“The Company’s 2019 first-quarter sales and operating profit were in line with our expectations. The Company is also seeing an easing of the inflationary pressures that have been affecting our U.S. operations in recent quarters. Adjustments to selling prices will continue to be gradually implemented in 2019 but at a pace that reflects Lassonde’s competitive environment while taking into account the negative impacts that such price increases could potentially have on sales volume. To respond to the disruptions in our U.S. market, we are making the necessary adjustments to our business model,” said Pierre-Paul Lassonde, Chairman of the Board of Lassonde Industries Inc.
“As Chairman of the Board, I am also pleased to announce the appointment of Nathalie Lassonde as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. She will be replacing me in this role while I will continue to carry out the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors, a position I have held since 1973. The Board of Directors has made this decision to help ensure the continuity and stability of the business. Nathalie Lassonde embodies all of our values, particularly those of integrity, respect and responsibility. She will rely on a strong team of executives, including Lassonde’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Jean Gattuso, and its Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, Guy Blanchette, who have been at the heart of the business’s success for many years. As head of the Company’s talent management and development efforts, Nathalie Lassonde has gained an in-depth understanding of the business, one that will help her guide the management team,” continued Pierre-Paul Lassonde.
Holding a bachelor’s degree in finance from HEC Montréal, Nathalie Lassonde has worked for Lassonde Industries Inc. for 15 years and she has served as a member of its Board of Directors for 14 years. Having recently held the position of Assistant to the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer as well as that of Vice-President, Organizational Efficiency, she benefits from a profound understanding of the business.
“I’m honoured that the Board has decided to entrust me with this role so that we can continue Lassonde’s tradition of excellence, and I will count on the support of our strong management team to do so. Lassonde’s success does not depend on one individual; rather, it is rooted in the efforts of a team driven by a shared passion for excellence and benefiting from a wealth of complementary experience and talents. I am well aware of the challenge involved in maintaining the Company’s growth momentum, and I am more than confident that Lassonde has everything it needs to succeed,” said Nathalie Lassonde, the new Chief Executive Officer of Lassonde Industries Inc.
