Four years after his arrival at the helm of the general delegation of Quebec in New York, Jean-Claude Lauzon is about to bow out, our Parliamentary Office has learned.
“It has nothing to do with the election of the new government,” assured Mr. Lauzon in an exclusive interview with the Journal.
During a previous interview with the author of these lines, on the sidelines of Philippe Couillard’s visit to New York last July, Mr. Lauzon had refused to announce his intentions in the event of a change in power in Quebec.
However, the decision had already been made and carefully considered. In October 2017, Christine St-Pierre, who was then Minister of International Relations, had also been informed. However, the Prime Minister had asked Mr. Lauzon to remain in office until the end of 2018.
Pride and stability
“I am 69 years old. I think I gave what was needed here in New York. I am very proud of what we have achieved, ”summarized Mr. Lauzon on the phone, somewhere between Penn Station and Washington, where he was going Monday for the 33e times since the beginning of his mandate.
After the shortened stints of André Boisclair and Dominique Poirier, Mr. Lauzon took office on 1is December 2014. The four years he has devoted to this function have notably made it possible to restore some stability to the delegation nestled in Rockefeller Plaza, in addition to consolidating the Québec Office in Washington and opening a new one in Philadelphia.
The industrial psychologist by training who, during his career, has traveled the world working for large international firms such as Korn/Ferry or Ernst & Young plans to move with his wife, a New Yorker, a few steps from the delegation . He will therefore be able to easily ensure the transition with the person who will be appointed by the Legault government to succeed him.
“There will probably be an interim period, because we want to be sure [de choisir] a person who knows the business community very well in the United States and in New York among others,” explained Mr. Lauzon, who has already suggested a few names.
“I’m sure there will be a lot of people who will raise their hands and, overnight, have American skills, believes Mr. Lauzon, but people capable of putting on these shoes, he doesn’t there are not a dozen in Quebec.”
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