Mario Patenaude
Mario is a seasoned HR executive and entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience leading people, culture, and organizational transformation across Canada and around the globe. With a background that spans private enterprise, start-ups, family-owned businesses, advisory firms and public-sector organizations, Mario brings a deep and practical understanding of how high-performance HR strategies can drive real business results.
Prior to joining JMC, Mario held executive leadership roles with leading organizations such as Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Bell Mobility, High Liner Foods, Canada Post, JD Irving Ltd., WorkSafeNB and most recently UNI Financial Cooperation. He has worked across industries—from aerospace and technology to food, natural resources, and life sciences—and across continents, including assignments in Paris, Melbourne, New York, and throughout Atlantic Canada. He is also the co-founder of two successful ventures: a media intelligence consultancy, and a family-owned construction business in central Alberta. He started his career as a Public Affairs Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, specializing in crisis management.
Mario holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources Management from HEC Montréal, is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Executive Education Program, and the United States Defense Information School. He also holds a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation and is the author of Performance Equation, published in 2013.
Known as a candid advisor and engaging public speaker, Mario is passionate about helping leaders unlock the full potential of their teams. His approachable style, strategic mindset, and sense of humour have made him a trusted partner to executives navigating growth, change, and transformation.
Originally from Montréal, Mario now lives in Caraquet, New Brunswick with his wife Trinda, who is a native of Halifax. They are the proud parents of four adult sons and four grandchildren.
