Michael Sabia
President and Chief Executive Officer
Michael Sabia was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Hydro‑Québec effective August 1, 2023. As such, he also sits on the company’s Board of Directors.
Mr. Sabia has extensive experience as an executive in both the public and private sectors. Prior to joining Hydro‑Québec, he was Canada’s Deputy Minister of Finance (2020–2023). Previously, he served as Chair of the Board of the Canada Infrastructure Bank and Director of the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. His tenure as President and Chief Executive Officer of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) from 2009 to 2020 was marked by growth of the investment group’s assets and global presence and the consolidation of its role as a leader of the Québec economy. Before taking office at CDPQ, Mr. Sabia held various senior positions at BCE, including that of President and Chief Executive Officer (2002–2008). He also worked at Canadian National Railway, where he was Chief Financial Officer from 1995 to 1999, as well as within the Canadian civil service (1983–1993).
Over the course of his career, Mr. Sabia was involved in numerous global initiatives, including the Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance convened by the United Nations and the G7’s Investor Leadership Network, set up to help drive the transition to a sustainable and inclusive global economy.
Mr. Sabia holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Toronto and a master’s in those fields from Yale University, where he also pursued doctoral studies. Deeply committed to community involvement, he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Mastercard Foundation, one of the largest foundations in the world, whose mission is to advance learning and financial inclusion in Africa and to support Indigenous youth in Canada. He has also co‑chaired the capital campaigns of Université de Montréal, Polytechnique Montréal and HEC Montréal. Mr. Sabia is an Officer of the Order of Canada.