Laurent Beaudoin to step aside as BRP chairman after 55 years with the business

VALCOURT, Que. – The chairman of recreational products maker BRP Inc. is stepping down, ceding the head spot to longtime president and chief executive Jose Boisjoli.

Laurent Beaudoin’s retirement follows his departure last year from Bombardier Inc., which BRP was spun off from in 2003.

Over 55 years, Beaudoin steered Bombardier from a snowmobile maker to a global transportation giant.

While Bombardier’s reputation has taken a hit recently due to delivery delays and government loans, BRP has emerged as a leading manufacturer of recreational vehicles such as Sea-Doos and ATVs whose net income rose 40 per cent between 2016 and 2018 to $308 million.

Boisjoli has helmed BRP since it broke off from the plane-and-train maker 16 years ago, overseeing its growth to 12,500 employees.

BRP says Boisjoli will take Beaudoin’s place at BRP’s annual general meeting May 30.