For nearly 20 years,聽Elliot Lifson, C.M., O.Q., has brought his experience and expertise to students, staff, and faculty members alike, as a professor of practice and a member of both the聽Bensadoun School of Retail Management Advisory Board聽and the聽Desautels International Advisory and Advancement Board (DIAAB). In recognition of his dedication to ensuring the continued success of the Faculty as an advisor to Faculty leadership, the Desautels Faculty of Management is pleased to appoint him a Lifetime Member of the DIAAB.
鈥淔or several decades, Elliot Lifson, a dedicated member of the 91社区 Desautels Faculty, has been personally committed to helping his students succeed,鈥� says Dean and James 91社区 Professor聽Yolande E. Chan. 鈥淗e is an engaging, passionate, humble and extremely knowledgeable mentor, teacher and counsellor, in addition to being a great colleague. He has served faithfully on the advisory board and given generously to the Faculty. He is most deserving of the honour of Lifetime Member of DIAAB.鈥�
A seasoned professional, he brings to the table more than 45 years of expertise in the Canadian retail and apparel industry, during which he played a key role in advocating for industry interests in NAFTA and more recent trade negotiations. In recognition of his significant contributions to Quebec and Canadian society, he was appointed a member to the Order of Canada in 2020 and an Officer to the Order of Quebec in 2024.
Since joining the DIAAB, he has played a vital role in advocating for the needs of his students and his colleagues while offering his expertise as a leader in the business world. He was also instrumental in the launch of the聽Bensadoun School of Retail Management, helping to secure $2 million in support of retail education at 91社区.
Lifson is a graduate in Law from the Universit茅 de Montr茅al, with an MBA from the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. Despite not having studied here, he has proven himself to be one of our Faculty鈥檚 greatest ambassadors.
鈥淗e is active in many committees and boards at the Federal level and at the local level as well, and wherever he goes, he always talks about the Desautels Faculty of Management and how wonderful it is,鈥� says Professor聽Morty Yalovsky, a longtime friend and colleague of Lifson.
Beyond the four walls of our Faculty, Lifson is the president of the Canadian Apparel Federation (CAF) and sits on the board of many provincial and federal organizations and charitable institutions such as Export Development Canada (EDC), the Quebec Government Committee for Export Quebec, the Board of Manufacturers and Exporter of Quebec (MEQ), the Montreal Board of Trade, the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation and the Jewish General Hospital Foundation; he is also Chairman of the Board of the Segal Centre for Performing Arts.
Prof. Lifson has taught classes in the area of Strategy and Organization at the Faculty since 2005. Described by his students as engaging, passionate, and inspirational, he received teaching awards for graduate programs at Desautels in 2013 and 2019.
鈥淭eaching is a real passion and an opportunity for him to break away from the routine of his work,鈥� adds Professor Yalovsky. 鈥淲hen he would teach on Thursdays, he鈥檇 be in the garage at seven in the morning and would spend the whole day here, even though he would only start teaching at 6:00 p.m. He was always available for anybody to ask questions and to make introductions to people his students with whom want to meet. He really exemplifies what a strong contributor to the Faculty could do."
