Governance

Get to know the people who manage our organization

Corporate practices

We believe it is essential to create a corporate governance culture that aims to respect the rules applicable to our bank and achieve our mission: to have a positive impact on people’s lives. To do so, our Board of Directors, assisted by its committees and management, ensures the implementation of good corporate governance practices and standards with which everyone must comply.

Senior Leadership Team

Laurent Ferreira

President and Chief Executive Officer

Laurent Ferreira is President and Chief Executive Officer of National Bank, a position he has held since November 2021. He is responsible for the strategies, orientations and development of the Bank and its subsidiaries. He is supported by the Senior Leadership Team. At the time of his appointment, Mr. Ferreira was Chief Operating Officer.

Mr. Ferreira started his career at Bankers Trust where he worked for two years. He joined National Bank in 1998 and successively held the positions of Senior Manager, then Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of Derivatives and Equities within the Financial Markets group. From 2018 to 2021, Mr. Ferreira was Executive Vice-President and Co-Head, Financial Markets.

Mr. Ferreira served on the Hydro-Québec Board of Directors for several years. He is active in the community and contributes to various causes. He recently served as co-chair of the Centraide United Way of Greater Montreal campaign, the Bal des lumières, and the Portage Soirée des grands philanthropes. In addition, he co-chaired the Montreal Women's Y Foundation “Re-Building” fundraising campaign and was the Honorary Chair of the 85th edition of St. Mary’s Ball. 

Mr. Ferreira has a Master’s degree in Finance from HEC Montréal and a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Université du Québec à Montréal.

Lucie Blanchet

Executive Vice-President – Personal Banking and Client Experience

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

Executive Vice-President – Risk Management

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 leads the Risk Management and Compliance functions and oversees the management of financial and non-financial risks across the Bank.

Since joining National Bank in 2001, Mr. Bonnell has held successive leadership positions in credit risk management, proprietary trading, and market risk management. Prior to joining the Bank, he worked in Toronto, London, and Dublin in a variety of risk management, capital markets, and management roles within the banking industry.

Throughout his career, Mr. Bonnell has been actively engaged, sitting on various industry, academic, and nonprofit boards. He is a member and past chair of the Board of the International Financial Risk Institute (Geneva). He has also previously served as Chair of the Board of the Risk Management Association (Philadelphia), member of the Advisory Board of Rotman’s Master of Financial Risk Management program, and member of the Board of the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation.

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

Executive Vice-President – Commercial and Private Banking

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.

Étienne Dubuc

Executive Vice-President – Financial Markets and Co-President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, National Bank Financial

Étienne Dubuc is Executive Vice-President – Financial Markets and Co-President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, National Bank Financial. He is in charge of National Bank's wholesale banking activities and treasury, including the Investment Banking, Corporate Banking, Equity, Fixed Income and Derivatives divisions. Mr. Dubuc is also a member of National Bank's Senior Leadership Team.

Mr. Dubuc began his career at the Bank in 1999 and successively held the positions of Options Market Maker, then Head Trader, Option Flow and Head Trader, Structured Products. He then oversaw the development of the Equity Derivatives Group into a leader in options and ETF trading. He took over the Cash Equities group in 2014 and the Research Department and the Equity Markets group in early 2018. In January 2020, he was given the responsibility of managing the FX and Commodities groups in addition to sharing management of the Risk Management Solutions team's activities.

At the time of his appointment, Mr. Dubuc was Executive Vice-President, Managing Director and Head of Equities, Currencies and Commodities, and Co-Head of Risk Management Solutions for Financial Markets.

In addition to his professional activities, Mr. Dubuc has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation since 2020. He has a Master's degree in Finance from HEC Montréal and a Bachelor's degree in Economics.

Marie Chantal Gingras

Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice-President – Finance

As Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice-President – Finance, Marie Chantal Gingras is responsible for Accounting, Finance & Corporate Treasury, Strategic Planning and Merger and Acquisition, Procurement, Real Estate Business Strategy, Taxation, Investor Relations, and Environment, Social and Governance. Ms. Gingras is a member of National Bank’s Senior Leadership Team.

