Biography

In 1997, Bertrand quit his career in management consulting to try his luck as an entrepreneur, using his life savings to acquire 33% of a 12-person design studio. For the first 19 years of his new career, he assumed the role of Executive Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer at Sid Lee. He focused on business development, led client relationships, and drove organizational vision. In 2008, he authored a best-selling book called Conversational Capital, and in 2012, along with Sid Lee partner Jean-François Bouchard and Cirque du Soleil CEO Daniel Lamarre, helped formulate the insight that gave birth to C2 Montréal, a unique conference on creativity in business. In 2016, Bertrand was awarded a Doctorate Honoris Causa in literature by his alma mater, McGill University, in recognition of his achievements and contributions to the community. In 2017, Bertrand and Jean-François did something seldom seen in business: They swapped roles, and Bertrand took over the day-to-day operations as CEO. Today, he also sits on several boards, including IDEO and C2 International. People who work closely with him know that he always (and we mean always) says exactly what he thinks. In his spare time, Bertrand is an aspiring Iron Chef and an avid tennis player. He is the proud dad of two adult daughters and lives in Montréal with his wife, Josée Noiseux.