Leslie Quinton has developed over the past 25 years a deep expertise in all aspects of communications and public relations across a wide range of disciplines. From multinational corporations to agency to non-profit, Leslie has a broad background in public relations and issues management, and has taught the next generation of communicators at McGill University for eight years.
For four years, Leslie was the senior vice-president, global corporate communications at one of the world’s largest engineering firms. Her role included the management and direction of all internal and external communications, as well as the strategic positioning of the 36,000-employee publicly-traded company, active in more than 100 countries around the world. This role included the development and deployment of all communications and media relations activities of the company internationally, including all marketing and website components, and is a key player in the elaboration and promotion of its sustainability policy.
Prior to this, she worked for seven years in public relations agencies where as part of an international network, she oversaw a wide variety of strategic communications for private and publicly traded companies such as Air Liquide, IBM, Home Depot, Dyson, Accor Hotels, Loblaws, Nestlé, Procter and Gamble, Johnson and Johnson, Jamieson Vitamins, Weston, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, CN, Gildan Activewear, Marriott Hotels, Lantic Sugar, Environment Canada, Coinamatic, Health Canada, and various mandates in the real estate, high-tech, entertainment, non-profit and retail sectors.
Leslie has particular expertise in all areas of corporate communications, including issues and risk management, internal and external stakeholder relations, media relations, brand management and development, marketing, acting as and training spokespeople, crisis management and planning, sponsorship and philanthropic communications, event management, merger and acquisition communications, and sustainable communications.
Leslie was a part-time instructor at McGill’s Department of Career Management from 2001-2009. In 2008, she was awarded the Inspira prize by the Quebec Public Relations Association for excellence in communications teaching.
Leslie has also written for the web, newspapers, radio and magazines, and is the editor of a book on corporate sponsorship. A frequent guest speaker and lecturer in Canada and the U.S., she has spoken on the themes of corporate responsibility, green communications, change management, internal communications, time management, and work-life balance.
On the volunteer front, she is on the board of directors for the International Women’s Forum (Canada), a member of the Equitas Human Rights communications advisory board, a member of Oxfam-Quebec S’investir, a member of the jury for the John Molson School of Business Case Competition, a mentor to young public relations professionals, and is active in many other non-profit organizations. She was previously the vice-president communications of the Jeune chambre de commerce de Montréal for two years, and co-chair of the Montreal Ovarian Cancer annual walk, as well as the chair of the Women’s Executive Network in Montreal from 2002-2009, and member of the board of directors for the Quebec Public Relations Association from 2006-2009. In 2008, she won the SP award for leadership in her community and in 2011, was designated as an “Incontournable” by Premières en affaires magazine.
