Executive Team

Welcome to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) website. At CATSA, the security of the travelling public is our number one priority. Our country is one of the leaders in air security and continues to be an invaluable partner in advancing and enhancing air security around the world.

Our website has been designed to provide people with the latest information and is an example of CATSA's ongoing commitment to the security of the travelling public. From business to leisure travel, we want to assist you in preparing for your trip and make your experience at our screening checkpoints as pleasant and stress-free as possible.

Please take time to browse our website and discover how you can help us help you in your journey.

Have a safe and enjoyable trip.

Jacques Duchesneau, C.M.
President and CEO

As President and CEO, Mr. Jacques Duchesneau manages CATSA's day-to-day operations. Mr. Duchesneau's executive team is comprised of:

Mark Duncan, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer;
Michael J. McLaughlin, Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer;
Ian MacKay, Vice-President, Law and Strategy;
Kevin McGarr, Vice-President & Chief Technology Officer;
Jacques Grilli, Vice-President, Operations;
Renée Légaré, Vice-President, People.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Jacques Duchesneau, C.M.

Jacques Duchesneau earned a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the École nationale d’administration publique (ÉNAP) and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Montreal. Mr. Duchesneau distinguished himself throughout his 30-year career with the Montreal Urban Community Police Service (MUCPS), especially during his five-year tenure as Chief of Police and Chief of Staff (1994-1998). From 1994 to 1998, he also held the position of Treasurer of the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime. In 1999, he was the Government of Canada’s Official Candidate for the position of Secretary-General of Interpol and was named to the short list of three finalists. From 2000 to 2002, he occupied the position of Senior Vice-President - Business Development of Datacom. Since 2000, Mr. Duchesneau has acted as Colonel-Commandant of the Canadian Force’s Military Police. He also was Vice-President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (1993-1997) and President of the Quebec Association of Police Directors (1993-1997). In 1996, Mr. Duchesneau was honoured as a member of the Order of Canada and recognised for his exceptional career as Chief of the Montreal Urban Community Police Department and for his social and community commitment. In 2002, he received Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee Medal for his significant contribution to his fellow citizens, his community and Canada. In 1997, he was named the recipient of the Quebec Criminology Society’s Archambault-Fauteux Award, and, won the Paul Harris Fellow Award from Rotary International. He was knighted by the Order of Saint John (2001), and received the Police Medal for Distinguished Service (1989) and the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal (1993) for exemplary action in the war against drugs. Jacques Duchesneau was named President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) in October 2002.

More information in the CEO section.

Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer

Mark Duncan

Mr. Duncan was born in Victoria and grew up in the interior of British Columbia. He has a Masters degree in Public Administration from Carleton University and an Engineering degree from Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. He also holds a commercial pilot’s license and flew for six years with the Canadian Armed Forces in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He joined Transport Canada in Ottawa in 1975, as an Airport Systems Analyst, moved to Toronto, and was ultimately promoted Deputy Airport Manager at Lester B. Pearson International Airport. In 1987, Mr. Duncan relocated to Vancouver to become the Regional Director General, Airports Group. He was later promoted to Regional Director General, Transport Canada, Pacific Region, reporting to the Deputy Minister. Mark Duncan joined CATSA on June 3, 2002.

Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer

Michael J. McLaughlin

Mr. McLaughlin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science, with Honours in Mathematics (1971), from Carleton University in Ottawa. He also graduated from the Certified Management Accountant Program (CMA) in 1989 and from the Advanced Management Program (CCMD) in 1992. Mr. McLaughlin began his career in 1971 working as a Management Analyst for Veterans Affairs. In 1973, he joined Canada Post where he advanced to the position of Manager of Corporate Planning. From 1979 to 2002, Mr. McLaughlin worked in the Office of the Auditor General of Canada in progressively senior roles. As an Audit Principal, Mr. McLaughlin was responsible for audits of External Affairs, CIDA and IDRC. He later became an Assistant Auditor General with responsibility for the Montreal Regional Office including audits of VIA Rail, the Business Development Bank of Canada and the International Civil Aviation Organization. He held the position of Deputy Auditor General of Canada from 1997 to 2002, where he was responsible for the overall management of the Office including Audit Operations, and was the Senior Financial Officer. Most recently, Mr. McLaughlin held the position of President at CCAF-FCVI (formerly the Canadian Comprehensive Auditing Foundation), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to research into public sector issues of Accountability, Governance, Comptrollership, Public Reporting and Audit. In the fall of 2004 Mr. McLaughlin was awarded the designation of FCMA by the Canadian Society of Management Accountants. Michael J. McLaughlin joined CATSA on April 1, 2003.

Vice-President, Law & Strategy

Ian S. MacKay

Mr. MacKay received his Commerce (1979) and Law (1982) degrees from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is a member of the Nova Scotia and Ontario Bars. Since 1985 Mr. MacKay has held in a variety of positions in the fields of transportation and transport and administrative law within the Canadian Transportation Agency, the Canada Transportation Act Review, Transport Canada and Justice Canada. In July of 2002, Mr. MacKay was appointed the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) and in May of 2004, Vice President, Operations. CATSA is a federal crown corporation responsible for passenger screening and other key aviation security services in Canada.

Vice-President & Chief Technology Officer

Kevin McGarr

Mr. McGarr has completed his Master's Degree in Business Administration in the International Aviation Program at the John Molson School of Business of Concordia University. Prior to joining CATSA, Mr. McGarr enjoyed a 26 year career with the Montreal Urban Community Police Service, where he distinguished himself in the investigation of organized crime activities. In recognition of his efforts to combat organized crime, the Governor-General awarded Mr. McGarr the Meritorious Service Medal in 1997. After completing his career in law enforcement in 1996, Mr. McGarr was the Vice-President of KPMG Forensic Inc, where he was responsible for the detection and prevention of corporate and financial malfeasance. Mr. McGarr joined CATSA in January 2003.

Vice-President, Operations

Jacques Grilli

Mr. Grilli completed his police training at the RCMP Academy before joining the RCMP in 1960. He took on special roles at Expo 67, Dorval International Airport, and also at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. In addition Mr. Grilli was in charge of the overall VIP security for the province of Québec. Between 1985 and 1986, he managed the Bankruptcies and Counterfeiting Unit, after which he moved on to simultaneously manage two Narcotics investigation units in Montreal as well as Media Relations. Mr. Grilli left the RCMP in 1993 to take on new challenges at the Société des Casinos du Québec, as Director, Surveillance and Security at the Montreal Casino until 1997. At that time, he became its Director General in which position he had overall responsibility for an annual operating budget of $488M, 3,800 employees, the stage theatre and an average of 15,000 visitors each day). In 2002, he accepted the role of Executive Director, Gambling, at the head offices of the Société itself. Mr. Grilli joined us at the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority on January 20, 2003.

Vice-President, People

Renée Légaré

Renée Légaré has a Master's degree in Industrial Relations from Université du Québec en Outaouais and an Honors degree in Economics from Université de Sherbrooke. She started her career at Human Resources Development Canada in 1989 as a Junior Economist at the Strategic Policy Directorate. In 1997, she joined the team at Transport Canada 's Program Evaluation Branch as an Evaluation Officer and then accepted a position at the Marine Policy Directorate as a Senior Advisor. In June 2002, Ms. Légaré joined CATSA as Acting Senior Manager responsible for the development and implementation of pension and benefit plans for the new Administration. In May 2003, Ms. Légaré was promoted to Director, Office of the President, and, in June 2004, Ms. Légaré accepted the position of Director, Corporate Services. Ms. Légaré was promoted in April 2006 to Vice-President, People.