Team
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Richard Speer
President and CEO, Attraction Media
The world of media and entertainment has always been a source of attraction for Richard Speer. He made his first foray into the business in 1999 when he joined the ranks at Jet Films, already a major player in Quebec’s advertising industry. Richard founded Go Films in 2000 and acquired Cirrus Communications in 2002. That same year, he founded what is known today as the Attraction Media group.
With a unifying spirit and talent for spotting the latest trends, Richard surrounds himself with talented individuals who, inspired by his vision and boldness, create original, attractive and high-quality content that meets the demands of local and international markets.
Richard Speer holds a BBA in Finance from Université Laval and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Université de Montréal. He is also enrolled in the EMBA McGill – HEC Montréal program.
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Mario Clément
Executive VP
Mario Clément joined Attraction Media in January 2011 as executive vice-president. His primary mission was contributing to the development and implementation of the strategic plan, consolidating assets and diversifying activities to increase company growth.
Mario Clément got his first taste of the Québec cultural scene while studying philosophy in university at the end of the 70s. He was involved in several aspects of show business as concert producer and film programmer. After 10 years as VP of production at Groupe Coscient, he moved on to a successful stint at Télé-Québec from 1997 to 2003. During his tenure, Mario repositioned the company by revamping its programming, which won him a Prix Spécial at the 1999 Gémeaux awards. He later went on to complete a five-year mandate as General Manager of Télévision de Radio-Canada, from 2003 to 2008.
As a broadcaster working with a number of artists and productions houses, he realized the Québec cultural scene was teeming with talented individuals in the areas of content creation, research and innovation, and technical production. He strongly believes all this creativity must be exported everywhere, on all platforms.
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Claude Landry, C.A.
Executive VP and CFO
Claude Landry has acquired enviable experience throughout his career by holding positions at various levels of management. From file manager, senior internal auditor, financial analysis coordinator and corporate mandate director to assistant VP of finance at L’Équipe Spectra from 1998 to 2003.
His extensive experience at L’Équipe Spectra, a major player on the Montréal cultural scene and renowned for its Festival international de Jazz de Montréal, stage productions, record labels, cultural complex, talent agency and concert venues, led him to Attraction Media as executive vice-president and chief financial officer–a feather in the company’s collective cap. Claude contributes his considerable technical skills and vast corporate expertise in the decision-making process regarding Attraction Media’s direction, strategic plan and growth.
Claude Landry holds a BBA from HEC Montréal and is a member of the Ordre des comptables agréés du Québec. His constant thirst for financial knowledge makes him a valuable asset within the group.
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Chrystine Girard, MBA
VP, Operations
1992 marked the start of Chrystine Girard’s career in the cultural sector, when she took part in the initiative that led to the reopening of the Capitole de Québec. She branched off into television in 1995, joining the PGC Television team. As a founding member of Distraction Formats, which specialized in international format distribution, she was involved in the development and growth of the company from 1997 to 2009. The company played a pivotal role in bringing recognition to this segment that has become a thriving industry today. Chrystine has since occupied the position of VP of operations at Attraction Media. With the recent creation of Formaction.tv, she works at making the group’s original formats shine on the global scene, according to the needs of international broadcasters.
Chrystine Girard received a Prix Tremplin in 2007, awarded by the Association des MBA du Québec, in the Entrepreneurship category. She also co-authored an article published by Emerald Group Publishing in Bradford, UK. Chrystine holds an MBA from the John Molson School of Business, as well as a BA in Translation (Business Law) from Université Laval.
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Ginette Gaulin
VP, Business and Legal Affairs
Ginette Gaulin joined Attraction Media in January 2011. A lawyer since 1987, her specialties are corporate investments, acquisitions and financing, as well as entertainment law and intellectual property. She has always practiced in the cultural and financial sectors, starting out in law firms, such as Heenan Blaikie, then moving on to corporations as director of business and legal affairs at Vidéotron and Quebecor Media, and VP of business and legal affairs at the Just for Laughs Group. Her previous functions also include consultant/advisor for the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, PSP Investments and Intact Financial Corporation.
Ginette Gaulin remains active as corporate administrator. She has served on the boards of directors of several cultural organizations, namely the ESBCM, the ECM+, the Théâtre de Quat’Sous and the BMMD. She is currently on the board of the Femmes en cinéma, télévision et nouveaux médias (WIFT – Montreal), and received the 2011 bursary of the Collège des administrateurs de sociétés of Université Laval. Me Gaulin has diplomas in political science, civil law and common law from McGill University, as well as a specialized graduate diploma in business and cultural organization management from HEC Montréal.