Administrative team
The clinique ovo is proud to build on the expertise of its team of over 150 employees passionate about their respective fields. They combine expertise, experience and leadership to work together around a common goal: to provide the best possible service to patients.
General Direction
Nicolas Robert
CEO
Nicolas Robert
Nicolas Robert was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of clinique ovo on February 1, 2019 and is a member of the Board of Directors. Clinique ovo is the largest fertility and prenatal care clinic in Canada and the third largest in North America.
Prior to his appointment, M. Robert was Vice President Strategy, Bids, and Marketing at Bombardier Transport (2017), which saw its sales more than double under his vice presidency. Previously, M. Robert was nominated executive director within the transformation office at Bombardier Inc. (2015) and held at Bombardier Transportation (2001-2015) several executive and leadership roles with increasing responsibilities, including megaprojects management, bids, customer service, product introduction, and operations. Prior to joining Bombardier, M. Robert held roles in project management, operations, and equipment maintenance at LafargeHolcim (1992-2001).
Nicolas Robert holds a bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering from École Polytechnique de Montréal. He is a volunteer in the community as hockey head coach and as an assessor for minor hockey, and is a volunteer at a summer camp for boys in Ontario.
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FINANCIAL DIRECTION
Jeffrey l. Friedman
CFO
Jeffrey l. Friedman
Jeffrey Friedman is a chartered accountant with more than 25 years of corporate CFO experience. He started his career and worked as a public accountant for 6 years before he made his way towards industry. He is an experienced entrepreneur and a financial leader who drives corporate initiatives to enhance productivity and profitability. He has had a diversified career including owner and CFO of Marimac, a licensed bedding manufacturer, VP Finance in the clothing industry at Corwik Clothing (Dahlia ladies wear) and more recently Parasuco Jeans. Jeff started at clinique ovo in 2008 as President Director General. In 2019, he became the Chief Financial Officer of the ovo group.
Jeffrey Friedman graduated from the University of Western Ontario in Finances in 1980. He completed his Diploma of Chartered Accounting at the McGill University in 1983 and his C.A. degree with the Order of Chartered Accountants of Quebec in 1984.
Jeffrey Friedman has been a co-chairman for Maccabi Canada Fundraising, an active board member for School and Community Committees and served as president for the Montreal and Lakeshore Interclub Tennis League for many years. He has made presentations at Vanier College Career Fairs and Montreal and Cornwall Chamber of Commerce Fairs. He served on the board of the Apparel Manufacturing Institute of Quebec. Jeffrey most recently was the assistant coach for the 2013 Maccabi Canadian men’s and ladies under 18 tennis team competing in Israel in July.
Jeffrey Friedman is a member of the Quebec Order of Chartered Accountants, Chartered Professional Accountants and the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS) where he is currently Treasurer of the ASIG (Administrative Special Interest Group).
Direction of human ressources
Pierre Lapointe
Director of Human Resources
Pierre Lapointe
Pierre Lapointe is director of human resources at the clinique ovo since 2012. He holds a BSc. in Industrial Relations and an MBA, and worked in the human resources field for almost 40 years in the management and development of human resources for various service companies related to the fields of engineering, medical and television.
At CBC, he worked in the field of labor relations, especially in collective bargaining agreements and grievance settlements for artists and television writers. Before that, he worked for the educational and cultural television francophone of Ontario (TFO) for 3 years as head of human resources and labor relations.
Prior to his employment in Ontario, Pierre Lapointe made a career primarily in human resources management for engineering firms as SNC-Lavalin, Genivar and Tecsult/Aecom. In these companies, he has made his mark in several specialties in human resources such as compensation, employee records management, benefits, staffing, and more particularly he has distinguished himself in the development of activities, programs and tools to set up a human resources department.
For several years, Pierre Lapointe has also provided consulting services in human resources and strategic management for small businesses in the areas of services and manufacturing.
