Daniel Lamarre

Daniel Lamarre is Executive Vice-Chairman of Cirque du Soleil, where he strengthens global partnerships and drives strategic growth across five continents. As the company's former CEO and President, he orchestrated landmark negotiations securing unprecedented agreements with The Beatles and Michael Jackson's estate, creating the iconic shows 'LOVE' and 'ONE'. His leadership memoir, *Balancing Acts*, reveals how organisations can unite creativity with commercial discipline to foster genuine innovation. Daniel equips audiences with practical strategies for managing creative teams, navigating complex partnerships, and building cultures where artistic vision and business success thrive together.

Daniel Lamarre secured agreements with two of the most protected estates in entertainment history, persuading The Beatles to approve their first and only live theatrical production and outmanoeuvring established industry players to win the rights to celebrate Michael Jackson's legacy on stage. These landmark negotiations transformed Cirque du Soleil's global reach and demonstrated how creative vision, when paired with rigorous business discipline, can unlock opportunities others consider impossible. Now serving as Executive Vice-Chairman of Cirque du Soleil, Daniel continues to strengthen the company's key partnerships and drive strategic growth across five continents, drawing on decades of expertise in international business development across creative industries.

Throughout his tenure as President and CEO, Daniel nurtured the delicate balance between Cirque du Soleil's artistic integrity and its commercial success, guiding the company through expansion, diversification, and crisis with adaptability and strategic clarity. His career foundation was built through senior roles at TVA Broadcast Group, NATIONAL Public Relations, and Burson Marsteller, where he refined his ability to unite disparate interests and deliver solutions that serve all parties. In 2012, he co-created C2MTL Conference, a global platform where creative and business leaders explore innovative answers to commercial challenges, embodying his conviction that creativity and commerce are inseparable. His leadership memoir, *Balancing Acts*, reveals the untold stories behind Cirque's most iconic shows and offers practical insight into how organisations can foster genuine innovation by honouring both artistic ambition and financial discipline.

Daniel equips audiences with actionable strategies for managing creative talent, navigating complex negotiations, and building workplace cultures where innovation thrives alongside accountability. A natural storyteller who draws from both triumphs and setbacks, he uses humour and humility to make sophisticated business principles accessible and immediately applicable. His presentations resonate with leaders seeking to inspire collaboration, sustain growth during uncertainty, and create environments where passion and commitment drive measurable results. Rooted in the values of his small hometown of Grand-Mère in French Canada yet resolutely international in outlook, Daniel's approach reflects a deep belief that leadership succeeds when it remains grounded in authenticity, purpose, and respect for people. His commitment extends beyond business through sustained charitable involvement, including twelve years supporting Cirque du Monde, a social circus programme for at-risk youth, and founding membership on the Board of Directors of the Foundation for the Montreal Heart Institute since 1994.