Born on July 3, 1954 in Sudbury, Ontario (Canada), is a Canadian citizen.Paul Desmarais Jr. studied at McGill University in Montreal and then at INSEAD in Fontainebleau. He has a Masters in Business Administration. In 1984, he was appointed Vice-Chairman of Power Financial Corporation, a company he helped set up, becoming Chairman of the Board in 1990 and Chairman of the Executive Committee in May 2005. He was appointed Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Power Corporation of Canada in 1996.
Current directorships and offices held : Chairman of the Board of Directors and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Power Corporation of Canada* (Canada), Chairman of the Executive Committee of Power Financial Corporation* (Canada), Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Director of Pargesa Holding SA* (Switzerland), Vice-Chairman of the Board and member of the Strategy Committee of Imérys* (France), Director and member of the Management Committee of Great-West Lifeco Inc.*, and its main subsidiaries and of IGM Financial Inc* (Canada) and its main subsidiaries Director and member of Permanent Committee of Groupe Bruxelles Lambert* (Belgium), Director of Total SA* (France), Member of the International Board, Board of Directors and Audit Committee of INSEAD, Chairman of the International Advisory Board of HEC business school (Canada), Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Sagard Private Equity Partners (France).
Directorships and offices ceasing during fiscal year 2005 or at the beginning of 2006 : Chairman of the Board of Directors of Power Financial Corporation* (Canada).
New directorships and offices accepted during fiscal year 2005 or at the beginning of 2006 : Chairman of the Executive Committee of Power Financial Corporation*.
Over the last five years, Mr. Desmarais has ceased to exercise the following functions: Chairman of the Board of Directors of Power Financial Corporation* (Canada); Director of Rhodia (France), Electrafina and Tractebel (Belgium)..
Paul Desmarais Jr. holds 2,000 SUEZ shares. He is a member of the Compensation Committee.
*Listed companies
Information as of March 31, 2006
