Nan-b de Gaspé Beaubien

Class of 2009

Philippe and Nan-b de Gaspé Beaubien Beaubien were owners and operators of Telemedia Inc., a privately-owned media and communications company started in Montreal, Canada in 1968 until 1998, at which time they voluntarily relinquished control of the company to their three children, Philippe III, Nanon and Francois.

The de Gaspé Beaubien are well known for their expertise in the area of family business education and in 1993 founded the Institute for Family Enterprise (the name was changed on May 1, 1999 to The Business families Foundation).  The mission of this international non-profit organization is to ensure the future of families and their businesses.  The Foundation develops and delivers stimulating educational programs based on innovative research in close cooperation with Universities, other families in business and the Professionals who counsel them.

Nan-b and Philippe are Co-Chairs of the Board of the Business Families Foundation.  They have spent more than 30 years studying numerous family business organizations around the world that recognise the complexities of combining family and business.  They have written and spoken about their philosophies in addressing the special issues that arise in a family enterprise and the family that controls the enterprise including conducting workshops at the World Economic Forum in Davos.  They are passionate in their commitment to generating knowledge about family business and building the field’s academic credibility.