Campus news
Gala Luminescence: Jean Chagnon named Distinguished Alumnus
September 24, 2026
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Jean Chagnon (HEC Montréal 1970) will receive the honorary title of Distinguished Alumnus from HEC Montréal and its Alumni Association at the Gala Luminescence on October 29, 2026.
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This honor is in recognition of his outstanding career and exceptional commitment to HEC Montréal and society. As part of the event, in addition to a special tribute that will be paid to him, four other awards will be presented to the alumni community in the following categories: Leadership and Performance – Large Business; Entrepreneurship; Social Impact; Global Recognition.
Committing to higher education
For 34 years, Jean Chagnon was President and CEO of Lallemand, a Canadian family business specializing in the development, production and marketing of yeast, bacteria and specialty ingredients, acquired in 1952 by his father Roland (HEC Montréal 1930).
“From a young age, my ambition was to follow in my father’s footsteps. There is only a 10% chance of success in every entrepreneurial generation, yet it may also be 0% if we don’t try. I am still learning things today, because one can never know everything. We must always keep on learning.”
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Jean Chagnon
This is why Jean Chagnon remains deeply attached to his two alma maters, HEC Montréal and the University of Oxford, investing in their outreach and development. He has, for instance, helped strengthen the ties between both institutions by supporting exchange scholarship programs, research initiatives and projects that promote collaboration and knowledge transfer. One such example is Measuring Beyond, a global initiative dedicated to improving practices for measuring an organization’s sustainable performance.
Leading the family business to the top
The member of the Conseil des Gouverneurs of the HEC Montréal Foundation has held this international vision—rooted in constant innovation—since his beginning of his career. When he joined Lallemand in 1975, the company had around fifty employees. Under his leadership, it transformed from a regional baking yeast producer into a major international concern. Present in more than 45 countries across five continents, it now employs several thousand people through a network of production sites, research laboratories and offices covering 11 business units.
Currently serving as a Vice-President and special advisor to Lallemand, as well as President of Placements Lallemand Inc., Jean Chagnon in turn handed over the reins to his son Antoine in 2015, marking the third generation of owners.
