Announcing the Award Winners of the 2012 "Aces of Finance" Competition

MONTREAL, QUÉBEC--(Marketwire - May 10, 2012) - The Quebec Chapter of Financial Executives International Canada (FEI Canada), an all-industry professional association for senior financial executives, announced the award winners of the "Aces of Finance" competition in front of more than 300 guests during a gala evening held at the prestigious Le Windsor on May 9, 2012.

Held this year under the honorary chairmanship of Pierre Matuszewski, Chief Executive Officer of Societe Generale in Canada, this competition is open to all Quebec-based Chief Financial Officers and Vice Presidents of Finance, regardless of FEI Canada membership. The purpose of the competition is to recognize the professional accomplishments and community involvement of three exceptional financial executives. This year, the jury selected four award winners. Their names are:

"Public corporation, including crown corporation" category

• Mr. Daniel Buron, CA, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Domtar

"Private corporation" category (placed equal)

• Mr. Michel G. Gagnon, ICD.D, Vice President, Finance and Business Development, Aluminerie Alouette inc.
  and
• Mr. Sylvain J. Perron, CA, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Biron Groupe Santé Inc.

"Emerging financial executive" category

• Ms. Stéfanie Pelletier, CA, Vice President, Finance, Laurentian Bank of Canada

With so many remarkable finalists, it was no easy task for jury members to narrow the field. The four award winners have all gone beyond their primary role as a financial executive and have made exceptional contributions to their individual companies by providing their presidents with strategic guidance. Their achievements are all the greater, considering the difficult economic context of recent years and that certain decisions must have been difficult to make.

"Our profession requires vast expertise, and we are very proud of this," declared Mr. Carl Gauvreau, President, Quebec Chapter of FEI Canada. "This event is a unique opportunity to highlight the work of highly-competent financial executives, who make direct and significant contributions to their organizations, regardless of the industry sector."

During the gala evening, the Quebec Chapter of FEI Canada also named the recipient of the first-ever Homage Award, part of the "Aces of Finance" competition. This award is given to the financial executive whose outstanding career has contributed greatly to finance and who is an inspiration to peers. The winner is Mr. Richard Fortin, founding member of Alimentation Couche-Tard. Mr. Fortin served as the company's financial executive for more than 25 years and currently sits on several important boards of directors.

This was the second edition of the "Aces of Finance" competition.

About Financial Executives International Canada (FEI Canada)

Financial Executives International Canada (FEI Canada) or Dirigeants financiers internationaux du Canada (DFI Canada) is an all-industry professional association for senior financial executives, comprising 2,000 members in 11 chapters across Canada. FEI Canada offers its members, close to 200 of which belong to the Quebec Chapter, professional development, thoughtful leadership and advocacy services. The membership, which consists of chief financial officers, audit committee directors and senior executives in the finance, controller, treasury and taxation functions, represents a significant number of the most influential corporations in Canada. For more information, visit www.feicanada.org.