The Chambre de Commerce France-Canada (CCFC) has announced the election of Gacia Kazandjian – with over two decades of experience and deep knowledge in international business law – as the first woman to be its president since its establishment in 1956.
The CCFC said her election represents a significant step in its evolution as an organization. Kazandjian is a dual Canadian and French citizen who gained admission to the Quebec, Ontario, and Paris bars, according to a press release from the CCFC.
“Being the first woman to hold this position is a profound honor,” Kazandjian said in the press release. “In today’s complex geopolitical, economic, and environmental landscape, the Chamber’s role is more vital than ever.”
Kazandjian’s LinkedIn page provides more information on her professional and educational background. Her knowledge base covers the common law and civil law systems alike, and her work focuses on corporate M&A, private equity, commercial law, technology, and data.
Her practice includes structuring complex transactions, spearheading due diligence processes, and negotiating multijurisdictional transactional contracts. She helps companies navigate legal complexities, form international partnerships, attain business objectives, and comply and innovate in the software as a service (SaaS), AI, and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) areas.
Kazandjian has been a partner at Fidal Avocats beginning in October 2021. In this role, she co-heads the North American strategy and helps clients coordinate legal matters and corporate projects across Canada, France, the US, and beyond. She became a Fidal attorney focusing on corporate M&A, commercial law, and digital tech and data, starting in April 2020.
She worked as an attorney and as head of the Canada desk at DS Avocats in Paris from September 2013 to April 2020 and as a lawyer at André R. Dorais, Barristers and Solicitors, from May 2003 to May 2013.
Kazandjian’s LinkedIn page states that she earned her JD in common law as a cum laude from the University of Ottawa in June 2004 and her LLB in civil law from the Université de Montréal in June 2003.
"It is with deep gratitude, humility and emotion that I succeed Daniel Jouanneau as President of the Chambre de Commerce France Canada, on the eve of its 70-year history,” Kazandjian said in the press release.
In its press release, the CCFC expressed gratitude to Jouanneau, preceding president and a diplomat who headed the organization from 2017–25 and helped promote its transatlantic economic cooperation efforts.
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According to its press release, the CCFC has worked to strengthen the business ties between Canada and France for almost seven decades and participated in the founding of the Association of Foreign Chambers of Commerce in France.
As per the CCFC, as president, Kazandjian will help the organization further foster transatlantic relations, build upon the efforts of its past leadership, increase its visibility and influence, and offer better value to its membership.
“We will continue to leverage our expertise to strengthen synergies between the French, Quebec, and Canadian business ecosystems, and to support companies in their internationalization and market diversification strategies,” Kazandjian said in the press release. “France is a strategic gateway to Europe for Canadian businesses, just as Canada is a key commercial hub for French enterprises.”
The CCFC revealed its roadmap for the future, which focuses on five strategic pillars. Specifically, the organization aims to:
- improve economic exchanges among France, Canada, and the European Union by arranging economic forums, thematic conferences, B2B events, and partnerships
- increase access to public support and financing by promoting the visibility and accessibility of institutional support programs for businesses
- guide companies navigating the shifting international landscape by anticipating regulatory and political developments
- advance sustainable development and initiatives for environmental and corporate social responsibility, as well as collaboration and exchanges of best practices in the renewable energy, resource management, and climate action areas
- fortify cultural and educational ties by promoting Francophonie and cultural diversity