MONTRÉAL – Bell is mourning the loss of former Bell Canada CEO and Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) founder Jean de Grandpré (above) who passed away last weekend. He was 100 years old.
“Mr. de Grandpré was instrumental in transforming the telecommunications industry in Canada, and an important leader in the business community,” a Bell press release issued today says.
de Grandpré joined Bell in 1966 as general counsel, became CEO and chair of the board in 1976, and played a key role in creating BCE in 1983. de Grandpré “guided Bell through a transformative period in its history that included the launch of mobile phone services, the introduction of fibre optics technology and the rise of personal computers,” the press release says.
Prior to his time at Bell, de Grandpré worked at the law practice of Brais and Campbell and later Tansey, de Grandpré, de Grandpré, Bergeron and Monet. It is with the latter firm “that he first represented Bell Canada as legal counsel before regulatory authorities in Ottawa,” according to his bio on the Ordre de Montréal’s website. (de Grandpré was inducted into the Academy of Great Montrealers in 1987 and in 2016 was named a Commander of the Ordre de Montréal.)
“In 1956 and 1957, he acted as legal counsel for the Royal Commission of the Inquiry on Radio and Television,” his bio says.
He was named a companion of the Order of Canada in 1987 and was Chancellor Emeritus of McGill University, a lifetime member of the Canadian Bar Association and a member of the Bar of Québec.
de Grandpré was renowned for his mentorship of future leaders at Bell, the company’s press release says. His biography, L’héritage d’un géant (The Legacy of a Giant), was published in 2019.
“I am saddened by the passing of Mr. de Grandpré who was a great role model and an inspiration for myself and for many of us in the telecommunications industry,” said Mirko Bibic, president and CEO of BCE and Bell, in the release.
“On behalf of the entire Bell team, I extend our deepest sympathies to Mr. de Grandpré’s family, friends and everyone who had the great privilege of knowing him.”
Photo supplied by Bell.
