Benoit Roch

Background

About Benoit Roch

Benoit Roch is a specialist of the management of energy and is a leading figure in this sector as the Senior Director for alternative energy and special mandates for Groupe Filgo-Sonic. He is particularly known for his vision and capacity for innovation in Quebec’s energy sector. During his career, he has sought solutions that permitted the sustainable development of Quebec. He has also been the department head of a network of service-stations and carlocks under the La Coop fédérée's Sonic banner for 30 years. He was central to the introduction of ethanol to the petroleum market in Quebec in 1994. This product was often neglected by distributors, but Benoit perceived its value for the economic prosperity of Sonic and the province of Quebec as a whole, and how it would be important for reducing the carbon footprint of the province. Today, the large majority of petroleum distributors sell ethanol. Benoit also innovated by the integration of many services in Quebec’s regions as to favor their long-term prosperity. He implemented a plan to unify gas stations, hardware stores and convenience stores at one retail location under the brands of Sonic, BMR and Sonichoix. Residents of less populous cities therefore did not have to travel far distances for essential services. Today, Benoit is working on another project to develop Quebec: the introduction of hydrogen to the energy sector. Recognizing that climate change represents one of the world’s largest problem, implementing multi-energy service stations would permit to drastically reduce our ecological footprint in a way that also increases our economic activity. It is this vision of firms as being socially responsible that guides Benoit in each project he engages in.