CIRANO announces the appointment of Pierre-Carl Michaud as President and CEO

CIRANO is proud to announce the appointment of Mr. Pierre-Carl Michaud as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 1, 2026. A distinguished economist and committed researcher, Mr. Michaud will bring to CIRANO his expertise in economic policy, demographic aging, public finance, and financial literacy, in support of the organization's mission: to inform public decision-making through research.

Holding a doctorate in economics from Tilburg University (Netherlands), Mr. Pierre-Carl Michaud is a Full Professor in the Department of Applied Economics at HEC Montréal, where he also holds the Jacques-Parizeau Research Chair in Economic Policy. He previously served as an economist at the RAND Corporation and as a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. His research has been published in leading international academic journals and is regularly cited in public policy debates in Quebec and internationally. He has received several distinctions for the excellence of his work, including the Prix Marcel-Dagenais and the Prix Esdras-Minville. He is a member of the College of New Scholars of the Royal Society of Canada and a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal.

A CIRANO researcher and Fellow for over ten years, Mr. Michaud served as Vice-President, Strategy and Government Relations. He has an in-depth knowledge of the organization's activities and mission, and maintains an extensive network across academic, government, and private sector communities.

Mr. Pierre-Carl Michaud fully embodies the values of scientific rigour, collaboration, and societal commitment that are at the heart of CIRANO's mission.

« I am deeply grateful for the confidence placed in me by the Board of Directors, and it is with great humility that I approach this new challenge. CIRANO is much more than an interuniversity research centre: it is a unique space for knowledge mobilization, where scientific rigour informs public and private decision-making on the major issues facing society. I wish to advance this mission together with the entire CIRANO community — researchers, partners, staff, and decision-makers — by further strengthening the links between research, public policy, and action. It is an honour to succeed Nathalie De Marcellis-Warin, whose vision, leadership, and immense contribution to CIRANO's influence I wish to acknowledge. », said Mr. Pierre-Carl Michaud.

Mr. Yves Giroux, Chair of the CIRANO Board of Directors, welcomed the appointment:

« Pierre-Carl Michaud has well-established scientific credibility and a remarkable ability to bridge research and public decision-making. His strategic role with our partners and his commitment to major societal issues make him the ideal person to advance CIRANO's development and amplify our mission. The Board of Directors extends its full confidence to him. »
— Mr. Yves Giroux, Chair of the Board of Directors, CIRANO

Mr. Michaud succeeds Ms. Nathalie De Marcellis-Warin, whose mandate ends on August 31, 2026. CIRANO wishes to express its deep gratitude to Ms. De Marcellis-Warin for her leadership, dedication, and decisive contribution to the development and influence of the institution.

« On behalf of myself and the members of the Board of Directors, I wish to warmly thank Nathalie De Marcellis-Warin for her leadership and her commitment to advancing CIRANO with energy and vision. Under her direction, the organization has strengthened its partnerships and expanded its reach. We wish her all the best in her future endeavours. »
— Mr. Yves Giroux, Chair of the Board of Directors, CIRANO

To read the press release