Laurent Saulnier, who for 23 years has been the honcho of the programming of the Francos de Montréal and the Festival international de jazz de Montréal, will leave his post at the end of the season of major events, on September 15.
The man who has worked for L'Équipe Spectra since 1999 will no longer be Spectra's vice-president, programming, cultural events and festivals.
A seasoned programmer and fine connoisseur of the music scene from here and elsewhere, he will remain in the bosom of Spectra, a division of Groupe CH, as a strategic advisor.
Maurin Auxéméry will replace Laurent Saulnier as director of programming, cultural events and festivals at Spectra.
Laurent Saulnier will also continue to be the manager of singer-songwriter Pierre Lapointe.
“I cannot leave without saying a special thank you to Alain Simard, who came to pick me up at the “See” 23 years ago. Thanks also to the many and many colleagues with whom I shared these 23 years of madness. Without you, all of this would have been impossible. Thanks also to the countless artists who have walked these stages and made me experience so many emotions. And a last, equally important thank you to the festival-goers. Every day I thought about you a lot. Thank you and have fun!” Said Laurent Saulnier on Thursday in a press release.
“The entire Groupe CH team joins me in thanking Laurent Saulnier for the dynamism he has shown as well as for his passion and his many contributions. We wish him the best of luck for his future projects and we are very happy to keep him on the team as a strategic advisor for the programming of the Francos and the Jazz Festival", indicated for her part the President, Sports and entertainment, CH Group, France Margaret Bélanger.
The Francos de Montréal will be held from June 9 to 18. The Montreal International Jazz Festival will take place from June 30 to July 9.