Our Team
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Zaiyaan Esoof
General Manager, CCCA
Zaiyaan was appointed as the General Manager at Consider Canada City Alliance (CCCA) in September 2023. CCCA unites 14 of Canada’s largest municipal regions to build a sustainable and globally competitive national economy built upon the collective strength of each member's ecosystem.
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Mr. Esoof is a dynamic professional who earned his Bachelor's degree in Law and Political Science from Carleton University in 2022. His exceptional academic performance was recognized with the International Student Award of Excellence Scholarship. His honours paper also focused on the geopolitical significance of FDI in economic development.
With a diverse background, Zaiyaan has garnered valuable experience in both the private and public sectors. He has demonstrated his prowess in business development and has also made significant contributions while working with the federal government of Canada.
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Zaiyaan's pursuit of knowledge and personal growth extends beyond his formal education. He has achieved certifications in Entrepreneurship from the prestigious Oxford University and in Public Leadership, a distinction bestowed upon him by Harvard University. These certifications showcase his commitment to honing his skills and staying at the forefront of the investment landscape.
Driven by his passion for making a positive impact, Zaiyaan combines his academic achievements, professional experience, and entrepreneurial spirit to tackle challenges with creativity and strategic thinking. His multifaceted background enables him to bring a fresh perspective and a well-rounded approach to FDI.
Stéphane Paquet
Chair, CCCA
​President & CEO, Montréal International
Stéphane Paquet is the President and CEO of Montréal International. Since January 2020, he has been overseeing the agency tasked with attracting foreign direct investment, international organizations as well as international talent and students to Greater Montréal. When he joined Montréal International in 2016, Mr. Paquet took on the role of Vice President of Investment Greater Montréal and was supervising the team of professionals who support foreign companies’ projects in the region. In September 2017, his duties expanded with the additional mandate to attract and retain international organizations, leading to the creation of a new position – Vice President, Foreign Investments & International Organizations. Under his leadership, the value of foreign investment has more than doubled, from $1 billion to $2.47 billion. Before joining Montréal International, Stéphane Paquet was appointed Québec Delegate General in London for two years.
From 1991 to 2001, he worked as a reporter, copy editor and assignment editor for broadcasting company Radio-Canada. He then switched to print, working at first for the daily Le Soleil in Québec City and then La Presse in Montréal. While at La Presse, he was in charge of the newspaper’s Business section for two years and also coordinated the internship program for young journalists.
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He was appointed Deputy Editor and Editor in Chief of Les Affaires Group in September 2010. As such, he was in charge of Les Affaires newspaper, A+ personal finance magazine and LesAffaires.com website in addition to actively participating in strategic discussions concerning the entire Group.
A recipient of a fellowship in the Young Leaders Program of the U.S. State Department, Stéphane Paquet has a Graduate Diploma in World Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Masters degree in Communications from Université du Québec à Montréal. Mr. Paquet was also a lecturer at Université de Montréal and the University of Regina. Mr. Paquet and his partner are fathers of two children.
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