Olymel, the largest producer and processor of pork in Quebec, has just appointed a brand new CEO. Following the recent death of Réjean Nadeau, Yanick Gervais, who was previously at the head of La Fernandière, which specializes in making sausages, will take the reins of the company.
Barely installed in his new office, Mr. Gervais knows that several files await him. The Chinese blockade, which is hurting the company’s pork exports to the Asian country, the labor shortage and its relationship with pig farmers are among the most important.
“These are big shoes to wear,” admits the new boss, 42, whose appointment was publicly announced by the company on Thursday.
“It’s not the ideal situation,” he said, referring to his predecessor. I was very close to Mr. Nadeau. It was sure that it was a shock for everyone. The best we can do to pay tribute to what he has done is to continue to grow and optimize Olymel, ”he said in a telephone interview with Press.
Recall that the former President and CEO, Réjean Nadeau, died in October from a dazzling cancer. It was also Yanik Gervais who had been appointed to act as interim.
The man is therefore not a newcomer to the organization. La Fernandière, a family business that he managed for ten years, was acquired by Olymel in 2016. “Little by little, I made the transition from La Fernandière to Olymel,” he says. Until recently, he served as Senior Vice President, Operations.
“These are colleagues who become my personal guard. Reality for me doesn’t change dramatically overnight. We have the same challenges. We will continue what we are working on. I can’t tell you it’s going to make a huge change. ”