Edelman Montreal announced Thursday that it has selected former Sid Lee executive Yanik Deschenes as general manager, effective immediately.
As general manager, Deschenes has been charged with mobilizing and growing Edelman Montreal, which currently has a staff of more than 35. Prior to joining Edelman, Deschenes served as vice-president of global communications and business partnerships at Sid Lee for two years.
Deschenes replaces Anik Trudel at Edelman, who held the position for more than five years. According to Edelman, Trudel has left the company for a “new challenge” that will be announced soon.
Deschenes has a long history in Montreal, having previously held positions as president, general manager and CEO of Montreal.ad for the Association of Quebec Advertising Agencies (AAPQ), and director of corporate affairs for Walmart in Quebec. Prior to that he also held PR positions at the Canadian Space Agency and Cossette, where he assisted on the rebrand of the Molson Centre to the Bell Centre.
Speaking to Marketing, Deschenes called Edelman’s presence in Quebec a “well-guarded secret.”
“Edelman is a recognized name, but people don’t realize the strong assets it has in Montreal,” he said, explaining the Montreal office serves as a digital and anlaytics hub for Edelman globally, serving clients including Starbucks, Unilever and Johnson & Johnson.
In a release, Edelman Canada CEO John Clinton said Deschenes “perfectly embodies Edelman’s mission to promote and protect the relations of a brand.”
“His 15+ years of experiences with leading agencies combined with his outstanding achievements at Walmart and the AAPQ will add significant value for our employees and clients.”
Deschenes added, “Over the last years, I have had the chance to follow and experience the evolution of the communications industry and I believe that Edelman is extremely well positioned to offer and deliver truly authentic and creative communication solutions.”
