Jean-François Chalifoux Receives Special ESG Distinction

Quebec City, February 12, 2025—Jean-François Chalifoux, in addition to being a finalist in the Life and Health Insurers category, received a special ESG distinction as one of Quebec’s Top Financial Industry Leaders (Top des leaders de l'industrie financière du Québec) by Finance et Investissement magazine, in recognition of his commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and strategic innovation. 

“I want to share this award with the 5,500 dedicated Beneva employees that I have the privilege of leading. Over the last five years, we have been busy building the largest insurance mutual in Canada. As an insurer, we have an important role to play in terms of ESG, and we must do what we can to build a more sustainable world,” said Jean-François Chalifoux, President and CEO of Beneva.

A leader invested in people’s well-being

Jean-François Chalifoux’s caring approach is based on putting people first. His leadership and strategic vision are keys to Beneva’s success. For him, the environmental and social consequences of a company's actions should be measured as much as its financial performance. This is why these criteria have been integrated into Beneva's business practices. 

He helped develop the company’s environmental impact statement, which is to invest in people's overall well-being while accelerating a just transition to a greener, more inclusive and resilient world. Inspired by Beneva’s mutualist values, this statement is meant to guide the company’s decisions and serve as a reminder that its original mutuals were created to ensure equity and social justice.

As co-chair of the Québec Capitale Climat (This hyperlink will open in a new tab). initiative, Jean-François Chalifoux wants to encourage economic, institutional and community players to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Quebec City area.

As a panelist at various events, he talks candidly about how Beneva contributes to sustainable finance and provides insight into how stakeholders can mobilize. In 2004, he took part in Finance Montréal's Sustainable Finance Summit and, most recently, the UN's UNEP FI Global Roundtable in Geneva.

A successful integration

Three years into La Capitale’s and SSQ Insurance’s business combination, Beneva’s market share has not only been maintained, but its premium volume has increased 65% to $6.1 billion, securing its position as leader in Quebec, and ranking it seventh in Canada.

Québec’s Top Financial Industry Leaders (Top des leaders de l'industrie financière du Québec) is an annual ranking of senior managers and executives working in organizations operating in Quebec.

About Beneva

Created by the coming together of La Capitale and SSQ Insurance, Beneva is the largest insurance mutual in Canada with more than 3.5 million members and customers. Beneva employs over 5,500 dedicated employees: people looking out for people. Its human approach is rooted in mutualist values that are shared by its employees. With $25.1 billion in assets, Beneva positions itself as a major player in the insurance and financial services industry. Its head office is located in Quebec City.