Marc Parent (executive)

Marc Parent
CM
Born (1961-02-05) February 5, 1961 (age 63)
Verdun, Quebec (now Montreal), Canada
EducationÉcole Polytechnique de Montréal (B.Eng.)
Years active1984-present
EmployerCAE Inc.
TitlePresident and Chief Executive Officer of CAE
PredecessorRobert E. Brown (CAE)
Board member ofTelus
Awards
Website

Marc Parent CM (born February 5, 1961) is a French-Canadian business executive, mechanical engineer, and philanthropist. He has been the president and chief executive officer of CAE[4] since 2009.

Early life and education

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Marc Parent was born in Verdun, Quebec.[5] At the age of 12, he joined the 51st Air Cadet squadron in Ottawa. He later switched to the 783rd Air Cadet squadron in Montreal. Parent obtained his pilot's license through the Air Cadets at the age of 17.[6] He remained in the Air Cadets for a total of 6 years.[7][8]

Parent graduated from the Polytechnique Montréal in 1984 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.[9] In 2012, Parent received an honorary doctorate from the same institution.[10]

Parent is a graduate of the Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program.[4]

Parent is an active pilot, holding an Airline Transport Pilot License from Transport Canada.

Career

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Canadair and Bombardier

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Parent began his engineering career as an aerospace engineer with Canadair in 1984. He started as an engineer on the Challenger and Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) programs.[11] Following the sale of Canadair to Bombardier by the Mulroney government in 1986, Parent continued his work on those programs. In 1987, he became manager of the Challenger's mechanical systems, with the mandate of fixing the aircraft's teething problems.[5] In 1990, he was made responsible for setting up the Bombardier flight testing and certification center in Wichita, Kansas.[5] In 1993, Parent's responsibilities were expanded, as he was promoted to project director for the Challenger 604.[5] Soon after Bombardier's acquisition of de Havilland Canada,[12] Parent was put in charge of the De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 program.[5] In 1998, he was named as Bombardier's vice president, Program Management, making him responsible for all of Bombardier's aircraft development programs, including the Global Express, the Learjet 45, the CRJ, and the upcoming Challenger 300.[5][13]

From 2000 to 2004, Parent held various executive positions within Bombardier. In 2000, he was promoted to vice president, Operations, for Bombardier's De Havilland facility in Toronto, Canada.[13] In 2001, he was named vice president and general manager of operations for that facility.[13] In 2003, he was promoted to vice president and general manager, U.S. operations.[13] In 2004, Parent returned to Bombardier's Montreal facility in order to take on the role of vice president and general manager of the Challenger 300, Challenger 604, 850/870, and CRJ-200 aircraft programs.[13]

CAE

[edit]

In February 2005, Parent joined CAE to take on the role of group president, Simulation Products.[14] CAE had been financially struggling since 2004, and Parent was hired to correct the situation.[14] In 2006, he was promoted to group president, Simulation Products and Military Training & Services.[4] His role at CAE was once again expanded in 2008, as he was promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer. As executive vice president and COO, he was responsible for all four of the company's business segments and all new growth initiatives.[4] In November 2008, he joined CAE's board of directors.[15] Following the retirement of CAE's CEO Robert E. Brown August 12, 2009, CAE's board of directors announced that Parent would be chosen as his successor.[15] Parent officially became president and chief executive officer of CAE in October 2009.[16]

As president and CEO, Parent focused on expanding CAE's position in the flight training business and diversifying CAE's product portfolio, including expansion into the healthcare sector. Under his leadership, CAE expanded its core military training in the U.S. through the acquisition of L3 Harris' military training business.[17]

Under Parent's leadership, CAE became the first carbon neutral Canadian aerospace company,[18][19] and in November 2022, CAE was voted as one of Canada's top employers.[20]

COVID-19 response

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With the shortages of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers and ventilators in Canada at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the loss of revenue caused due to travel restrictions related to the pandemic,[21] Parent shifted CAE's focus towards helping Canada's COVID-19 response. Under Parent's leadership, CAE developed the CAE Air1™ ventilator, signing a contract with the Government of Canada to manufacture and supply 10,000 ventilators.[22] In 2021, Parent led the charge in a mobilization effort with many large Quebec and Canadian companies to work with the government so they could expedite the vaccination effort by opening their own "vaccination hubs" for employees.[23] CAE's vaccination centre opened in April 2021 and administered over 33,000 doses of vaccine.[24]

