Charles Sirois
Encyclopedia
Charles Sirois, is a Canadian
businessman. He is the founder, controlling shareholder, Chairman and CEO of Telesystem Ltd., a Canadian private equity company.
Born in Chicoutimi, Quebec
, he received a Bachelor's degree from the Université de Sherbrooke
and a Master's degree from Université Laval
.
Charles Sirois has experienced significant success in his business career. He is currently a director of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Cossette Communication Group and Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal. He led BCE Mobile Communications from 1988 to 1990 as its Chairman and CEO. Subsequently, he was Chairman and CEO of Teleglobe, the leading provider of international long distance and broadband services in Canada. He also served as Chairman of Telesystem International Wireless, and founded and was Chairman of Microcell Telecommunications, a GSM cellular provider in Canada best known for its Fido brand name. He was also a member of the G8 Dot Force, of the National Broadband Task Force, and was a founding member of the Washington based Global Information Infrastructure Commission (GIIC).
Charles holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Sherbrooke (Quebec), a Master’s degree in Finance from Laval University (Quebec City), as well as honorary doctorates from University of Quebec Montreal (UQAM), University of Ottawa, Concordia University, Laval University and the École de technologie supérieure (ETS).
In 1994, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
in recognition for being "a visionary in the area of intercontinental communications". In 1998, he was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec
.
In 1995, he published a book on the information highway entitled “The Medium and the Muse” (ISBN 0-88645-175-2). In his second book, published in June 2000, “Organic Management: Creating a Culture of Innovation” (ISBN 0-00-200053-9), Charles shares his management philosophy, along with his vision of the new economy.
Sirois had a net worth
of $811 million CDN in 2006.
Sirois is probably best known within investment circles for his disastrous purchase of U.S. based Excel Communications in 1998. Excel, which was a reseller of residential long distance services, relied on door-to-door sales and so-called multi-level marketing. While Sirois was able to sell Teleglobe to Bell Canada in 2000 at a handsome price of $6.5 billion, the subsequent bursting of the internet bubble and telecom bust forced Teleglobe into bankruptcy in 2002 and the writedown of $2.1 billion of Excel.
Charles Sirois is one of the founding partners of Enablis and has served as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from inception.
In February 2009, Sirois became the Chair of CIBC.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
businessman. He is the founder, controlling shareholder, Chairman and CEO of Telesystem Ltd., a Canadian private equity company.
Born in Chicoutimi, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, he received a Bachelor's degree from the Université de Sherbrooke
Université de Sherbrooke
The Université de Sherbrooke is a large university with campuses located in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada and Longueuil, a suburb of Montreal approximately west of Sherbrooke. It is one of two universities, and the only French language university, in the Estrie region of Quebec.In 2007, the...
and a Master's degree from Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
.
Charles Sirois has experienced significant success in his business career. He is currently a director of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Cossette Communication Group and Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal. He led BCE Mobile Communications from 1988 to 1990 as its Chairman and CEO. Subsequently, he was Chairman and CEO of Teleglobe, the leading provider of international long distance and broadband services in Canada. He also served as Chairman of Telesystem International Wireless, and founded and was Chairman of Microcell Telecommunications, a GSM cellular provider in Canada best known for its Fido brand name. He was also a member of the G8 Dot Force, of the National Broadband Task Force, and was a founding member of the Washington based Global Information Infrastructure Commission (GIIC).
Charles holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Sherbrooke (Quebec), a Master’s degree in Finance from Laval University (Quebec City), as well as honorary doctorates from University of Quebec Montreal (UQAM), University of Ottawa, Concordia University, Laval University and the École de technologie supérieure (ETS).
In 1994, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in recognition for being "a visionary in the area of intercontinental communications". In 1998, he was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
.
In 1995, he published a book on the information highway entitled “The Medium and the Muse” (ISBN 0-88645-175-2). In his second book, published in June 2000, “Organic Management: Creating a Culture of Innovation” (ISBN 0-00-200053-9), Charles shares his management philosophy, along with his vision of the new economy.
Sirois had a net worth
Net worth
In business, net worth is the total assets minus total outside liabilities of an individual or a company. For a company, this is called shareholders' preference and may be referred to as book value. Net worth is stated as at a particular year in time...
of $811 million CDN in 2006.
Sirois is probably best known within investment circles for his disastrous purchase of U.S. based Excel Communications in 1998. Excel, which was a reseller of residential long distance services, relied on door-to-door sales and so-called multi-level marketing. While Sirois was able to sell Teleglobe to Bell Canada in 2000 at a handsome price of $6.5 billion, the subsequent bursting of the internet bubble and telecom bust forced Teleglobe into bankruptcy in 2002 and the writedown of $2.1 billion of Excel.
Charles Sirois is one of the founding partners of Enablis and has served as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from inception.
In February 2009, Sirois became the Chair of CIBC.