In January 2020, Bernard Labelle was appointed to serve as CGI’s Chief Human Resources Officer, responsible for overseeing the company’s human resources strategy, including talent management, leadership development, organizational design, compensation and benefits, and HR technology roadmap. In this role, Bernard is a member of CGI’s Executive Management Committee, which oversees the implementation of the company’s enterprise-wide strategy.
The CHRO appointment follows Bernard’s seven-year tenure as Senior Vice-President of Global Human Resources and the Leadership Institute. In this role, Bernard led CGI’s global human resources operations, including its HR business partners, centers of expertise, shared services and Leadership Institute. During this time, Bernard and his team drove forward major enhancements, including the harmonization of HR activities across CGI to improve the experience of leaders and professionals and to drive greater efficiencies throughout operations. This included the implementation of a global HR management platform, bringing together various systems and processes into one self-service tool.
A champion of fostering and promoting CGI’s unique culture, Bernard operates through the company’s philosophy of shared leadership, empowering his global network of HR professionals to take a consultative approach in helping the business transform and achieve relevant outcomes. This mindset comes from Bernard’s consulting background, whereby he joined CGI in 1997 as Director of Consulting Services and became Vice-President of Consulting Services the same year.
From 2008 to 2013, Bernard served as Senior Vice-President of CGI’s Quebec City business unit, collaborating with commercial and government clients across this metro market to help them transform through CGI’s end-to-end capabilities and industry and technology expertise. Prior joining CGI, Bernard worked in the areas of healthcare, university teaching and management consulting.
Bernard holds a Master of Business Administration in Management from Université Laval and is a Certified Corporate Director (ASC). He has garnered a number of awards and honours throughout his career. In 2011, he received the Hermès Award from Université Laval’s Faculty of Business Administration. He also was honored as a Le Soleil/Radio-Canada Lauréat de Québec.
In 2013, he received the Gloire de l’Escolle medal from Université Laval at the Prix des Grands diplômés ceremony. In addition, he was recognized as one of 40 leaders by the Association des MBA du Québec in commemoration of the Association’s 40th anniversary.
In 2018, Bernard received a CGI Builders Award for his contribution to the growth and success of the company.