Mathieu Duguay, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer

Mathieu Duguay has been COGIR Real Estate’s Chief Executive Officer since 2014 and the firm’s Senior Partner since 2004. Since Fall 2022, he’s also Chief Investment Officer.

Over the years, Mr. Duguay has enhanced Cogir’s enviable reputation in the fields of management, acquisitions, development, construction, partnerships and capital markets. He has proven his undeniable ability to assemble a first-class management team that is fully committed to its corporate mission.

Mr. Duguay is also quite involved, both personally and through Cogir Real Estate, in many charitable endeavours, particularly those concerning education, health issues, sports and the arts.

Bruno Desautels, Chief Partnership and Corporate Affairs Officer

Mr. Desautels became a member of COGIR’s executive board in October 2014. As Chief Partnership and Corporate Affairs Officer, Mr. Desautels is responsible for maintaining and developing COGIR’s investment activities and tax planning.

Prior to joining the company, Mr. Desautels was a partner at KPMG LLP, where he gained significant experience in real estate, mergers and acquisitions, negotiations, and business development.

Mr. Desautels is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) and holds a bachelor’s in commerce from Université du Québec à Montréal.

Raymond Paré, President and partner, Development and Construction Division

Mr. Paré joined Cogir last June. He brings with him a wealth of experience in the construction industry. His expertise will help shape this division over the long term by integrating industry best practices, thus helping to make Cogir Construction a leading player in this sector in Quebec

Frédéric Soucy, President, Retirement Home Division

Mr. Soucy is responsible for the overall Retirement Home division across Canada. In this role, he is responsible for business strategy, team leadership, asset performance, client relationships, and business development.

Mr. Soucy holds a Bachelor of Marketing degree from the École des Hautes Études Commerciales de Montréal and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Université de Sherbrooke. He has more than twenty years of management and business development experience.

Prior to joining COGIR Realty, he worked at RONA (TSX : RONA), where he was one of the company’s commercial builders, serving as National Sales Director.

Jean-Marc Bélanger, Chief Operation Officer, Multi-Residential Division

Jean-Marc Bélanger joined Cogir over 15 years ago as Director of Marketing and Procurement. After successfully meeting this challenge, he was promoted to Vice President Operations for the multi-residential division. Since September 2023, he has been Chief Operating Officer for the multi-residential division across Canada.

Mr. Bélanger has solid management experience and an excellent understanding of Cogir’s mission and values. His passionate approach, which puts the customer – whether tenant or building owner – at the heart of operations, has enabled this division to grow significantly in recent years. With the collaboration of his team, he has also overseen the marketing and operation of several major projects totaling over 7,000 doors in recent years, including Humaniti Montréal, Mostra Longueuil, Mostra Candiac, Odea, Haleco and others. Mr. Bélanger is a graduate of Université de Sherbrooke and HEC Montréal.

Nicolas Poirier, Senior Vice-President, Commercial Division

Nicolas joined Cogir in 2022 as Senior Director, Leasing, and was promoted to Senior Vice President, Commercial Division in January 2025. He leads a multidisciplinary team overseeing a wide range of retail, office, and industrial properties across Canada.

He plays a key role in shaping the division’s strategic direction, with a focus on business development, client relationships, and asset performance across the commercial portfolio.

Curious by nature and respected for his capacity to listen with intention, Nicolas remains open and focused on what truly matters to clients and teams.

Serge G. Duguay, Founder

With a strong background in real estate, Serge G. Duguay incorporated COGIR Real Estate in 1995 and served as its president until 2013, before handing over this role to his son, Mathieu Duguay.

Still very much involved with the company, he uses his 40 years of experience in property management to develop a unique approach that has made COGIR a distinctive brand in the industry.

What was originally a small company with just a few employees has become a true leader in real estate and the 55th-largest employer in the province of Quebec.

Gottfried Ernst, President and Chief Operating Officer

Gottfried Ernst is an experienced operations executive with over 20 years in the hospitality and senior living industries. Recognized for his leadership, he has developed efficient, customer-focused strategies and programs that drive performance and engagement.

He began his career in luxury hotels across Austria, Switzerland, and the UK before joining Brookdale Senior Living in 2002. Over 16 years, he advanced to Vice President, overseeing food and beverage operations for more than 600 locations and contributing to award-winning initiatives.

He later held leadership roles at Green Courte Partners and Discovery Senior Living, where he led operations, sales, and resident experience across multiple functions.

Known as an innovator, Gottfried has successfully managed complex operational challenges, including system integrations, regulatory compliance, and cost management, while enhancing resident experience.