Meet the first outsider to run La Maison Simons in 183 years

What’s in a name? When you’re a famous, historic, family-run business, the answer might be “everything.” For 183 years, the name Simons has resonated in Quebec, signifying both the retailer of exclusive fashions and household décor, and the founding family that has run the retailer for five generations. But now all that’s changed. La Maison Simons started expanding across Canada several years ago, to cities where the name resonates not at all. And for the first time, the family business is being led by someone from outside the family. Bernard Leblanc has history with the retailer. He ran product development and purchasing for seven years before spending 15 years among the snowmobiles and Sea-Doos of BRP. In 2014 he returned to Simons as chief operating officer, working with CEO Peter Simons to begin the cross-country push. Now the reins are in his hands, and if Simons fails as a national brand, Leblanc’s name will be mud. We spoke to him in Quebec City. Read more at The Globe and Mail.