2004-2005

News Release

REF NO.: 344

SUBJECT:

DATE: June 13, 2005

On Wednesday June 15, Philippe and Nan-b de Gaspé Beaubien, former owners and operators of Telemedia, Inc., a privately-owned media and communications company started in Montreal, will join local family business practitioners to share stories and best practices in managing a family business at the launch of Memorial’s Business Families Centre.

The de Gaspé Beaubiens are well known for their expertise in the area of family business education and, in 1993, founded the Business Families Foundation. They will be available for media interviews on Tuesday, June 14, from 3:30—5 p.m. at the Fairmont Newfoundland.

Memorial University’s P. J. Gardiner Institute will launch its Business Families Centre with a half-day forum to be held from 8 a.m.- 2 p.m on June 15. Sessions will be held throughout the morning on family business topics including succession, governance, conflict resolution and human resources. The event will be held on the fourth floor of the Business Administration Building on Memorial’s St. John’s campus. Media outlets are encouraged to send representatives.

Background

Philippe and Nan-b de Gaspé Beaubien were owners and operators of Telemedia Inc., a privately-owned media and communications company started in Montreal, Canada, in 1968 until 1998 at which time they voluntarily relinquished control of the company to their three children, Philippe III, Nanon and François.
The de Gaspé Beaubiens are well known for their expertise in the area of family business education and, in 1993, founded the Institute for Family Enterprise (the name was changed on May 1, 1999, to The Business Families Foundation). The mission of this international non-profit organization is to ensure the future of families and their businesses. The foundation develops and delivers stimulating educational programs based on innovative research in close cooperation with universities, other families in business and the professionals who counsel them.
Nan-b and Philippe are co-chairs of the board of the Business Families Foundation. They have spent more than 30 years studying numerous family business organizations around the world that recognize the complexities of combining family and business. They have written and spoken about their philosophies in addressing the special issues that arise in a family enterprise and the family that controls the enterprise.

Individual Bios

Beaubien, Nan-b de Gaspé

Nan-b de Gaspé Beaubien entered broadcasting in 1968 with her husband Philippe as a key player in the founding of Television Quebec Ltee, which, as Telemedia Corporation, over 30 years, became a leader in Canada’s media communications industry.

The company achieved an enviable position as Canada’s leading publisher of magazines and the proprietorship of 79 radio stations operating in two linguistic cultures across the nation.

Nan-b served as vice-president of Human Relations for Telemedia where she developed and implemented human resource systems. She is credited with setting-up a unique culture within the company that earned it the much-envied award for being selected as one of the best 100 Canadian companies for which to work.

By 2003, Telemedia sold its media properties to other leading companies, but Nan-b continued as a director of the corporation, the operation of which was turned over to the three Beaubien children — Philippe, Nanon and Francois. Other directorships included Imasco, the Harvard Business School Board Advocates, the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise, the Terry Fox Humanitarian Committee, the Institute of Research r Public Policy and the National Centre for Management Research and Development.

Nan-b was a founding member of the Children’s Broadcast Institute and the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise.

In Canada’s Centennial Year (1967) when husband Philippe was director of Operations for Expo 67, Nan-b was at his side hosting functions before and after the event, for which she received the Canada Centennial Medal.

Beaubien, Phillippe de Gaspé

Philippe was chairman and CEO of Telemedia Communications Inc. Montreal, Quebec. He entered broadcasting in 1968 when he founded Telemedia Quebec Limitée. Three years later, he became the owner of Telemedia Corporation, which went on to acquire a number of radio stations in Quebec and Ontario and to publish magazines such as Elle Québec, Coup de Pouce, TV Guide, Canadian Living, Harrowsmith Country Life and several others.

Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien was chairman of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters in 1973 and 1974, and was the founder, president and honorary chairman of PARTICIPACTION. In 1982, he was named Broadcaster of the Year by the Broadcast Educators Association for his outstanding contributions to Broadcast Education in Canada.

With his wife Nan-b, he founded the Institute for Family Enterprise, a non-profit international organization which has the mission to ensure the future of families and their businesses. The Institute develops exceptional teaching programs aimed at the families and the professionals who serve them. These programs address key family business issues such as succession, sibling rivalry, business ownership, corporate and governance structures and communication between family members.

Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien received international recognition as "The Mayor of Expo 67" for his role as key organizer of the successful 1967 World Exhibition in Montreal.

He holds a master's degree in business administration from Harvard (1954), a bachelor of arts degree from the Université de Montréal (1952) and an honorary degree in law from York University(1979).

Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien is the recipient of many honors including the Order of Canada, the Canadian Centennial Medal and the Czechoslovak Gold Medal and an Award of Merit from the B'Nai Brith Canada(Youth Services).

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