The Montreal Port Authority (MPA) has lost a third member of its management committee in just a few months. Responsible for the smooth running of port activities, Daniel Dagenais is leaving the organization to take charge of a maritime carrier, NEAS Group.
His departure was announced Monday morning to employees of the federal agency before the confirmation released by the company a few hours later. At the time of writing these lines, the APM had not commented on the decision taken by Mr. Dagenais, who will retain his position as vice-president of port performance and sustainable development until October 10.
This announcement comes just six days after the departure of Martin Imbleau, who left the presidency of the Port of Montreal to take control of the VIA Rail subsidiary which manages the development of the high frequency train (TGF) between Quebec and Toronto. This change was revealed by La Presse last July.
A sign of the importance of the role he plays at the Port of Montreal, Mr. Dagenais can be found directly under the interim president Geneviève Deschamps on the MPA website. Mr. Dagenais spent nearly 17 years with the federal agency.
Less publicized, the management committee also lost another member last April: Serge Auclair, who held the position of strategic vice-president of talent and culture, digital transformation and procurement. He had more than 12 years of service within the APM.
These changes in the senior management of the MPA come at a time when negotiations are continuing with the Trudeau government in order to obtain additional funding to absorb the cost overruns of the Contrecœur port terminal project, in southern suburbs of Montreal.
The bill for this project is now around 1.4 billion, compared to between 750 and 950 million previously. The financial package is still not completed.