Until April 2022, Ms. Gingras was Senior Vice-President – Financial Accounting. When she joined National Bank in 1998, she worked in the Finance sector until 2013 when she moved to Personal and Commercial Banking as Vice-President – Performance, Risk and Support. In November 2016, she was appointed Head of Internal Audit, the position she held until her appointment as SVP – Financial Accounting. Prior to joining the Bank, she worked at Royal Bank and Bombardier. 

In addition to her professional activities, Ms. Gingras is vice-chair of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Internal Auditors of Montreal, and she also offers her time to the Regroupement Partage organization that promotes the advancement and development of sustainable solutions for food security and to Héma-Québec. 

Marie Chantal Gingras has a Bachelor of Business Administration from HEC Montréal. She is also a CFA charterholder.

Brigitte Hébert

Executive Vice-President – Employee Experience

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).

Julie Lévesque

Executive Vice-President – Technology and Operations

Julie Lévesque was appointed Executive Vice-President – Information Technology in June 2020. As such, she is responsible for implementing the Bank’s technological strategy. In addition, she was appointed head of the Operations sector in January 2022. Ms. Lévesque is a member of National Bank’s Senior Leadership Team.

At the time of her appointment in 2020, Julie Lévesque was Senior Vice-President – IT Delivery Strategy at National Bank. Previously, she spent three years working for the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board as Managing Director and Head of System and Data Delivery, Technology. Ms. Lévesque worked at National Bank from 2005 to 2016, where she held various management roles in IT, including Vice-President – IT Delivery, Risk, Finance, Capital Markets and Human Resources.

With over 25 years of experience in information technology, Julie Lévesque has in-depth knowledge of corporate IT environments and infrastructure. Her leadership style is based on collaboration, trust, partnership and cross-sector teamwork. Her passion for innovation and emerging technology means she quickly grasps the issues involved and excels at explaining concepts in business terms.

Ms. Lévesque sits on the boards of directors of the Computer Research Institute of Montreal (CRIM), the fintech Flinks Technology Inc., and the Resources for Children with Diabetes Foundation (FRED). In 2022, she was named CIO of the year in the Private Sector category by IT World of Canada and the CIO Association of Canada. Ms. Lévesque has an Executive MBA (EMBA) from McGill-HEC Montréal.

Nancy Paquet

Executive Vice-President – Wealth Management and Co-President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, National Bank Financial

Nancy Paquet is Executive Vice-President, Wealth Management and Co-President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, National Bank Financial. As such, she leads a team of experienced leaders who oversee all wealth management activities, including full-service brokerage, investment solution design and distribution, self-directed brokerage solutions, third-party clearing and trust services. Ms. Paquet is also a member of National Bank's Senior Leadership Team.

Ms. Paquet joined the Bank in 2007. She has served as Regional Vice-President, Advisor Distribution, President of National Bank Direct Brokerage, Vice-President, Partnerships and Vice-President, Investment. At the time of her appointment, she was serving as Senior Vice-President, Personal Banking.

In addition to her professional activities, Ms. Paquet sits on the board of directors of the HEC Montréal Foundation, in addition to having served on numerous other boards of directors and industry associations in the fields of financial planning and investment throughout her professional career. She was appointed as an honorary member of the Institut Québécois de Planification Financière (IQPF) in 2020 and as a Fellow of the IQPF in 2023 for her contribution to advancing the financial planner profession in Quebec.

Ms. Paquet has a Bachelor of Law from Université Laval and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from HEC Montréal.

Corporate governance practices

Our governance practices are a set of structures, policies, and processes designed to:

Photo of a woman speaking to their colleagues in a conference room
  • Protect National Bank’s interests
  • Ensure sound risk-taking
  • Ensure the integrity and ethical conduct of National Bank’s Directors, Officers, and employees
  • Detect and prevent conflicts of interest
  • Ensure that Directors are independent

For more details about our Governance Practices, Download our Circular 2023

Board of directors

Find out about the mandate of our Board of Directors and learn more about the professional background of each of its members.

Meet the Board

Codes and commitments

From consumer protection to anti-corruption, read more about the policies, codes and commitments that frame our activities.

Read our documents