New Structure Announcement

Last week, we shared the news of Hugo de Grandpré and Dan Pfeffer becoming Senior Partners of PAA Advisory | Conseils. This exciting development is an important part of a broader exercise we are undertaking within PAA to catch up with the evolution of our firm and ensure those who have driven its success have the tools they need to help clients succeed.

With that in mind, we are pleased to announce the following appointments:

• Sean Casey, Partner: Sean came to PAA in the spring of 2022, having already established himself as the trusted advisor to Canada’s Arts and Culture sector. On the strength of that reputation and his network of trusted relationships, he has built a growing practice at PAA that assists Canada’s leading organizations in the performing arts, cultural institutions, professional associations and not-for-profit sector organizations to advance their interests with government. Sean’s laser focus on delivering success for clients and his reflex to promote what team members have contributed to those accomplishments are part of what make him a great leader. 
• Louis-Alexandre Lanthier, Partner: Louis-Alex recently celebrated his fourth anniversary with PAA, having arrived in May 2021 from CN where he led the federal government relations and public affairs representation for Canada’s leading railway. In the period since Louis-Alex has built the firm’s work in Supply Chain and Transportation sector, building an impressive practice advising clients in the air, land and marine sectors, as well as other leading corporations on issues ranging from infrastructure funding, immigration, and tax. Most importantly, he personifies the selflessness and care in his dealings that makes an organization special.
• Maryanne Sheehy, Partner:  Since joining our firm in 2017, Maryanne has been a mainstay and builder of our practice in Ottawa. In addition to her leadership of some of the most challenging client assignments in the financial services and technology space, she has been key to recruiting and developing some of the best early-career professionals in our business. She has been integral to making PAA a great platform for early -career professionals to flourish.  
• Martin Croteau, Managing Director: After a stellar career in journalism and a brief foray into public service, Martin helped put PAA on the map with the Quebec press corps. In the period since his arrival, he has played a key role in helping clients manage their political and communications issues in the province of Quebec. His commitment to excellence is legendary and has helped PAA emerge as a market leader in communications and media relations.
• Hugo Delaney, Managing Director: Hugo joined PAA in early 2024, bringing over two decades of political and business experience to the work of the firm. His previous work in the Quebec Government and major corporations provides Hugo the solid foundation and experience to lead PAA’s public affairs work in Quebec. His experience in management has also been instrumental to continue to put in place the foundations to continue the firm’s growth in the province, and beyond.
• Gaby González-Sirois, Managing Director: Gaby joined PAA directly from graduate school in 2019 and quickly established herself in the leadership team of the firm’s Quebec practice taking on some of the firm’s most complex client assignments. Alongside these client responsibilities, she has built an impressive reputation among her colleagues as an effective manager and leader over the past six years. 
• Julie Groleau, Managing Director: Julie Groleau came to PAA in late 2019, afternearly a decade as a political communicator at the federal and provincial levels. Her talents and experience with high-pressure situations were put to the ultimate test over the two-year period that followed as she helped a variety of organizations navigate the pandemic – most notably helping a leading vaccine manufacturer through the crisis. Julie is an exceptional person, who has helped those around her learn, grow and flourish in their careers. 
• Steve Van Groningen, Managing Director: Steve is the kind of pioneer every growing organization counts on, as he sets an exceptional standard of client service and attention to detail, while also understanding where we could be doing more to help. That instinct for new opportunity led him to volunteer to establish PAA’s presence in Toronto more than two years ago and his commitment to excellence has seen that initiative take flight. 
• Andrew Walker, Managing Director: Since April 2022, Andrew Walker has been a cornerstone of PAA’s practice in Ottawa. His expertise in the Arts and Culture sector, as well as his understanding of the intersection of technology and intellectual property have made him an indispensable advisor to a wide range of clients on policy, legislative and regulatory issues, as well as procurement issues. He has also taken on a wide-ranging role in helping set the direction on PAA’s personnel and professional development strategies. 
• Felix Wong, Managing Director: Since joining PAA in 2018, Felix Wong has been an important driver of the growth of the firm’s Energy and Environment practice, establishing the group as a leading advisor to domestic and international energy producers, utilities, as well as organizations driving innovation in the environmental field. Felix has been a valued mentor and leader within our team, who is respected for his commitment to helping others grow. 

This group will be taking on new responsibilities in the governance, management and operations of the firm over the period ahead, as we look at ways to ensure that PAA is set up to accomplish its mission, namely,  ‘to be the place where clients and colleagues come to accomplish the most satisfying and rewarding successes of their careers.

This has always been our goal and will continue to be the focus of everything we do. We are confident that it can continue to foster unforgettable performance and extraordinary results. 

– Michael and Éric