Jean-Sébastien Dufresne

Jean-Sébastien Dufresne has been the owner and Executive Director of Montréal-Contacts since 2010, the third generation to lead the Agency founded in 1981 by his grandfather, Claude Choquette. Under his direction, the Agency has negotiated over 1,500 commercial agreements with publishing partners around the world, supported by a team in Montréal and a network of fifteen corresponding agents across as many countries.

His approach to representation rests on a deep familiarity with the cultural, legal and economic specificities that shape each market and each partner. Trained in intercultural mediation (Université de Sherbrooke), in negotiation (Harvard Law School, London School of Economics) and in public leadership (Harvard Kennedy School), he pays close attention to the distinct realities of every author and publisher the Agency represents, and tailors strategies accordingly.

Jean-Sébastien is currently completing a master’s degree in law at Université de Sherbrooke. His civic engagement has been recognized on several occasions: Forces Avenir Personality of the Year and Personality of the Week in La Presse and on Radio-Canada (2008), one of Journal de Montréal’s Top 30 under 30 in business, Jeune chambre de commerce de Montréal Arista, Young Leader Without Borders prize (2009), and one of Le Devoir’s 5 Montrealers of the Year (2011).