Governance

As Executive Vice-President – Personal Banking and Client Experience, Lucie Blanchet oversees all personal banking operations. In that capacity, she manages the network of financial planners, branches and client contact centres. Her responsibilities also include product and pricing management, distribution and marketing strategies, as well as developing the Bank's digital offering.

Ms. Blanchet joined National Bank in 2002. She worked for 7 years as part of the Risk Management business line, first as Senior Manager – Operational Risk, and then as Senior Manager – Credit Portfolio, Personal Banking. Since then, she has held various management positions in the Personal and Commercial Banking sector. In particular, she served as Vice-President – Mortgage Development, Specialized Networks, Vice-President – Sales and Service, Personal and Commercial Banking, and more recently, Senior Vice-President – Distribution, Solutions and Processes.

Ms. Blanchet is a chartered professional accountant (CPA) with over 25 years of experience in the banking industry. Prior to joining National Bank, she worked for the Business Development Bank of Canada as well as Société générale and Crédit Lyonnais, two European banks. She began her career at KPMG.

Throughout her career, Ms. Blanchet has been particularly interested in the development of her teams. She prizes effective teamwork and makes it one of her highest priorities to engender inclusive and productive innovation in all professional activities. Outside of National Bank, she pursues her passion for youth-related causes.

William Bonnell was appointed Executive Vice-President – Risk Management and a member of the Senior Leadership Team in June 2012. As the Bank's Chief Risk Officer, he is responsible for enterprise-wide risk management including credit, market and operational risks.

Mr. Bonnell, who joined National Bank in 2001, has held successive leadership positions in credit risk management, proprietary trading, and market risk management.

Before joining the Bank, Mr. Bonnell worked in Toronto, London, and Dublin in a variety of risk management, capital markets, and management roles within the banking industry.

Mr. Bonnell serves on the Board of Directors of the Risk Management Association and is Chair of the Canadian Bankers Association’s Risk Committee. He is a past member of the Board of Directors - Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation as well as of the Rotman MFRM Advisory Board.

Mr. Bonnell holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business, a Bachelor’s degree from Bishop’s University and completed studies at EM Lyon Business School. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and holds the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) designation from the Global Association of Risk Professionals.

Michael Denham is Executive Vice-President of Commercial and Private Banking. He is responsible for developing strategic orientations, advancing the client experience and overseeing all Commercial and Private Banking products and services. He supervises the sector’s growth and ensures its sustainability by soundly managing risks. Mr. Denham is also a member of National Bank's Senior Leadership Team.

M. Denham joined the Bank in 2021 with an impressive track record as a leader of people and businesses. Prior to joining the Bank, he was President and CEO of BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada), where he was instrumental in doubling the commercial franchise in Quebec and across Canada, advocating for small and medium-size business owners, and supporting the growth of entrepreneurs at every stage and across various industries. Prior to that, he held senior executive roles based in Montreal, including at Accenture, where he was President and CEO for Canada, CGI, Bombardier, and McKinsey.

At the time of his appointment, Mr. Denham was Vice-Chairman, Commercial Banking and Financial Markets.

In addition to his professional activities, Mr. Denham serves on the Boards of Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Foundation and the Ontario Global 100 (OG100). Mr. Denham also serves as a mentor to entrepreneurs. He holds a Master’s degree in Economy from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and a Bachelor’s degree in Public and International Affairs from Princeton University.

Denis Girouard is Executive Vice-President – Wealth Management and Co-President and Co-Chief Executive Officer at National Bank Financial since April 2023. He is responsible for all wealth management-related activities at National Bank, including full-service securities brokerage, trust services, third-party clearing services, as well as investment product manufacturing and distribution and self-directed brokerage solutions. Mr. Girouard is also a member of National Bank’s Senior Leadership Team.

Mr. Girouard began his career in 1982 as a bond market trader at the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. In 1990, he joined National Bank Financial (NBF) where he has held various strategic executive positions of increasing responsibility. Mr. Girouard has been Executive Vice-President, Managing Director and Co-Head of Fixed Income and Deputy Head of Financial Markets at NBF from 2012 to 2016. At the time of his appointment, he was Executive Vice-President and Co-Head – Financial Markets since 2016.

During his career in Financial Markets, Mr. Girouard gained in-depth knowledge of the sector's activities. Under his stewardship, National Bank notably positioned itself as a leader in government financing in Canada.

In addition to his professional activities, Mr. Girouard has served on several boards within the business community. He is currently a member of the CanDeal Board of Directors. Mr. Girouard has a Bachelor's in Finance from HEC and is a Chartered Financial Analyst, CFA^®.

As Executive Vice-President – Employee Experience, Brigitte Hébert is responsible for developing HR strategies and practices for the entire Bank and overseeing head office units related to legal and public affairs. She plays a key role in helping to deliver a superior experience for all National Bank clients and employees. She is also a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Ms. Hébert joined National Bank in 1994. Over the course of her career, she has developed solid experience in high-level management positions. She is recognized for her mobilizing leadership in the Bank's transformation and has successfully carried out numerous strategic reorganizations in the Operations, Finance and Information Technology sectors. Prior to her appointment, Brigitte Hébert was Executive Vice-President – Operations.

In addition to her professional activities, Ms. Hébert is actively involved in a number of organizations. She is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors of FitSpirit and a member of Alloprof’s Board of Directors, chair of its Finance and Audit Committee and a member of its Human Resources Committee. For several years now, she has been part of the Bank's mentoring program, which seeks to provide inspiration and coaching for the Bank's up-and-coming leaders.

Ms. Hébert has a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from HEC Montréal and is a chartered professional accountant (CPA).

Ghislain Parent is Executive Vice-President – International. He is primarily responsible for our subsidiary ABA Bank in Cambodia. Mr. Parent is also a member of National Bank’s Senior Leadership Team.

Until April 2022, Mr. Parent served as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice-President – Finance. He also held the position of Senior Vice-President – Internal Audit in 2010 and 2011. Before joining National Bank, Mr. Parent was Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and President of CDP Financial Inc. During his career, Mr. Parent also served as Vice-President – Internal Audit and Security, and Vice-President, Chief Accountant for Laurentian Bank as well as Senior Advisor – Banking Supervision and Restructuring, Africa, for the International Monetary Fund.

In addition to his professional activities, Mr. Parent is involved in several organizations. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM). He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Quartier International de Montréal from 2003 to 2008 and was involved in Centraide United Way and the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec. Furthermore, Mr.  Parent was the Honorary Co-Chair of the 2015, 2016 and 2017 benefit dinners for Intégration Jeunesse du Québec, an organization that offers training programs, stay-in-school programs, job placement services and employment assistance services to young people. Since 2012, Mr. Parent and his team have been actively involved with Accueil Bonneau, an outreach organization that works with the homeless.

Ghislain Parent has a BA in Business Administration and Accounting and is a Fellow of the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec (FCPA).