MONTREAL – BCE announced today Martine Turcotte, vice-chair, Québec, has decided to retire as of January 1, 2020 after 31 years with the company.
Turcotte has worked closely with five Bell chief executives and been named one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women multiple times, notes the company release.
She joined Bell as legal counsel in 1988 and progressively moved into more senior roles over the next decade at both Bell Canada and Bell Canada International. She was named chief legal officer in 1999, the first woman appointed to the role in the company's history and the youngest person ever to be promoted to Bell's executive team, reminds the release.
In 2011, Turcotte became vice-chair, Québec, leading Bell's business and community presence throughout the company's home province. She is a well-respected voice in the Québec business and cultural community.
"Martine Turcotte is a distinguished business leader, steadfast community advocate and outstanding legal mind whose passion and insight played a central role in the success of a re-energized Bell," said George Cope, president and CEO, in the release. "On behalf of our entire national team, I thank Martine for her tireless dedication to delivering for Bell's customers, communities and shareholders."
"Martine's countless contributions to Bell's progress are significant and long-lasting," added Mirko Bibic, COO and soon-to-be president and CEO come January 2020. "Martine has been a valued mentor to me in my time on Bell's legal and executive teams, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work so closely with her in such a transformational time in our company's history."
"My heartfelt thanks go out to George, Mirko, the board of directors and to all my talented colleagues at Bell here in Québec and throughout the country who have been part of my journey at a truly iconic company," said Turcotte in the release.
She has represented Bell in the business community in Quebec and with all levels of government, and has helped build Bell into a cultural force thanks to investments the Montreal Canadiens, Just for Laughs, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, le Festival d'été de Québec, Le Diamant, les Francos de Montréal and other festivals across Québec.
Turcotte was the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian General Counsel Awards in 2005, inducted into the WXN Hall of Fame in 2008 after being named one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful women multiple times, and honoured with the title Advocatus Emeritus by the Québec Bar Association in 2009 for her professional excellence and career success.
Bell will announce her replacement soon, the company said.
