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Alain Lemaire stepping down as Cascades board chair; Patrick Lemaire to take over

Cascades shared in a press statement that Alain Lemaire will step down from his role as chairman of the board of directors at the company’s annual general meeting in May 2024. Patrick Lemaire will succeed him.

Alain Lemaire will continue as a board director.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to serve Cascades as executive chairman over the last 10 years. Cascades is much more than a business for my brothers and me: it is an achievement of a lifetime. I am very proud of what we have accomplished and of the work carried on by the entire Cascades team. Their efforts are what make Cascades excel,” said Alain Lemaire. “Today, I am choosing to continue my involvement in the company as a director on the board while passing the torch to a new generation. I have every confidence in Patrick’s ability to chart the course for the future. His deep understanding of Cascades will be an important asset as we continue working towards our strategic goals.”

“I would like to thank Alain for his leadership as executive chairman over the last decade. I would also like to thank him for his constant support and dedication to Cascades’ growth and success. I am pleased that Alain will remain as a director and that the company will continue to benefit from his vast experience for years to come. I am also pleased that Patrick Lemaire has accepted this new mandate. Patrick has all the qualities required to successfully take on the role of chairman,” said Mario Plourde, president and chief executive officer of Cascades.

A graduate in mechanical engineering, Patrick Lemaire has been a member of Cascades’ board of directors since 2016. He previously served as president and CEO of Boralex from September 2006 until his retirement in December 2020. Over the last decade, he transformed the company and helped to position it as a leader in renewable energy in France. He has been recognized repeatedly for his leadership on environmental issues. At Cascades, where he held several management positions between 1988 and 2006, Patrick reportedly demonstrated his managerial skills and seasoned leadership as mill manager of five plants and vice-president and chief operating officer in the containerboard packaging sector.

“I will fulfill my new responsibilities as chairman of the board in the spirit of continuity and with a firm commitment to advance our company’s values. I look forward to working closely with our exceptional leadership team and employees,” stated Patrick Lemaire.