Daniel Rivest will be the next CEO of Olymel, succeeding Yanick Gervais, who will step down in July 2026.
About Daniel Rivest
According to a press release from the Canadian meat and poultry company, Rivest was chosen by the board to fill the upcoming CEO vacancy, following a “thorough selection process.”
Rivest first joined the company in 2016 as the vice president of sales for the fresh meats division, and later he served as the senior vice president of sales and marketing. He was promoted to serve as Olymel’s chief operating officer in 2025.
Before joining Olymel, he held leadership positions with Agropur Operations Canada, Molson Coors Canada, Parmalat Canada and Kraft Canada.
“I’m honored to be appointed CEO of Olymel,” said Rivest. “I’m taking on this responsibility with a clear focus on ensuring continuity in our strategic plan and preparing the company for future opportunities in our industry.”
About Yanick Gervais
Gervais has held the CEO position at Olymel since November 2021. The previous CEO, Réjean Nadeau, who passed away from cancer on one month earlier. Gervais was appointed interim CEO one week before Nadeau’s death.
Yanick GervaisOlymel
Prior to being named CEO, Gervais was the company’s senior vice president of operations. He joined Olymel in 2016 with the acquisition of La Fernandière.
“Leading Olymel has been a tremendous privilege,” Gervais said. “I informed the board of my intentions over a year ago to ensure an orderly transition. Today (January 14), I’m announcing my decision to step down with peace of mind. I’ve been fortunate to enjoy an exciting 25-year career in the agri-food industry, at both La Fernandière and Olymel. I’m leaving with a deep sense of pride in the work our team has accomplished. They are exceptional people and one of the company’s greatest strengths. I’m confident Olymel will continue to grow and thrive under the leadership of Daniel Rivest.”
Board Chairman Richard Ferland added: “Yanick Gervais has been an outstanding leader. He steered a major transformation of our business model with vision, diligence and care, strengthening Olymel’s resilience and performance. His tenure at the helm of Olymel has left a lasting impact, and we’re deeply grateful to him.”
In order to ensure a smooth transition, Gervais will remain with Olymel as a strategic advisor until October 2027.
Olymel is a business unit of the Montreal-based Sollio Cooperative. According to information from the WATTPoultry.com Top Companies Database, it produced 150 billion broilers during the past year and is also involved in turkey production. Sollio Cooperative also operates 18 feed mills and produces 1.26 million metric tons of poultry and pig feed annually. It ranks as the world’s 118th largest feed producer.
