FPInnovations reorganizes, expands business development component

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MONTREAL, Que. — FPInnovations has unveiled a new organizational structure for the company. Company officials say the reorganization came about after an in-depth review of FPInnovations’ business model. The company says the changes are intended to better position the organization as a strategic partner to industry members and clients, federal and provincial governments, and the larger research community, especially universities.

FPInnovations will maintain its R&D efforts through its collaborative research with forest industry members, but will be adding a business development component, which encompasses strategic research alliances; products and services; and licensing and ventures, according to officials.

“It became clear that the collaborative research approach, which served us very well for many decades, was no longer sufficient to help us support our members and partners in pursuit of their new goals,” says FPInnovations’ president and CEO Pierre Lapointe. “Although R&D remains the heart and soul of the organization, we are now equipped with new business tools to help FPInnovations continue to deliver results in the pursuit of transforming the Canadian forest industry.”

Business development vice-president Hervé Deschênes has been charged with ensuring the organization’s business alignment with potential customers and members in terms of licensing and ventures; building strategic research alliances; and developing new products and services. The business groups reporting structure also includes intellectual property, and membership recruitment; business analysis; and sales, products and services. In addition to its PIT (Transportation) research program, Deschênes will take on and develop the markets and economics group, officials said.

Research vice-president of pulp, paper and bioproducts Jean Hamel will lead the following research programs: market pulps, paper, packaging and consumer products, biorefinery and bioenergy, and biomaterials.

Research vice-president of forest products and wood products Peter Lister will lead the following research programs: forest operations, wildfire operations, primary wood products manufacturing, secondary wood products manufacturing, and advanced building systems.

Research vice-president of resource assessment George Bruemmer will lead the resource assessment research program, in addition to his other responsibilities with the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre.

The research and business development vice-presidents will report to Alan Potter, executive vice-president, who will work to ensure that all the research programs and associated research teams present FPInnovations’ enhanced value proposition to its industry members, clients and partners, the company says.

At the corporate level, both chief financial officer Yves Nadon and strategic partnerships vice-president Jean-Pierre Martel will be taking on additional responsibilities. Nadon will be adding building services and management of company assets to his responsibilities, which already include the finance and IT departments. Martel will manage the organization’s relationships with the federal and provincial governments, national and international organizations, as well as university and Aboriginal partnerships.

“I am convinced that this is the right move for FPInnovations. These changes will help us explore new partnerships with energy and chemical industries to name a few,” said Lapointe. “This new structure will be more efficient and offer the most growth potential while ensuring a bright future for FPInnovations’ members, clients and partners.”

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