Moncton, September 9, 2026 – The Donald J. Savoie Institute announces the election of a new chair and vice chair of its board of directors, as well as the appointment of a new president and CEO.

The chairmanship of the Board of Directors has been entrusted for the next three years to Ms. Andrée Savoie, a seasoned corporate director and renowned entrepreneur. As a business leader, Andrée Savoie has chaired and led Propriétés Adelin since 2016, a New Brunswick-based company active in real estate leasing, development, and management. She has extensive experience in organizational governance. She has served on various boards of directors, including those of Opportunities New Brunswick (2020–2022), National Bank (2015–2023), and Killam Apartment REIT (since 2023). She was also a member of the board of directors of Assomption Life (2011–2022) and chair of the board (2019–2022).

Denise Frenette was elected vice chair of the board of directors for a three-year term. Ms. Frenette served in the federal public service for more than thirty years. She concluded her career at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), where she served as Director General of Small Craft Harbors from 2017 to 2022. Before joining Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ms. Frenette worked at the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), where she served as Vice President of Finance and Corporate Services and as Chief Financial Officer.

In addition, the members of the board of directors appointed Mr. Jacques Paul Couturier as President and Chief Executive Officer for a two-year term. Mr. Couturier, who holds a Ph.D. in history, served as Interim President and Vice-Chancellor of the Université de Moncton (2018–2020). Previously, he served as Vice-President of the Edmundston campus of the Université de Moncton (2013–2018), Dean of Academic Affairs (2004–2013), and Acting Dean of the Faculty of Forestry (2012–2013). Throughout his teaching career, Mr. Couturier has published numerous books and articles on Canadian and Acadian history. In particular, he is the lead author of Un passé composé : le Canada de 1850 à nos jours, and L’expérience canadienne, des origines à nos jours, two works widely used in the teaching of Canadian history. His research has been published in various peer-reviewed journals, such as the Revue d’histoire de l’Amérique française, Acadiensis, and the Revue de l’histoire de l’éducation.

About the Donald J. Savoie Institute
An independent research organization, the Donald J. Savoie Institute’s mission is to contribute to the advancement of knowledge on regional development—particularly in the Atlantic region—related public policies, and the economic, social, and political issues facing Atlantic Canada and l’Acadie. It fulfills this mission by funding basic research projects and activities and disseminating their findings. The Donald J. Savoie Institute, a nonprofit organization, was founded in 1983.

Source: Céline Basque, Administrative Director, Donald J. Savoie Institute

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