Charles Emond, Distinguished Alumnus of the next Gala Luminescence
September 11, 2025
HEC Montréal and the HEC Montréal Alumni Association will bestow the honorary title of Distinguished Alumnus on Charles Emond at the next Gala Luminescence on October 30, 2025.
This is in recognition of his outstanding career, integrity, and commitment to the School and society.
During the gala, a special tribute will be paid to him. Other awards will also be presented to deserving alumni of the HEC Montréal community in the following categories:
- Leadership and Performance – Large Businesses;
- Leadership and Performance – Small and Medium Businesses;
- Entrepreneurship;
- Social Impact; and
- Global Recognition.
About the winner
Charles Emond is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (La Caisse). This means that he is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organization and positioning it in Quebec and the international markets to deliver optimal performance to its depositors. Prior to this appointment in 2020, he held the position of Executive Vice-President, Québec, Private Equity and Strategic Planning.
Before joining La Caisse in 2019, Mr. Emond worked for nearly 20 years at Scotia Bank and Scotia Capital. As someone who is deeply committed to community service, he sits on the Board of Directors of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and is involved in several organizations, including Centraide of Greater Montréal and the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation.
In addition to holding the FCPA and Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) designations, he is a graduate of HEC Montréal, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree in 1994. He describes his time at the School as a milestone in his personal as well as professional journey.
“HEC Montréal challenged me to broaden my view of the world. The Director of the School at the time told me: “If you want to see the world, you’ve come to the right place.” I also made many friends there. People who played significant roles in my career and with whom I remain very close today.”
Mr. Emond also says he learned to trust himself, and to think and act differently. These elements are essential for him and at the heart of the message he wishes to convey to the leaders of tomorrow:
“You will learn a lot of things by the book, but don’t lose sight of your creativity. I firmly believe that you should refuse to be pigeonholed but accept instead the opportunities [for growth] being offered to you. This will help you develop your judgment as much as your skills. People see things in you that you may not see. Trust them and trust yourself!”