Marie-Claude Léonard appointed Chief Executive Officer of the STM

Montréal, July 22, 2022 – After a thorough selection process, Éric Alan Caldwell, Chair of the STM Board of Directors and of the Selection Committee, has announced the appointment of Marie-Claude Léonard as Chief Executive Officer of the STM. Léonard has signed on for a five-year term.

“We chose the best candidate for the job, through a months-long process that involved meeting several internal and external candidates,” said Caldwell. “A standout for her acute understanding of customer needs and operational realities, Ms. Léonard also demonstrated an ability to take a fresh look at things and make the necessary decisions to achieve our objectives. Amid the pandemic and various financial issues, the STM now needs to reinvent itself. Our new CEO’s leadership, nerve and ability to rally our organization’s greatest strengths will allow us to transform our processes and continue providing Montrealers with access to an efficient, appealing, high-performance public transit network for years to come.”

“I would like to thank the members of the Selection Committee, the Board of Directors and Mr. Caldwell for their confidence,” said Léonard. “I am truly honoured. It is with renewed pride and excitement that I take up my position as CEO of the STM. I aim to bring out the full potential of our employees, who will help bring our organization into the future and make it even more efficient, so that we can meet the expectations of our customers and of future generations as a leader in sustainable mobility and in the fight against climate change.”

Biography: Marie-Claude Léonard

Marie-Claude Léonard holds a bachelor’s degree in medical biology and a graduate diploma in management from HEC Montréal. She has worked for the STM for 30 years, including 20 years as a manager. Having begun her career as an STM agent when she was a student, she rose through the ranks and was appointed Executive Director, Bus and Métro Operations, in September 2021 before being named as interim CEO in March 2022. She has been a member of the Executive Committee for the last six years. In addition, she serves on several international committees, including the Policy Board of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP).

Official photo