Other corporate activities

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Parent serves on the board of directors of Telus,[25] McGill University Health Centre Foundation, and the Business Council of Canada (BCC).[4][26][27]

Parent chaired the board for Aero Montreal, Quebec's aerospace cluster, from 2008 until 2010.[28] He is a past board member and chair for the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC). He also served as a member of the board of directors and executive committee for the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI).[4]

Philanthropy

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Parent is a trustee of the Lakefield College School Foundation,[29] and is a member of the Council of Governors for the greater Montreal branch of the United Way Centraide Canada Organization.[30]

In 2013, he joined Michael E. Roach as co-president of the Centraide Cabinet de Campagne.[31]

In 2019, Parent made a donation of $3 million to Lakefield College School for the construction of a new student residence. The new residence will be named the "Parent House" in his honor.[32]

In 2019, he joined Jean Raby as co-president of the Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal (MBAM) Ball.[33]

In 2020, Parent made a $100,000 donation to the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Foundation. These funds were used to support research using the Biobanque québécoise de la COVID-19 (BQC19).[34][35] In 2020, he joined Suzanne Legge Orr and Jean Charest as co-chairs of the MUHC Foundation's Dream Big campaign.[36]

Awards and recognition

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  • 1999: Canada's Top 40 under 40[37]
  • 2005: Aerospace Engineering Leadership Award, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)[4]
  • 2005: Forest R. McFarland award[38]
  • 2010: Fellow of Society of Automotive Engineers International[39]
  • 2011: Defence Executive of the Year, Canadian Defence Review[40]
  • 2012: Honorary Doctorate, Polytechnique Montréal[10]
  • 2016: Merit Award, Association of Polytechnique Graduates[38][9]
  • 2018: CEO of the year, Les Affaires[14]
  • 2019: James C. Floyd award[41]
  • 2020: Defence Executive of the Year, Canadian Defence Review[40]
  • 2020: Bernard-Landry prize[42]
  • 2020: Order of Canada CM [2][3]
  • 2021: Prix Prospère, Conseil du patronat du Québec[43]
  • 2021: Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame[44]
  • 2022: Industry Leader of the Year award, Living Legends of Aviation[45]
  • 2022: Panthéon de l’Air et de l’Espace du Québec[46]
  • 2022: Knight of the Ordre Nationale du Québec[47]
  • 2022: The Aviation Week & Space Technology 2022 Philip J. Klass Award for Lifetime Achievement[48]
  • 2024: Living Legends of Aviation[49]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "1999 – Canada's Top 40 Under 40". canadastop40under40.com. 1999. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  2. ^ a b General, Office of the Secretary to the Governor (2020-11-26). "Governor General Announces 114 New Appointments to the Order of Canada". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  3. ^ a b André Allard (2020-11-30). "Marc Parent nommé à l'Ordre du Canada". Les Ailes du Québec (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Marc Parent, C.M." www.cae.com. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Cloutier, Laurier (2000-12-28). "L'homme qui donne des ailes à de Havilland" [The man who gives wings to de Havilland]. La Presse (in French).
  6. ^ "Une vision porteuse de transformation : Marc Parent, Po 84, génie mécanique, président et chef de la direction de CAE". Carrefour de l'actualité (in French). 2019-03-13. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  7. ^ "Testimonials". Air Cadet League of Canada. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  8. ^ Laffont, Nicolas (2015-01-28). "Nouvelle formule pour le Spectacle aérien international de Bagotville 2015" [New formula for the 2015 Bagotville international air show]. 45eNORD (in French). Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  9. ^ a b "Des honneurs à Marc Parent, Pierre Boucher et Antoine Sirard au Gala Prix Mérite 2016 de l'Association des diplômés de Polytechnique". Carrefour de l'actualité (in French). 2016-12-05. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  10. ^ a b "Marc Parent - Doctorat honoris causa - École Polytechnique de Montréal". Prix et distinctions (in French). 2012-08-08. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  11. ^ "MARC PARENT NAMED AS CHAIRMAN OF AIAC". ottawacitizen. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  12. ^ Farnsworth, Clyde (1992-01-23). "COMPANY NEWS; Bombardier Agrees to Buy De Havilland From Boeing". New York Times.
