chief Executive Officer, Fédération nationale des Caisses d’Epargne

Pierre Macé began his career in 1987 at Crédit du Nord, before joining the Caisse d’Epargne de Bretagne, where he notably held the position of Business Center Director.

From 1996, he held positions as Network, Retail and Corporate Manager at Banque Populaire Val de France and CIC, then joined the Caisse d’Epargne Poitou-Charentes in 2005 as Director of the Corporate Market.

From 2008, within the Caisse d´Epargne Aquitaine Poitou-Charentes, Pierre Macé was Group Director, Regional Director and then, in 2017, General Secretary.

Aged 57, he holds a Master’s degree in Management and Finance Sciences from IAE Rennes. He also taken the executive Advanced Management Program (AMP) cycle from BPCE.

Marie-Josée Paquette
General Director, Conseil québécois de la coopération et de la mutualité

Holder of a Bachelor’s degree with a major in Communication and minor in Political Science from the Université du Québec en Outaouais, Ms. Paquette has held various positions within provincial and federal ministerial offices.

Upon entering the cooperative and mutualist movement in 2014, she served as Senior Advisor for Communications and Government Relations, and was later promoted to Director of Communication and Public Affairs at the Conseil québécois de la coopération et de la mutualité.

Ms. Paquette also served as the Executive Director of the Office of the President of the International Cooperative Alliance.

Throughout her journey in the cooperative and mutualist movement, she has contributed to the signing of major agreements, the creation of significant projects, and the promotion of Quebec cooperatives and mutuals on the international stage. Since January 2021, she has been the General Director of the Conseil québécois de la coopération et de la mutualité.

Cornelius Riese
Co-Chairman of the Board of Management & Co-CEO, DZ Bank

Dr. Riese has been Co-Chief Executive Officer at DZ BANK AG since January 2019 and serves as Member of Board of Managing Directors. He is a Member of the Supervisory Board at TeamBank AG Nürnberg since January 2019 and has also been its Chairman of the Supervisory Board since March, 2019. Dr. Riese serves as Chairman of the Supervisory Board at R+V Versicherung AG since January 2019.

Previously, Dr. Riese has held numerous positions, including as Head of Central Services Division of DZ BANK from 2009 to 2013 and as its General Manager since 2012. He was Head of Division Corporate Development / Organisation / IT at DG HYP, Hamburg from 2007 to 2009., and a Management Consultant at Accenture, Kronberg, from 1999 to 2007.

Dr. Riese completed his studies in Business Administration at the University of Mannheim. He was awarded his doctorate (Dr. rer. pol. ) at the Chemnitz University of Technology.

Franco Taisch
Entrepreneur and Professor

Prof. Dr. Franco Taisch is an entrepreneur and member of various boards of directors. He is the President and Founder of Taischconsulting, specializing in the areas of finance, medicine and technology. As a part-time university professor at the University of Lucerne, he focuses on the design of corporate governance models, as well as the entrepreneurial treatment of opportunities and risks.

Co-founder and chairman of the board of directors of Healthank, a global health data transaction platform, co-owner and member of the board of directors of Clinica Alpina SA, one of the state-of-the-art holistic veterinarian clinics in Europe, and CEO of the Cooperative Businesses Association representing 16% of the Swiss GDP. He is chairman and founding partner of Kreisquadrat gmbh, the decision network, and owner of TaischConsulting, leadership, and law. Mr. Taisch is also Chairman of the board of directors of Swiss Rock Asset Management Ltd., an international asset management company in Switzerland. Franco Taisch has international and multi-cultural living and professional experience in New York, Geneva, Zurich and Vaduz (LI). He was over 25 years executive, member of executive boards and member of boards of directors on the level of global quoted and non-quoted blue chip companies as well as on the level of domestic and foreign small and mid-sized companies, among others, several years member of the executive board of the Julius Baer Group, one of the largest independent global wealth manager, as well as Raffeisen for about ten years. Mr. Taisch speaks German (native speaker), English (main business language) and French. He studied in Zurich, New York, and Lausanne and has been admitted to the Zurich bar.

Pascal Viné
Director of Institutional Relations and Mutualist Orientations – Groupama Assurances Mutuelles

Pascal Viné is an agronomy engineer AgroParisTech and doctor of the national polytechnic institute of Grenoble. He currently holds the position of Director of Institutional Relations and Mutual Orientations at Groupama Assurances Mutuelles.

He began his career as a teacher-researcher at the National School of Rural Engineering, Water and Forests.

In 1998, he joined the departmental directorate of agriculture and forestry of Eure as head of the agricultural economics department.

After leading modernization missions in the ministries of agriculture and state reform, he became, between 2003 and 2007, adviser to the Cabinet of the Minister of Agriculture, then advisor for agriculture and fishing in the Prime Minister’s Office.

In 2007, he was General Director of the Research Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Engineering (IRSTEA), and in 2009, Cabinet Director of the Minister of Agriculture. He heads the National Forest Office from 2010 to 2015.

From 2015 to 2018, he was the General Delegate of the Federation of Coop de France.