Orbit Garant pioneer Pierre Alexandre confirmed in top spot at drilling major

Major Canadian drilling company Orbit Garant (TSX: OGD) has confirmed the permanent appointment of Pierre Alexandre as its president and chief executive officer – a role he has been filling on an interim basis since last November.

Mr Alexandre has a long history in the drilling business and now helms Orbit Garant, which has 216 rigs and 1,300 employees.

He worked as a surface driller for several companies between 1974 and 1983, and then in 1986 joined his brother Bernard to found Orbit Drilling.

The company then underwent significant expansion in the 1990s.

Most qualified person to lead

In 2007 Orbit merged with Garant Drilling, a firm founded in 1965 and which, by 1985, had become a leader in diamond drilling technology.

The Val-d’Or, Quebec-based company says that it is pleased that Mr Alexandre has agreed to take on the president and CEO jobs on a permanent basis.

“Given his background with the company, we believe he is most qualified person to lead Orbit Garant into the next phase of growth,” the company’s chairperson Jean-Yves Laliberte said.

New member joins board

Since Orbit Garant was formed, in January 2007, the company said it has grown to become “one of the most prominent” Canadian operators in the mineral drilling industry.

Mr Alexandre has almost 40 years of experience in the mineral drilling industry, including field operation, project planning and business development.

Orbit Garant has also announced the appointment of Mario Jacob to its board of directors.

He will serve as a member of the audit committee and corporate governance and compensation committee.

Mr Jacob has more than 20 years’ experience in corporate finance, including with Quebec’s mining sector.

He is currently managing director of NCP Investment Management, a wealth management firm he co-founded in 2021.

He also sits as president of Maximus Capital, which specialises in corporate finance.

Mr Jacobs was trained as a lawyer and his other experience involves serving on mining company boards, including Cartier Resources, which is exploring for gold in Quebec, and Osisko Exploration and Virginia Mines.