A Professional and Thoughtful Leader, Providing Tailored Funding Solutions At CCMB: Gilles Herard

Envisaging the need of organizations and developers looking for Funding and Professional Assistance in a diversity of projects, industry veteran, business leader, and visionary, Gilles Herard joined Capital Corp Merchant Banking in the early 1980s and thereby entered the Merchant Banking world.

Born in 1952, Mr Herard belongs to Montreal, Canada. In the 1970s Mr Herard joined Manufacturers Hanover Corporation of New York as Senior Credit Analyst. At the time, Manufacturers Hanover was considered one of (if not the) most important commercial banks worldwide, counting among its clients the world’s top 500 companies.

The visionary began his career in Banking in 1972 with the Toronto Dominion Bank (Canada), where he attended highly specialized classes in administration and credit, and became a Fellow of the Canadian Bankers Institute. He subsequently obtained another degree from the University of Central Florida in Mastering Skills of International Trade. In academics, Mr Herard holds a University Degree in Administration and a degree from the Canadian Bankers Institute.

In the early 1980s, with 10 years of experience working for world-leading banks, Mr Herard joined Capital Corp Merchant Banking and thereby entered the Merchant Banking world. He has since further developed the international boutique financing market, weathered recessions and various tumultuous industry storms, and remains a successful, trusted, and in-demand resource in complex financial structuring of private projects worldwide.

More about the Firm

Capital Corp Merchant Banking is part of a Group that was formed over three decades ago to meet the growing needs of organizations and Developers looking for Funding and Professional Assistance in a diversity of projects. CCMB offers the Award-winning comprehensive capabilities and deep industry knowledge necessary to help the clients obtain the funding they need for their project. Capital Corp is very different from anyone else in the industry in that they do not charge any Application Fees, Review Fees, Meeting Fees, Stand-by Fees, Pre-Due Diligence Fees, nor any other type of up-front fees; in fact, they charge no fees whatsoever until such time as Capital Corp is ready to commit to the project.

Clientele & Corporate Ethos

Capital Corp Merchant Banking can stimulate optimal performance for its clients. Their success has come from their culture, which strives to foster the same values that help any business succeed: Hard Work, Common Sense and Integrity. What’s more, they have always stayed true to the original vision: providing our middle-market clients the same Tailored Solutions and Funding Packages in International Project Financing by way of Equity Funding and Debt Financing. “Our word is our bond, simple as that. As such, our clients come to us from all kinds of industries: real estate, technology, pharmarceuticals, biotech, film/entertainment, tourism, healthcare, waste management, energy, manufacturing, and more”.

Hiccups on the Way & Supporting Factors

“The challenges for us are always the same as for everyone else – the health of the markets, and socio economic conditions. Although working in a variety of industries makes us flexible, it also means that we are affected by not just one industry’s market cycle, but really all market cycles. So, we need to stay vigilant and very well informed at all times”, said Mr Herard while talking about his major hurdles.

Hard work and determination are always the foundation to build upon – but what has been absolutely critical in building up Mr Herard’s reputation and renown has been to master the craft of project finance structuring and engineering, which Mr Herard has worked his entire career to become.

Creating a more Balanced and Equal Industry

“There are a few critical factors that would promote such an industry and that are what we continue to stick to in our own organization: diligence, respect and courtesy, attention to details, and listening carefully to what our clients say so we can show them that we understand”, state Mr Herard when asked about his opinion on creation of a balanced and equal industry.

Favourite Book

Mr Herard does not read novels, but he reads to learn something about History, Religions, and the people that lived in different periods and left their mark in history as it has always been his passion. He has also read the biographies of all the popes (from the first one to recently elected Pope Francis), he has read the Koran, and the Torah, and several other religious books, so as to better understand the followers of those religions and their religious traditions.

Future Roadmap

People will always need someone who can think outside-the-box and deliver results, which is something Gilles Herard and his team have particularly excelled at over the decades they have been in business. What remains is for them to stay focused on that, where many other companies in the industry ended up distracted or spread themselves thin and expired. Their sustainability is based on persistent consistency and they plan to keep it that way.

Awards & Milestones

Mr Herard has been consistently, consecutively awarded in Orlando’s Business Hall of Fame for International Financial Consulting since 2009. Other awards include Gamechanger of the Year in 2017 by Acquisition Finance Magazine, Best International Financing Firm, Marquis Who’s Who, and CCMB obtaining a 2020 award as part of the 50 Leading Companies of the Year by the Silicon Review.

A Piece of Advice for Female Entrepreneurs

Unfortunately, the financial services industry is still dominated by men, and for any woman to enter into this arena the challenges are mind boggling – but as with any other industry, this one too needs and can benefit from the involvement and perspective of women, so my advice is to not give up and go for it!