Appointments to the MELS management team

To support Patrick Jutras, President of MELS, in deploying the company’s strategic vision and strengthening its business relationships, MELS is pleased to announce the appointment of Jean-Philippe Normandeau as Vice-President, Studios & International Development. In this new role, Jean-Philippe will optimize MELS’s development and consolidate its presence with international producers and partners. He will also oversee studio operations, with support of Mathieu Palmieri and Marianna Del Gioacco. In parallel with this appointment, he will continue to serve as Chief Operating Officer at Incendo.

'We’re delighted to kick off 2024 with this appointment, which will support our business development strategy', noted Patrick Jutras, President of MELS. “It comes as the film and television industry is picking up steam after a few soft years caused by external factors. Jean-Philippe Normandeau’s expertise and market insights will be invaluable in continuing to attract growing numbers of major productions to Montreal, and supporting the vision of excellence of MELS, one of Canada’s leading film and television service providers.

“I am thrilled to accept this position, and look forward to helping MELS attract foreign productions to our world-class facilities and joining the company’s seasoned management team', said Jean-Philippe Normandeau.

Since 2013, Jean-Philippe Normandeau has been Chief Operating Officer at Incendo, a TVA Group subsidiary specializing in the production and distribution of prestige television programming for the global market, where he oversees operations management along with production and distribution activities. He also sat on the board of directors of the Quebec Film and Television Council (QFTC) from 2013 to 2017.

Before joining Incendo, he served as general manager, financing and tax credits, at the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles du Québec (SODEC). Jean-Philippe Normandeau is a seasoned executive who has spearheaded international development efforts for Quebec’s television industry and promoted Quebec’s tax incentives to Hollywood film studios. A graduate of HEC Montréal in international finance and management, Mr. Normandeau worked as an economic advisor specializing in tax and budget policy with the Quebec Finance Minister’s office for 3 years. To further support the MELS management team, Patrick Jutras is also pleased to announce the appointment of Marie-Claude Desjardins as Senior Director, Business Development.

'After excelling in this role with Quebecor Media Expertise, Marie-Claude Desjardins will broaden her horizons by bringing her expertise to MELS',  added Patrick Jutras. 'Her role will be to support senior management in business development for the Canadian market. Her thirty-plus years of experience, strong leadership and finely honed knowledge of the Canadian media landscape will be assets in this new role on the management team'.

For more than eight years, Marie-Claude Desjardins has successfully promoted the Quebecor Media Expertise range of brands and platforms from Toronto. Her new role will also include MELS business development for the Canadian market, to promote the company’s unique expertise and raise its profile outside Quebec.

LC