Marc-André Blanchard
Marc-André Blanchard | |
|---|---|
| 17th Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister | |
| Assumed office July 7, 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Mark Carney |
| Preceded by | Marco Mendicino |
| 24th Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations | |
| In office April 1, 2016 – July 31, 2020 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Justin Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Guillermo Rishchynski |
| Succeeded by | Bob Rae |
| President of the Quebec Liberal Party | |
| In office 2000–2008 | |
| Leader | Jean Charest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 10, 1965 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Political party | Quebec Liberal Liberal |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Marc-André Blanchard CM[1] (born November 10, 1965)[2] is a Canadian executive, lawyer and former diplomat. He served as Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, from April 1, 2016 until July 31, 2020. In June 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Blanchard as his new Chief of Staff starting in July.
Early life and education
Blanchard is a graduate of the Université de Montréal, the London School of Economics and Columbia University.[3]
Career
Prior to his appointment to the United Nations, Blanchard was chairman and CEO of McCarthy Tétrault, one of Canada's largest law firms,[4] and was president of the Quebec Liberal Party from 2000 to 2008.[5][6] He served on Justin Trudeau's transition team following the 2015 election.[7]
In 2013, Blanchard was named among the 25 most influential lawyers in Canada by Canadian Lawyer Magazine, and Catalyst Canada awarded him the CEO Recognition Award for his leadership in gender diversity.[8]
In 2016, Blanchard was nominated to represent Trudeau's foreign policy at the United Nations as Permanent Representative of Canada.[7][9] That same year, Blanchard was awarded Advocatus Emeritus by the Quebec Bar Association.
In 2017, he was named as a member of Canada's North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Council.[10] On May 3, 2018 he was named as Canada's Representative to the Ismaili Imamat, an announcement coinciding with the Canadian Diamond Jubilee visit of the Aga Khan.[11] Blanchard retired from his diplomatic postings on July 31, 2020, shortly after Canada lost the 2020 United Nations Security Council election.
Effective September 8, 2020, he is an executive vice-president of pension fund manager Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in charge of its CDPQ Global division, with responsibility for the United States/Latin America, Europe and Asia/Pacific.[12]
Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister
On June 1, 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney selected Blanchard as his Chief of Staff.[13]
References
- ^ "Order of Canada Appointees – June 30, 2025".
- ^ Apéro montréalais à l'hôtel 10 Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain
- ^ "Advocatus Emeritus 2017 - Le Barreau du Québec annonce les récipiendaires de la distinction Avocat émérite". www.newswire.ca (in French). Retrieved May 30, 2018.
- ^ "Canada’s Most Powerful Business People 2016: #43 — Marc-André Blanchard" Archived 2018-04-18 at the Wayback Machine. Canadian Business, November 17, 2015.
- ^ "Jean Charest returns to legal practice, joins Bay Street firm". The Globe and Mail, January 10, 2013.
- ^ Carbert, Michelle (September 21, 2016). "Canada's new UN ambassador outlines his vision for the future". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
- ^ a b "Trudeau picks close allies as ambassadors to U.S. and UN". The Globe and Mail, January 16, 2016.
- ^ "Government of Canada appoints H.E. Marc-André Blanchard, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the UN, as Canada's Representative to the Ismaili Imamat". Ismailimail. May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
- ^ "Diplomatic Appointments". Global Affairs Canada. January 16, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
- ^ "Canadian Club - Ambassador Marc-Andre Blanchard - Media Events". Media Events. October 16, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
- ^ "Diplomatic Appointments". Global Affairs Canada. May 18, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- ^ "Caisse hires Canada's retiring UN ambassador as executive in charge of global portfolio". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. July 31, 2020. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
- ^ Charron, Jeremie (June 1, 2025). "PM Carney taps former UN ambassador Marc-André Blanchard as chief of staff". CTV News. Retrieved June 1, 2025.