HEC Montréal in Europe: over 150 alumni gather to celebrate a 20-year presence

Over 150 alumni met up for supper on June 22, to celebrate 20 years of promoting HEC Montréal in Europe. The party was held on a péniche barge in Paris, in a nod to the School's coat of arms.

The eagerly awaited event was a chance for everyone to connect or reconnect with the team at the International Office - Europe (BIE). For 20 years now, the BIE has been helping to promote the School in Europe with the invaluable support of its community and its business, academic and government partners all over the continent.

daring and leadership 

The evening’s participants saluted the School’s bold approach, its vision and leadership, given its efforts in recent years to further develop its international presence and visibility, particularly in Europe. Many of the guests learned that HEC Montréal is the only Canadian university to have had an office in Europe for 20 years. In fact, one of the School’s key priorities remains to make a name for itself on the international stage, as can be seen today in its expanding and flourishing international partnerships and its focus on student mobility. Its mission, of course, is still to train responsible leaders.

A number of HEC Montréal executives made the trip from Montréal: Federico Pasin, HEC Montréal Director, Michel Patry, President and CEO of the HEC Montréal Foundation, and Marie-Hélène Jobin, Director, International Relations and Partnerships.

BIE Director Faustine Chevet noted that “An international viewpoint is in HEC Montréal’s genes. The School was founded in 1907 with the goal of developing international trade, as shown by the ship sailing the waves in its coat of arms. It was initially influenced by European schools, and in fact the School’s first two directors were Belgians.” The location of the event, on a péniche barge, was a nod to this ambition.

Federico Pasin enthusiastically remarked that “We are proud to be recognized as one of the world’s foremost business schools, to attract students and faculty from all over the world and to boast a strong network of partners and allies. Over the past 20 years, the number of our alumni from Europe has just exploded.”

a committed community 

The HEC Montréal community in Europe turned out in strength to mark this important milestone. Clearly, even beyond Quebec’s borders, our alumni are still attached to the School. The event was also an opportunity to introduce the new executive of Europe Alumni, including President Daniel Cimon (HEC Montréal 2002), President and CEO of XPND Medical SA, based in Switzerland. Read his story in the Alumni and Donor Stories section, along with those of three other members of the community now in Europe.

government and academic partners 

Many close partners of the School in Europe were also on hand:

• Michèle Boisvert, Quebec Delegate General in Paris and personal representative of the Quebec Premier for la Francophonie
• Caroline Mailloux, Scientific Attachée, Quebec General Delegation in Paris
• Stéphane Lambert, Minister-Counsellor and Senior Trade Commissioner, Economic and University Relations, Canadian Embassy in France
• Bruno Van Pottelsberghe, Dean of the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management at the Université libre de Bruxelles
• Catherine Dehon, Professor at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management at the Université libre de Bruxelles
• Fahima Sadaoui-Ramos, Director and VP France-Québec of the Cercle des Dirigeants d'Entreprises franco-québécois

Read the interview with former HEC Montréal Directors Jean-Marie Toulouse and Michel Patry

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