  13. ^ a b c d e "2012 convocation - Polytechnique Montréal awards honorary doctorates to Marc Parent and Éric Mazur". Carrefour de l'actualité. 2012-07-03. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  14. ^ a b c "Comment Marc Parent a transformé CAE". www.lesaffaires.com (in French). Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  15. ^ a b "MARC PARENT NAMED NEW CEO OF CAE, BROWN RETIRES". ottawacitizen. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  16. ^ Ostrower, Jon (2010-07-20). "FARNBOROUGH: Face the facts with CAE chief executive Marc Parent". Flight Global. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  17. ^ "CAE". www.cae.com. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  18. ^ "CAE becomes first Canadian aerospace company to commit to carbon neutrality on GreenAir Online". www.greenaironline.com. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  19. ^ "CAE becomes first Canadian aerospace company to become carbon neutral". Vertical Mag. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  20. ^ "CAE". www.cae.com. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
  21. ^ "CAE foresees 'major disruptions' into autumn due to COVID-19 pandemic". CTV News. 2020-05-22. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  22. ^ "CAE". www.cae.com. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  23. ^ INC, CAE. "Vaccination in the workplace: CAE takes action to help accelerate vaccination against COVID-19 in Quebec". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  24. ^ "Corporate vaccination operation begins Monday at CAE in Montreal". Montreal. 2021-04-26. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  25. ^ "Board Members and Committees - Corporate Governance". TELUS. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  26. ^ "Marc Parent, TELUS Board of Directors Bio - About". TELUS. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  27. ^ "Our Members". Business Council of Canada. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  28. ^ "Marc Parent". www.aeromontreal.ca. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  29. ^ "Foundation Trustees". www.lcs.on.ca. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  30. ^ "Council of Governors". centraide. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  31. ^ "Les présidents de CAE et de CGI à la tête du cabinet de la prochaine campagne Centraide". centraide (in French). Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  32. ^ "Historic Week for Lakefield College School". Lakefield College School. 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  33. ^ "Profit net record de plus de 1 600 000 $ pour le Bal du Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal". www.mbam.qc.ca (in French). Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  34. ^ "CAE's Marc Parent donates to support research using the Biobanque québécoise". MUHC Foundation. 2020-08-17. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  35. ^ QMI, Agence. "Gros don du président de CAE à la Fondation du CUSM". Le Journal de Montréal. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  36. ^ "MUHC Foundation launches $200M Dream Big Campaign". McGill Reporter. 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  37. ^ "Canada's Top 40 Under 40 - Honourees 1999". canadastop40under40.com. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
  38. ^ a b "Ingénieurs honorés". La Presse (in French). 2016-12-19. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  39. ^ "Marc Parent, C.M." www.cae.com. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
  40. ^ a b Mahon, Tim (2020-02-25). "Marc Parent 10 years after being named our very first DEOY, CDR again honours CAE's President & CEO". Canadian Defence Review. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  41. ^ "Marc Parent reçoit le prix James C. Floyd de l'AIAC". Les Ailes du Québec (in Canadian French). 2019-11-13. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  42. ^ "Gala des Prix Innovation 2020 - VF". ADRIQ (in French). Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  43. ^ "PRIX PROSPÈRE du CPQ et Bourses Ghislain Dufour : souligner les talents en affaires et l'excellence académique". www.cpq.qc.ca. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  44. ^ "Marc Parent - Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame". 2021-09-28. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  45. ^ "CAE's CEO honored with aviation award". Vertical Mag. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
  46. ^ "HUB FBO on LinkedIn: #FondationAerovisionQuebec #YHU #aeroportYHU". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
  47. ^ "Marc Parent – Ordre national du Québec". www.ordre-national.gouv.qc.ca. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
  48. ^ "2022 Philip J. Klass Lifetime Achievement: Marc Parent". Aviation Week Network. 8 November 2022.
  49. ^ INC, CAE. "CAE's CEO Marc Parent honored with the prestigious Living Legends of Aviation's Industry Leader of the Year Award". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
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