John Parisella
Special Advisor, Business Outreach, National Public RelationsJohn Parisella joined NATIONAL’s Montreal office as Senior Advisor, Business Outreach in January 2017.
Over the course of his extensive career, John has held numerous positions in the public sphere, including chief of staff for Quebec premiers, author, business manager, political analyst and Quebec’s delegate general in New York City.
In November 2015, he published a book entitled La politique dans la peau, which talks about diversity, integration and his years in Quebec politics. Author of several publications, he co-authored the book Elections: Made in USA (published in 2004 and 2008) and was a regular blogger for Americas Quarterly (2010-2015). From 2008 to 2013, he was also a blogger on US politics for Macleans magazine. He regularly acts as a political analyst with several media across the country.
A graduate in political science, education and management from McGill University and in political science from Concordia University, Mr. Parisella holds a certificate in senior government management from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Throughout his career, he has worked in education, politics, community development, diplomacy and philanthropy. In politics, he served as director general of the Liberal Party of Quebec, chief of staff to premiers Robert Bourassa and Daniel Johnson, as well as advisor to former premier Jean Charest.
From 2009 to 2012, he served as Quebec’s delegate general in New York – Washington. In addition to his professional activities, he has served as a volunteer member of numerous boards of directors, in the areas of culture, education, health, community development and the business sector.
Mr. Parisella was named a member of the Order of Canada in 2017, an officer of the National Order of Quebec in 2016. In 2014, he was honoured with a TOP 20 diversity award at the Grand Prix Mosaïque – Lys de la Diversité du Québec.