Pierre Alarie, Canada’s new ambassador to Mexico, presented his credentials to President Enrique Peña Nieto this week. he had arrived in Mexico City on April 7, to replace outgoing ambassador Sara Hradecky.
Alarie joined Canada’s Department of External Affairs in 1982. While in Ottawa, he served as a trade desk officer with the European bureau. He served abroad as second secretary in Lagos, Nigeria and as first secretary in Santiago, Chile.
After his assignment in Chile, Alarie joined the private sector. He held executive positions at Bombardier, SNC-Lavalin International in Mexico City and the real estate subsidiary of the Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec. In 1998, he joined the Bank of Nova Scotia as country representative in Mexico City, a position he held until 2004. In 2004 and 2005, Alarie was director, mergers and acquisitions, with Hydro-Québec International. Between 2006 and 2009 he acted as adviser for several Canadian companies In 2009, Alarie became vice president, business development and sales, of the Canadian Commercial Corporation in Ottawa.
Alarie obtained a Master’s degree in Public Administration at the College of Europe, Bruges in 1982. He is accompanied in Mexico by his spouse, Catherine Genois. He has has three children.