A humane and healthy planet.
To back the best entrepreneurs that are improving the overall health and sustainability of the food system.
EPISODE
14
PUBLISHED:
1/28/21
On this episode, we are joined by Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) leaders Frédéric Godbout and Mario Therrien. The pair discuss the value of partnerships and break down CDPQ's strategy for return, risk, and carbon footprint including how CDPQ supports innovation and growth across their direct investment platform. Frédéric and Mario provide insights to entrepreneurs and companies on what they are looking for today with a direct investment and partner.
Learn more about S2G and CDPQ's partnership.
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Frédéric Godbout
Senior Managing Director, Funds, Private Markets
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ)
Frédéric Godbout is Senior Managing Director, Funds, Private Markets. In this role, he is responsible for all of CDPQ’s private equity and credit activities. He sits on the International Private Equity and Infrastructure committees.
With CDPQ since 2002, Mr. Godbout previously held the role of Senior Managing Director, Strategic Partnerships, Developed Markets. He also served as Senior Vice-President and Deputy Head, Private Equity. In this role, he was responsible for private equity teams active in fund strategy, opportunistic credit and co-investment. Before joining CDPQ, he was a Strategic Intelligence Consultant at ModelCom. He began his career as an Investment Advisor at Royal Bank of Canada Financial Group.
He is a graduate of HEC Montréal and is a CFA charterholder. He sits on the Boards of Directors of the Institutional Investor Roundtable, the Fondation de l’Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal and the Opéra de Montréal.
Mario Therrien
Head of Investment Funds and External Management
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ)
Mario Therrien leads CDPQ’s investment funds activities. The teams he oversees invest in private investment funds and credit in private markets, as well as in venture capital in Québec and internationally. They are also responsible for external management in equity markets, as well as developing and managing strategic and institutional relationships. His mandate consists of adding value by building portfolios with the best external managers, while improving in-house management through the sharing of knowledge and expertise. He sits on the Investment-Risk Committee.
Prior to this role, Mr. Therrien was Senior Managing Director and Head of Strategic Partnerships, Developed Markets. He joined CDPQ in 1993as an Analyst before taking on the role of Portfolio Manager in the group responsible for absolute return activities. Subsequently, he was mandatedto develop external management activities in liquid-asset classes.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Master’s degree in Finance from Université de Sherbrooke. He has also completed the Canadian Securities Course given by the Canadian Securities Institute, and is a CFA charter holder.