THE ART OF FRANÇOIS LEGAULT

 

THE ART OF FRANÇOIS LEGAULT... 

By Bernard Bujold - 

François Legault has everything but romance... and loyalty! The departure of his minister Christian Dubé is totally in line with the behavior and personality of Legault, whose behavior has never changed since his professional beginnings with Air Transat in 1986. 

The period with Air Transat (1986-1997) was a landmark one for François Legault, who built his reputation as a successful entrepreneur and gained financial independence before the age of 40. However, his departure in 1997 was fraught with conflict. In February 1997, during a trip to Paris, Legault quarreled with his partner Jean-Marc Eustache over development strategy, particularly expansion into Europe. Legault felt that the company was “going nowhere”, and decided to sell his shares abruptly without warning his partners. This sale causes Transat's stock price to plummet (from nearly $13 to around $4 in a few weeks), sending shockwaves through the aviation community. Jean-Marc Eustache, co-founder and CEO of Transat until 2021, is deeply affected by this sudden departure, perceived as a betrayal and cavalier abandonment. Eustache has always refused to speak to Legault again, and the two men remain estranged to this day. This break-up is often cited by Legault's critics to call into question his reliability and loyalty. Transat has even refused interview requests on the subject, and a book commissioned for the company's 25th anniversary (in 2010) was never published, possibly as a result. Despite this, Legault describes his departure as a personal achievement (financial independence) and denies any lingering animosity on his side, claiming it was the only major conflict of his career. The episode did, however, leave its mark on his image as a pragmatic businessman, often accused of impetuosity. 

But in the end, a true leader must be neither sentimental nor romantic. According to this definition, François Legault can be described as a great leader, and for this reason, he could be re-elected in October 2026... 

To be continued!