Pierre Karl Péladeau

Pierre Karl Péladeau (; born 16 October 1961), also known by his initials PKP, is a Canadian businessman, billionaire and former politician. He was also the MNA (Member of the National Assembly) for Saint-Jérôme. Péladeau is the president and CEO of Quebecor Inc. He is seen as a "strong Quebec nationalist" and who has wielded his media properties to influence Quebec politics. Péladeau used to own Sun Media Corporation.

Péladeau was the Leader of the Opposition in the Quebec National Assembly from his election as leader of the Parti Québécois on 15 May 2015 until his resignation on 2 May 2016 for family reasons.

Life and career Péladeau is the son of the Quebecor founder Pierre Péladeau (1925–1997) and his first wife Raymonde Chopin (1927–1976). His siblings are Érik Péladeau, Anne-Marie Péladeau, Isabelle Péladeau, Simon-Pierre Péladeau, Esther Péladeau and Jean B. Péladeau. He was educated in Montreal and Paris, especially at Université Paris VIII. He attended the Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf. He holds a degree in philosophy from Université du Québec à Montréal and a law degree from Université de Montréal.

Péladeau was so inspired by Karl Marx while attending university that he changed his middle name from “Carl” to “Karl”.

Business career Péladeau joined his father's management team at an early age. He is known to be confrontational with unions and has used lock-out tactics at least 14 times. He counted Brian Mulroney amongst his business associates.

Péladeau was appointed president of Quebecor Communications Inc. in 1991. This division included the company's main publishing assets and some distribution and retail operations.

In 1994, Péladeau relocated to Paris to help his company's growth. As president of Quebecor Printing Europe he developed the new subsidiary through a series of acquisitions in France, the United Kingdom and Spain, building it into Europe's largest printer. He allegedly resents the failure of the Royal Bank of Canada and the English Canadian business establishment to refinance Quebecor World's debt. Péladeau was to continue to work for the company in corporate strategy. Péladeau lost out to the scions of the Canadian brewing giant, and an article published in Quebecor's Journal de Québec noted Péladeau's “regret” that Canadiens owner George Gillett “preferred financial considerations, while [Péladeau] would have liked the Canadiens to be based on a Québécois identity.”

In 2023, Péladeau purchased the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

Political career

Activism and political influence Péladeau's views have been described as "strongly Quebec nationalist, if not outright sovereignist" and has been noted for using his views to shape Quebec. Taillefer then told Paul Arcand in a radio interview that he believes Péladeau uses his properties to influences the views of Quebecois. The federal government chose in early March not to comment on Péladeau's decision to embrace the PQ and Quebec sovereignty. Péladeau had in 2010 refused to meet with John Gomery, president of the Conseil de presse du Quebec, over his withdrawal from the Conseil of two of Quebecor's newspapers, the Journal de Montréal and the Journal de Québec.

Péladeau's selection alienated voters on several fronts. He had a reputation for being a union-buster due to his frequent use of lockouts, a significant liability both in a province that is 40 percent unionized and in a party that has long billed itself as a social democratic party. At the same time, his unabashed support for sovereigntism alienated many voters who did not want to vote on the sovereignty issue again. Indeed, according to The Globe and Mail, the PQ's poll numbers flatlined soon after Péladeau announced his candidacy and never recovered.

Péladeau was elected in the Saint-Jérôme riding with 37 percent of the vote.

Following much speculation, Péladeau officially entered the Parti Québécois leadership race in November.

Péladeau's wealth and status as principal shareholder of Québecor, the province's largest media firm, were leading issues during the campaign. The Péladeau campaign outspent the second place candidate, Alexandre Cloutier, by over five times, spending a total $415,000, with Cloutier spending $79,598.

On 15 May 2015, Péladeau was elected leader of the Parti Québécois with 57% of party votes. He resigned his posts on 2 May 2016.

Personal life Péladeau has a daughter from his previous relationship with Isabelle Hervet, a native of France. Their separation was announced in December 2013, but the couple later reconciled and were married on 15 August 2015 in Quebec City, Quebec. They separated again in January 2016, less than five months after their marriage. They divorced in 2016.

His girlfriend Marie-Christine Couture was discovered dead in October 2016 at her home in Montreal. Police theorize it was from suicide.

Péladeau dated Lucie Laurier, a Canadian actress, for a while.

As of 2021, he is in a relationship with model and artist Pascale Bourbeau. They have two boys

In 2025, Forbes estimated his net worth to be about $2.4 billion.

Péladeau is active in many charitable and cultural organizations. Quebecers identify him with his initials, PKP.