Sonepar Canada Announces Leadership Team Changes

Sonepar Canada Announces Leadership Team Changes

January 17, 2017 

Effective June 16, 2017, Charles Smith, Sonepar Canada’s VP Finance and CFO will retire. “Charles’ contributions and impact were immense, and he will be greatly missed by our Executive team and his Finance team,” said President and Managing Director François Anquetil in an announcement.

Charles joined Sonepar Canada in March 2008 and spent his career working with two Sonepar Canada Presidents, helping Sonepar Canada achieve strong growth and performance over the years. Charles has been instrumental in working through cash-flow management, acquisitions, internal control, operating cost control, profitable growth and the development of the Sonepar Canada Finance team.

Karin Lejay will be joining Sonepar Canada effective May 29 as VP Finance and CFO. Karin is VP, Group Consolidation and Reporting, reporting currently to Francois Poncet, CFO, and has been with the Sonepar organization since September 2000. Karin will be moving to Canada with her family and working from the Laval office. 

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • Bartle & Gibson and Eaton Announce New Partnership

    Bartle & Gibson and Eaton Announce New Partnership

    Bartle & Gibson Co. Ltd. and Eaton Industries (Canada) Company have recently announced a new regional partnership that expands access to Eaton’s electrical solutions across Western Canada. This agreement enables customers throughout the Western provinces to procure a broad range of Eaton products, including Electrical Power Distribution and Control Solutions, Bussmann series, B-Line series, Crouse-Hinds, and… Read More…

  • Mike Smith Honoured with the 2026 EFC Award of Excellence

    Mike Smith Honoured with the 2026 EFC Award of Excellence

    On March 25, 2026, Electro-Federation Canada (EFC) proudly presented the Award of Excellence to Mike Smith, formerly of Rockwell Automation, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the electrical industry. The EFC Award of Excellence is a peer-recognized distinction that honours individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and impact in the areas of codes and… Read More…


Peers & Profiles