Serge Godin founded CGI in 1976. Today, CGI is one of the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. Mr. Godin led CGI as its President and Chief Executive Officer from its founding until 2006, when he became Executive Chairman of the Board. He is also the controlling shareholder of the company.
Under his leadership, CGI has expanded through both organic growth and more than 105 acquisitions, growing from 2 consultants in 1976 to 90,250 today. CGI is known for its track record of successfully integrating consulting operations into its business model by leveraging its Management Foundation, which is CGI’s intellectual property for facilitating operational excellence.
CGI currently operates in more than 400 metro markets across 40 countries worldwide. CGI helps clients digitally transform their organizations through an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities: high-end IT and business consulting, systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions.
Mr. Godin is an Officer of the Order of Canada and Officer of the National Order of Quebec. In 2008, he was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Youth Business Foundation. In 2011, he was named an Honorary Associate by the Conference Board of Canada. In 2015, he became a lifelong member of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, as a Canadian designee.
Mr. Godin has been awarded several honorary doctorate degrees, including from Montreal’s Concordia University (Law), Université Laval (Administrative Sciences) of Québec City, HEC (Université de Montréal, affiliated Business School), York University (Law) in Toronto, ÉTS (École de technologie supérieure) of Montréal, and Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University (Law). Mr. Godin completed studies in computer sciences (CEGEP college degree). After obtaining the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in management, he undertook courses within the Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program at Université Laval, Québec City.
Mr. Godin has long been involved in charitable causes. In 2000, he established the Godin Family Foundation with a mission to alleviate poverty, promote education and improve the health of children and teens in need. Since its inception, the Foundation has helped more than 400 schools, hospitals and youth organizations.