Just for laughs wants to save the furniture

Photo Agence QMI, Sebastien St-Jean

Philippe Orfali

Thursday, 19 October 2017 14:59

UPDATE
Thursday, 19 October 2017 21:06

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The Just for laughs Group has Thursday of a new management team and give to a board of directors to prevent the company derailed after accusations that aim of its founder.

On Wednesday, nine women, including the host Penelope McQuade, have been found to have been victims of sexual harassment or assault on the part of the magnate of laughter. Gilbert Rozon has resigned on-the-field.

Since then, several companies, including the French channel M6, TVA, Vidéotron and Radio-Canada, announced the end or the suspension of their business relationship with Gilbert Rozon or the Just for laughs Group.

It is the ex-right arm of the Rozon, manager, Guylaine Lalonde, who becomes president and ceo of the organization.

Bruce Hills remains as chief operating officer, and Lucie Rozon, sister Rozon, will assume the position of executive producer.

Not cancellation

Despite the turmoil, the Group claims to have ” the intention to formally pursue all of its current projects, and future “, in Canada and elsewhere in the world.

“Following the resignation of Mr. Rozon, his withdrawal from any intervention in the course of the business of the Group becomes effective as of today. “

Gilbert Rozon is the sole shareholder of the Just for laughs Group and it was until Thursday the only member of its c. a.

The festival itself is constituted as a non-profit organization, guided by a board of directors chaired by the ex-prime minister of Quebec Pierre-Marc Johnson. The Just for laughs Group was their main supplier.

A sign that things are changing, the Just for laughs Group will have a board of directors which “shall enjoy full independence in the administration of the affairs of the company,” says the organization. To be chaired by Ms. Lalonde, in the interim.

The changes announced by the Group have reassured Mr. Johnson.

“The team in place is experienced. It is reassuring that in the medium term, we will equip independent directors. I am quite optimistic that the festival [to be held next year], ” he said to the Newspaper.

He said they want to avoid at all costs the Festival, ” which provides moments of joy and allows thousands of artists to earn a living in a creative way, [is] affected by the events as extremely unfortunate the last few days. “

A staple of the show

Photo archives, Ben Pelosse

Gilbert Rozon

Party from almost nothing in 1983, the Just for laughs Group, founded by Gilbert Rozon, has become, over time, a staple in the world of entertainment here and elsewhere.

Because, well beyond the festival that bears his name, the Just for laughs Group is today a veritable empire of humor, present in North America, Europe, Australia and North Africa, in particular.

An empire that generates millions of dollars in revenue and economic spin-offs, and whose sole shareholder is Gilbert Rozon, even if he has resigned from his position on Wednesday. Several members of the family Rozon are also involved in the daily operations of the company.

Full of affiliates

The Group has nearly twenty subsidiaries these as in the world of comedy to the production, distribution and broadcasting of television programs and web. Some of his musicals are even on Broadway, and his tv programs would be broadcast in 155 countries and 85 airlines.

His division Festival hosts dozens of events across canada and internationally, Just For Laughs in Toronto, Just For Laughs Sidney, Australia.

Just for laughs, it is also the management and production of dozens of artists, most of quebec humorists such as Alexandre Bisaillon, Stephane Rousseau, André Sauvé, Laurent Paquin, Rachid Badouri, Jean-Marc Parent and Maxim Martin, and speakers like Denise Filiatrault, Josélito Michaud, Emmanuel Bilodeau and Robert Piché.

The american market

The company and its founder are also at the origin of the national School of humour.

Just for laughs has today offices in England, Belgium, Tunisia, Morocco, South Africa, France – where it also has two theatres – and, for a short time, to Los Angeles, where she is trying to tackle the american market.

The Just for laughs Group

• Just for laughs
  • Revenue of$124 Million
  • 110 permanent employees
• Festivals and shows (10 festivals)
  • Just for laughs Festival (35th edition)
  • 400 employees
  • $ 35 Million budget
  • $ 100 Million of economic benefits
  • 3 million spectators
  • 1600 artists
  • 550 stand-up comedians
• Production, distribution and broadcasting and web tv, in 155 countries and on 85 airlines
• Stewardship of dozens of artists
• Events for business and tourism

“Gilbert Rozon inc. ”

• Judge to M6 since 2006
• Judge, In the eye of the Dragon
• Boards of directors (Chamber of commerce of metropolitan Montreal, Celebrations of the 375th anniversary of Montréal)
• The banner Jerry – snack du terroir, in collaboration with Jérôme Ferrer, president of the Europea