Elyse Boulet Acquires PIGEON

Photography: Ryan Bolton Photography

Management team from left to right: Greg Clark, Nancy Lessard, Ania Russocki, Mark Romero-Marshall, Olivier Chevillot, Jean-Francois Beliveau, Elyse Boulet, Armelle Dubourg, Siobhan Renouf, Bob Boutilier, Stephane Crevier, Martin Carrier, Philippe Morin

PIGEON, the storied independent communications agency, embarks on an exciting new chapter with Elyse Boulet at the helm. Elyse, the agency’s current CEO, has acquired the business from its founder Thomas Pigeon, in partnership with Kairos Capital, an innovative investment fund committed to transformative growth. Mr. Pigeon steps down on a high note after an illustrious 46 years of growing his award-winning agency.

“In today’s fast-evolving landscape, securing this agreement and bolstering our arsenal with Kairos’ backing equips us to fine-tune our service offerings, preserve our cherished independence, and boost our growth potential, both domestically and internationally,” declared Elyse Boulet. With the move, she also becomes a consequential trailblazer in a historically male-dominated position.

“As experts in the consumers’ pivotal ‘moment of truth’, our team consistently surpasses client expectations, whether creating the box or thinking outside of it. This becomes increasingly critical in an era dominated by artificial intelligence, burgeoning communications networks, and the ever-evolving digital landscape. Being true brand guardians – by creating lasting and meaningful brand value – requires creative and strategic agility, underpinned by a clear, focused vision.”

Like the agency she now stewards, Elyse has always been fearlessly independent. As the daughter of a French immigrant, she was raised to be the architect of her own future, the author of her own story. So, when Thomas Pigeon first intimated that he may retire, Elyse Boulet didn’t wait to see what would happen, she decided to be what would happen.

Passing of the torch

“There is no one better positioned than Elyse and the PIGEON team to continue growing the company and playing a leading role in transforming our industry,” emphasised Thomas Pigeon. “Elyse is an excellent communicator, an integrated communications specialist, and a reference point for branding in the country. Her clients trust her. Her team trusts her. She possesses all the qualities required to take PIGEON to the next level.”

Towards new heights

Nancy Lessard, partner at Kairos, expressed enthusiasm for the union, “The great Pigeon team stands out in their sector with an impressive track record and shares our values. Kairos Capital’s arrival as a shareholder will allow PIGEON to benefit not only from the expertise of seasoned professionals in its management team but also from additional capital to invest in its resources, enhance its expertise, offer ever more innovative solutions to its clients, and support its growth organically and through acquisitions. Together, we aim to break more glass ceilings along the way and lead the company to new heights of success.”

Client-Centric Excellence

In the words of Elyse Boulet, “Truth is the bedrock of enduring relationships and ground-breaking ideas. It is the only currency that stands the test of time, and today it’s more valuable than ever before.” She continues, “We have always been driven by the needs of our clients – and today, we’re meeting these needs with the goal to express the unique truths of their brands across all channels.”

Alain Tadros, vice president of marketing and digital strategy at METRO Inc., lauded PIGEON’s unwavering commitment to client interests: “PIGEON’s client-centric ethos fosters trust and long-term partnerships.”

A Proven Leader

With over three decades of industry expertise, Elyse Boulet has been a trailblazer in communication, leveraging her visionary acumen to deliver transformative results. Boulet has spearheaded the agency’s growth. When she initially joined PIGEON in 2017 as the Montreal office’s GM, she started by doubling revenues, talent pool, and productivity within the first year.

Moving forward, the Pigeon team’s focus will continue to be on building a strong brand ecosystem to get their clients maximum ROI. “We win awards for creative work that works,” says Elyse. “While we commit to our brands for the long haul, we also know we need to make the cash register sing. Because of this, we’ve become experts in “the moment of truth” – that moment when people choose you, and it is at that very moment when we make brands come true.”