About Pierre Lassonde
Read the speech, "Ten Rules," Mr. Lassonde offered at The University of Utah's David Eccles School of Business 2006 convocation.
Pierre Lassonde was elected president of Newmont Mining Corporation in 2002. He joined the company following Newmont’s acquisition of Franco-Nevada Mining Corporation Limited, which he co-founded and served as president and co-chief executive officer since 1982. Newmont Mining Corporation is the world’s largest gold mining producer in the world with operations in Australia, New Zealand, Central Asia, Indonesia, North America and South America.
Lassonde is best known for his role in the mining industry; he is a leading gold analyst and investor. With over 25 years of experience, Lassonde has shared his knowledge in his book, The Gold Book: The Complete Investment Guide to Precious Metals. Throughout his career, Lassonde has promoted mining education and research in North America and internationally. Lassonde’s strong commitment to education is reflected in his remarks, “We should never forget that the most important natural resource of our country is not nickel, gold or diamond, but its people.”
Lassonde, an electrical engineer who received his Masters in Business Administration from the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah, founded the Lassonde New Venture Development Center in 2000 with a $3 million donation. After Lassonde’s wife, Claudette MacKay-Lassonde, passed away in June 2000, he wanted to create the Center in her memory. Both Claudette and Pierre attended the University of Utah, but in many ways, they were opposites. Claudette earned her Masters in Nuclear Engineering, while Pierre attended the David Eccles School of Business. The different areas of expertise they brought to their relationship made them a formidable couple. They often joked that a marriage between the two colleges at the University of Utah could also create a powerful force. Lassonde turned the joke into a reality by creating the Center, in which business, engineering and science students work with University of Utah researchers to turn their ideas into marketable products.
In 2006, Lassonde provided a donation of $13.25 million to create the largest entrepreneur center in the United States. The Pierre Lassonde Entrepreneur Center will consist of already existing programs including the Lassonde New Venture Development Center. In addition, the Utah Entrepreneur Challenge, Opportunity Quest, Speaker Series and Launch Pad will also be under the direction of the Pierre Lassonde Entrepreneur Center. The Pierre Lassonde Entrepreneur Center and its numerous programs provide students a hands-on learning experience that enables them to be innovative business leaders of tomorrow.
Lassonde travels throughout the world investigating the potential for acquisition of new mining venture and current mining facilities. Lassonde also serves as chairman of the board of Redstone Resources, Inc. and chairman of the membership committee of the North American Society for Corporate Planning. He has served as a member of the Gold and Silver Institute, Tiomin Resources, Inc., Les Laboratories Aeterna, Inc. and the Toronto Hospital Foundation.
In 2002, he was awarded membership in the Order of Canada, the country’s highest civilian honor. His philanthropic activities have included the funding of academic buildings at the Ecole Polytechnique, as well as the endowment of the Lassonde Mineral Engineering Program and the Lassonde Institute at the University of Toronto in addition to the Lassonde New Venture Development Center at the University of Utah. In May 2006, Lassonde was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Business from the University of Utah.