He is a member of the Order of Certified Human Resources CHRP of Quebec and was a member of the Board of the Association of Human Resources Professionals of Quebec in the early 1990s.
operations direction
Cécile Lesaint
ovo prenatal, ovo biosurance, ovo labo
Cécile Lesaint, PhD
Dr. Cécile LeSaint has a doctorate in analytical chemistry-immunoassay and has spent most of her career at l’Institut de pharmacologie moléculaire et cellulaire (IPMC) in France. This experience allowed her to deepen her knowledge of immunological analytical techniques based on biochemical analysis. In addition, she gained expertise in cell culture. These experiences are remarkable assets for basic research in embryology, stem cells from umbilical cord, in endocrinology, as well as in medical biology.
In 2009, she moved to Quebec where she developed various bioanalytical tests as scientific research in immuno-chemistry. This experience allowed her to become familiar with FDA standards, good laboratory practice and standard laboratory procedures.
Dr. LeSaint joined the clinique ovo in November 2010. She manages ovo prenatal, ovo biosurance, ovo labo and is the Scientific Director of ovo r&d..
Simon Phillips
ovo cryo
SIMON PHILLIPS, PhD
Simon Phillips graduated in 1992 from the University of Plymouth in England. He completed his training at the Hallam Medical Center, London, in the laboratory of Professor Robert Edwards. Following training on all aspects of clinical embryology, he obtained the necessary licence to practice intracytoplasmic sperm injections in the UK. Then in 2008 he obtained a Master’s degree in Clinical Embryology at the University of Leeds. He is certified by the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society as an Embryology Laboratory Director.
He agreed to continue his career in MontreaI in 1997 as senior embryologist at the McGill Reproductive Center. His wide experience in the field of embryology includes in vitro maturation, ovarian cryopreservation and embryo biopsy.
Simon is a member of the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS) and ALPHA Scientists in Reproductive Medicine. He was a member of the CFAS ART Lab SIG Professional Standards, the sub-committee responsible for the creation of Canadian national standards for ART laboratory professionals in the field of medically assisted procreation.
He is currently a member of the Executive Committee for the Research Centre in Animal Reproduction at the University of Montreal and is a member of the teaching faculty for the Fellowship programme in Reproductive endocrinology and infertility.
He is part of the team of specialists as chief embryologist and director of the ovo clinical laboratories as well as the Scientific and Operations director of ovo cryo.
Marion Vivien
ovo r&d, ovo academy
Marion Vivien
Marion Vivien completed her pharmacy studies in France and also obtained a master's degree in the field of clinical research and drug development in 2012.
She began her career at SERVIER laboratories in Paris as project manager.
She coordinated the activities of an ongoing clinical study on Alzheimer's disease (15 countries, 700 participants) for 2.5 years. Her duties consisted of following study activities such as the management of CROs participating in the study (central laboratory, IVRS, questionnaires...), recruitment, adverse events... She was the point of contact for local project leaders during the study.
Afterwards, Marion specialized in CRO management for study start-ups, monitoring and clinical trial closures. Her tasks involved the coordination and delegation of various activities such as drawing up the specifications, monitoring budgets, performing the necessary training for the study personnel involved, updating SOPs...
After relocating to Quebec in May 2016, Marion Vivien joined clinique ovo as the assistant to the ovo r&d director. In 2017, Marion Vivien becomes the director of operations of ovo r&d and ovo academy.
Communications – Marketing
Chloé Plénet
Communications Director
Chloé Plénet
Chloé Plénet studied marketing and communications in France. Over the next 5 years, she worked for different medical companies in France as a marketing and project manager.
Upon arriving in Quebec, she worked for 5 years in the service industry as a marketing director before joining the Clinique ovo in July 2018. Chloé is in charge of the image of the clinic as well as internal and external communications.
Katia Ruelle
Desktop publishing
Katia Ruelle
After completing extensive training in IT and multimedia, Katia Ruelle began her career in the advertising field for more than 13 years. Her goal has always been to meet the needs of her customers both in the advertising creative and in the development of their brand. She worked for various companies in the medical field, pharmaceutical, fashion, web and others.
Since 2008, Katia is responsible for all the visual and artistic aspect of the clinique ovo. So she designed all the promotional tools such as brochures, posters, website and other promotional materials. She actively manages inventory and strives to meet the needs of each department of the clinic. She works with the marketing team, and operations managers.
In 2014, she directed the visual design of the new website of the clinique ovo and coordinates its creation.