Mels Studios and Postproduction (MELS), part of Quebecor’s TVA Group, announced Wednesday two appointments to its management team, designed to strengthen its business relationships internationally and in the Canadian market.
Jean-Philippe Normandeau has been appointed to the position of vice-president of studios and international development. In this new role, Normandeau “will optimize MELS’s development and consolidate its presence with international producers and partners,” says a press release.
He will also oversee MELS’s studio operations, with the support of Mathieu Palmieri and Marianna Del Gioacco, while continuing to serve as chief operating officer at Incendo, a position he has held since 2013 at the TVA Group television production and distribution subsidiary.
“We’re delighted to kick off 2024 with this appointment, which will support our business development strategy,” Patrick Jutras, president of MELS, said in the release. “It comes as the film and television industry is picking up steam after a few soft years caused by external factors. Jean-Philippe Normandeau’s expertise and market insights will be invaluable in continuing to attract growing numbers of major productions to Montreal, and supporting the vision of excellence of MELS, one of Canada’s leading film and television service providers.”
“I am thrilled to accept this position, and look forward to helping MELS attract foreign productions to our world-class facilities and joining the company’s seasoned management team,” Normandeau said.
As chief operating officer at Incendo, Normandeau oversees operations management along with production and distribution activities. He previously sat on the board of directors of the Quebec Film and Television Council (QFTC) from 2013 to 2017. Before joining Incendo, he was general manager of financing and tax credits at the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles du Québec (SODEC). A graduate of HEC Montréal in international finance and management, he worked as an economic advisor specializing in tax and budget policy with the Quebec finance minister’s office for three years.
Normandeau “is a seasoned executive who has spearheaded international development efforts for Quebec’s television industry and promoted Quebec’s tax incentives to Hollywood film studios,” the release says.
To further support the MELS management team, Jutras also announced the appointment of Marie-Claude Desjardins as senior director of business development.
“After excelling in this role with Quebecor Media Expertise, Marie-Claude Desjardins will broaden her horizons by bringing her expertise to MELS,” Jutras said. “Her role will be to support senior management in business development for the Canadian market. Her thirty-plus years of experience, strong leadership and finely honed knowledge of the Canadian media landscape will be assets in this new role on the management team.”
For more than eight years, Desjardins has successfully promoted the Quebecor Media Expertise range of brands and platforms from Toronto, the press release says.
“Her new role will also include MELS business development for the Canadian market, to promote the company’s unique expertise and raise its profile outside Quebec,” the release says.
Photos of (l-r) Jean-Philippe Normandeau and Marie-Claude Desjardins provided by TVA Group.
