Cascades makes organizational changes to support ‘strategic growth’

In a move intended to support strategic growth, Kingsey Falls, Quebec-based paper and packaging company Cascades Inc. is implementing organizational changes it says will strengthen alignment, increase agility, improve execution and accelerate decision-making.

Effective Nov. 11, Cascades will combine its containerboard and specialty products (SPG) activities into a single operational unit, bringing together the company’s containerboard packaging network with what it says is SPG’s “agility and game-changing innovation.”

Jean-David Tardif, president and chief operating officer (COO) of Cascades’ tissue group, has been appointed to executive vice president of packaging.

Tardiff joined Cascades in 1997 and has worked in each of its three groups since then. From 2013 to 2017, he was vice president of consumer products in the tissue business and, from 2017 to 2019, was vice president of operations for the containerboard packaging business.

“Jean-David has played a key role in restoring the tissue group’s competitive positioning and profitability,” Cascades President and CEO Hugues Simon says. “In so doing, he demonstrated the full extent of his leadership capabilities and talent for fostering the full potential of a high-performance team and improving customer service. I am convinced he has what it takes to succeed in this new challenge.”

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Charles Malo, current president and COO of the containerboard packaging segment, will be stepping down to focus on personal projects and will support Tardif through the transition.

“I sincerely thank Charles for all his years of remarkable service,” Simon says. “He leaves a lasting mark on the company, for which we are grateful to him. On behalf of all Cascaders, I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.”

Jérôme Porlier, president and COO of the SPG, has been appointed executive vice president of tissue. He joined Cascades in 2012 and has held a variety of roles within the tissue group, including plant manager and general manager.

"A mobilizing and well-organized manager appreciated for his positive leadership, Jérôme has enabled SPG to deliver the best results in its history in recent months,” Simon says. “He embodies the rising generation of accomplished, eco-responsible leaders and has the qualities needed to succeed in this new challenge."

Finally, Cascades has appointed Emmanuelle Migneault as vice president of excellence, where she will support management teams in prioritizing and implementing value-creating opportunities and facilitate collaboration and support business units in implementing the plan.

Currently, Migneault is vice president of human resources for the tissue group and has held various HR and change management positions within Cascades since 2001. The company says she was a major contributor to the tissue group’s turnaround.

“We have the talent and know-how to propel Cascades to new heights,” Simon says. “Over the past few months, we have been focused on our business strategy and vision. We have many opportunities ahead of us and the changes we are announcing today will position the company to create greater synergies, enhance customer experience and will give us strong momentum for future growth.”