Hugues Simon will succeed Mario Plourde as President and CEO of Cascades

KINGSEY FALLS, QC, May 16, 2024 /CNW/ – Cascades Inc. (TSX: CAS) announces the appointment of Mr. Hugues Simon named new President and CEO. Mr. Simon, currently President of the Wood Products Division at Resolute Forest Products, will begin his new role no later than July 1, 2024. The appointment follows a comprehensive succession planning and recruitment process, supported in advance by an international company Mario Plourdes planned retirement. After more than eleven years at the helm of the company, Mr. Plourde will support the new President and CEO during a transition period until December 2024 and then serve as a special advisor.

Graduate of the University of Sherbrooke, Hugues Simon has more than 30 years of experience in key manufacturing roles, including as President of the Wood Products Division at Resolute Forest Products. Previously, Mr. Simon was President of BarretteWood Inc., where he served from 2012 to 2020.

“We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Hugues as President and CEO,” he said Patrick Lemaire, CEO of Cascades. “His extensive leadership experience in the industrial products sector will be of great benefit to the company and our customers. His track record demonstrates a strong commitment to operational excellence and we have full confidence that his expertise and experience will contribute to Cascades.” “We will continue to be successful and create value for our shareholders.”

“It is with great humility that I join the team at Cascades, a company with a rich history and deep-rooted values. “I am proud to join a company that is considered a pioneer in recycling and the circular economy, committed to innovation and a customer-focused approach that is reflected in the quality of its products and its people,” said Hugues Simon. “I look forward to working with all employees and continuing the important work begun under Mario’s leadership to ensure the company’s long-term growth and value creation. I would like to thank the Cascades board for their trust.”

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“It is with great emotion that I announce my retirement after nearly 40 years at Cascades. It was a great privilege to work with the Lemaire family and the entire Cascades team. “I leave the company knowing that the company is in an excellent position as it embarks on this new chapter,” explained Mario Plourde, President and CEO of Cascades. “I would like to thank the Board of Directors, the management team, our shareholders and all of our employees for their unwavering commitment. It is time for me to pass the torch and I am confident that Hugues' expertise and experience will enable him to lead Cascades successfully.

“On behalf of the Cascades employees and Board of Directors, I would like to thank Mario for his outstanding leadership over the past 11 years as President and CEO and for his exceptional tenure at Cascades. Mario is a visionary who has contributed a lot to building Cascades into the company it is today. Under his leadership, the company implemented a significant strategic realignment, modernizing its asset base, management tools and business processes Bear Island Project in Virginia. Thanks to him, Cascades is well positioned for the future and I look forward to continuing to rely on his experience during this transition period,” added Mr. Lemaire.

Founded in 1964, Cascades provides sustainable, innovative and value-added packaging, hygiene and recovery solutions. The company employs 10,000 talents across a network of nearly 70 locations across North America. Driven by its participatory management, half a century of recycling experience, and ongoing research and development efforts, Cascades continues to deliver innovative products that customers can rely on, while contributing to the well-being of people, communities, and the entire planet. Cascades shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CAS.

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SOURCE Cascades Canada ULC.

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