Natural Resources >> CEO Interviews >> April 29, 2013

Interview with the CFO: Valener Inc. (VNR.TO)

Despars, Pierre
Pierre Despars, FCMA, FCPA, CA, is Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs of Gaz Metro and Chief Financial Officer of Gaz Metro and Valener Inc. Since February 2010, Pierre Despars has been responsible for all financing, corporate and legal activities of the company. He is also responsible for U.S. development of the gas and electric distribution sector. Mr. Despars began his career in 1985 as an Auditor with KPMG. In 1989, he joined Quebecor Printing, where he was Controller and Director, accounting. He joined Gaz Metro in 1991, serving in different positions in regulatory affairs, accounting and finance. Mr. Despars sits on Gaz Metro’s board of directors, audit committee and pension funds committee. He is also a member of the board of directors of some of Gaz Metro’s subsidiaries. Mr. Despars has a Bachelor of Business Administration from HEC Montreal and a Master of Business Administration from Concordia University. He is a member of the Ordre des Comptables Agrees du Quebec and Fellow at the Ordre des Comptables en management accredites du Quebec. Profile
TWST: Please start by telling us about the history of Valener.

Mr. Despars: Valener was created as part of Gaz Metro's reorganization of its public ownership structure in September