Paul Desmarais
InvestorIII, Co-Founder and Chairman at Diagram · Co-Founder at Portage Ventures · Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO at Sagard Private Equity Canada
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
About
Paul Desmarais serves as Chairman and CEO of Sagard, an alternative asset management firm with approximately $33 billion in assets under management. The firm invests across venture capital, private equity, private credit, and real estate, focusing on entrepreneurs in financial services, technology, business services, and healthcare sectors.
Invests in
Fintech
Experience
- SagardChairman and CEOcurrent2016 — present
- PortageCo-Founder and Executive Chairmancurrent2016 — presentGreater Toronto Area, Canada
- Diagram VenturesCo-Founder and Chairmancurrent2016 — presentMontreal, Quebec, Canada
- EmpowerBoard Membercurrent2023 — present
- WealthsimpleChairman Of The Boardcurrent2015 — presentGreater Toronto Area, Canada
- GrayhawkChairman of the Boardcurrent2020 — presentToronto, Calgary, and Montreal, Canada
- nestoBoard Membercurrent2020 — presentMontreal, Quebec, Canada
- DialogueChairman Of The Board2020 — 2023Montreal, Canada Area
- ImerysBoard Member2014 — 2022
- Personal CapitalBoard Member2016 — 2020
- Peak Achievement AthleticsChairman2017 — 2020Exeter, NH / Thousand Oaks, CA
- Great-West LifeBoard Member2014 — 2019
- IG Wealth ManagementBoard Member2014 — 2019
- Sagard CapitalChairman2014 — 2016Greenwich, Connecticut
- Great-West FinancialBoard Member2014 — 2016
- Putnam InvestmentsBoard Member2014 — 2016
- Great-West Lifeco IncAssistant Vice President - Risk Management2012 — 2014Greater Toronto Area, Canada
- ImerysCorporate Strategy2012Greater Paris Metropolitan Region
- ImerysProject Manager2010 — 2012
- Goldman SachsAssociate2007 — 2009
- Goldman SachsAnalyst2005 — 2007
- Goldman SachsAnalyst2004 — 2005
Skills & more
Business Strategy94Strategic Planning24Private Equity51Financial Analysis18Business Analysis9Analysis7Valuation15Project Management11Key Account Management5Customer Relations3Logistics4PowerPoint3
+12 more
ExcelCorporate FinanceWorking Capital ManagementFinancial ModelingCompetitive AnalysisSupply Chain ManagementMarket ResearchDue DiligenceLeadershipStrategyManagementMergers & AcquisitionsLanguages English · French
From Paul's professional profile.
Investments
Board seats
EmpowerMidasNestoNovistoSagard WealthWealthsimple
Per the firm's website.
Colleagues at Diagram
Amélie Foz-Couture
General Partner at Diagram
Anna Chif
Co-Founder at Diagram
Arun Vora
Analyst, Venture Creation at Diagram
Bardia Monavari
Associate, Venture Creation at Diagram
Benjamin Couture
Associate, Venture Creation at Diagram
Benoit Lacroix
Co-Founder and CEO at Diagram
Brian Canty
Partner, Venture Creation at Diagram
Charles Assaf
Co-Founder and CEO at Diagram
Network1
Investors connected to Paul in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Paul Desmarais?
- Paul Desmarais serves as Chairman and CEO of Sagard, an alternative asset management firm with approximately $33 billion in assets under management. The firm invests across venture capital, private equity, private credit, and real estate, focusing on entrepreneurs in financial services, technology, business services, and healthcare sectors.
- Where does Paul Desmarais work?
- Paul Desmarais is III, Co-Founder and Chairman at Diagram.
- What does Paul Desmarais invest in?
- Paul Desmarais invests in Fintech.
- What boards does Paul Desmarais sit on?
- Paul Desmarais holds tracked board seats at Empower, Midas, Nesto, Novisto, Sagard Wealth, Wealthsimple.
- Where did Paul Desmarais go to school?
- Paul Desmarais studied at INSEAD (MBA, Business); Harvard University (BA, Economics); Lakefield College School (High School).
Same school
Also attended INSEAD805
Alexandre ProtCo-founder & CEO of QontoSteve AnaviCo-founder & President of QontoPatrick ClaessenPartner at Cottonwood Technology FundChris BischoffInvestment Team at General CatalystJan HammerInvestor at Index VenturesSandra SchwarzerInvestor at Index Ventures
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+ 799 more
Also attended Harvard University1,558
Alfred LinPartner at Sequoia CapitalChris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen HorowitzSarah TavelVenture Partner at BenchmarkDanny RimerPartner at Index VenturesLaela SturdyManaging Partner at CapitalGBill GatesCo-founder of Microsoft; Chair of the Gates Foundation
+ 1,552 more
Also attended Lakefield College School2
Also attended Lower Canada College8
Melissa BelecVice President, Investor Relations at Panache VenturesChris LeggPartner at Progress VenturesAndrea Maia-DaviesInvestment Associate at Symvan CapitalChaeeun LeeInvestment Analyst at InBC Investment Corp.Ryan GarberCo-Founder & COO at Xposure at Lalotte VenturesCooper YoungTravel, Meetings, and Events Technology @ Planned at Lalotte Ventures
+ 2 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Diagram Ventures30
Mike CegelskiPartner at Panache VenturesFrancois LafortuneCo-Founder and CEO at DiagramAmélie Foz-CoutureGeneral Partner at DiagramFrederic LatreilleGeneral Partner at DiagramSteve SchultzGeneral Partner at DiagramEmily HaniotisPrincipal, Investments at Diagram
+ 24 more
Also worked at nesto4
Also worked at Dialogue8
Jean-Francois MarcouxCo-Founder & Managing Partner at White Star CapitalDavid KuczekInvestor at HV CapitalFelix KlührInvestor at HV CapitalTony van MarkenManaging Partner and Co-Founder at First Ascent VenturesFrancois LafortuneCo-Founder and CEO at DiagramAmanda GaiottiPartner, Corporate Development at Sagard Private Equity Canada
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+ 2 more
Also worked at Personal Capital9
Victor Pascucci IIIManaging General Partner, Cofounder at Energy Capital VenturesJay ReinemannGeneral Partner at Propel Venture PartnersDavid MortGeneral Partner at Propel Venture PartnersMarina LevinsonAdvisory Partner at Benhamou Global VenturesRob ForeggerBoard of Directors at Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET)Jim FeuilleVenture Partner at Crosslink Capital
+ 3 more