Marie-Josée Gagnon, ARP

President and Founder

I’ve always loved communication. My first jobs after studying political science at Université de Montréal were in journalism, first as an intern at La Presse, then as a freelancer for magazines. As the brunt of the 1990 recession was hitting the media industry, I received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—at the age of 22, I was offered the position of press secretary for Jacques Parizeau, who was then leader of the Official Opposition of Québec and would go on to become premier. From 1990 to 1996, I was at the very heart of Quebec politics, a period that saw some of its most historic events.

Then followed a five-year period that began with a stint in France as chief of staff at the Québec Government Office in Paris. During this time, I developed an affection for France and Europe, art, architecture, fine wine, and good food. Upon returning to Quebec, I became Public Affairs Director for Laurentian Bank, then Vice President of Corporate Affairs at AXOR, an engineering and construction firm noted for its work on major projects. Through those two positions, I was able to discover my true calling in the world of business.

I founded the communications firm CASACOM in September 2001. It was the best decision of my life. CASACOM is more than a company. It is a place of discovery, exchange, and accomplishment that I am fortunate enough to share with people who hold common values, like always giving your best. My favorite part of working at CASACOM is helping my clients reach their business objectives and ensuring that all members of our team are constantly striving towards ambitious professional goals.

There is, of course, more to my life than work. My life is a perfect balance of involvement in various charitable (Garde-Manger pour tous, Technopôle Angus) and professional (Alliance des cabinets de relations publiques du Québec and Worldcom PR Group) organizations, current studies at Harvard Business School (Owners/Presidents Management program), family life, and many personal activities.

And you? How do you achieve the right balance in your life?

CV: download my résumé