Josette D. Normandeau
Passionate about global business, culture and innovation, Josette D. Normandeau has successfully combined her skills as a journalist, entrepreneur, and executive producer to lead a creative production house that has collaborated with partners worldwide to achieve international recognition.
Josette first attracted attention as a radio journalist and show host in Quebec City, but it was in Boston - as Director of New England Audio’s multimedia division - where she first began to explore and capitalize on the emerging world of digital technology.
By the early 1990s, Josette had launched and was managing both the World Trade Centre Montreal and the European Union Chambers of Commerce in Canada. Responsible for fostering international business cooperation and development across all industries, she was a delegate at numerous summits and trade missions, and excelled at the complex exercise of diplomacy and matchmaking.
Josette joined IDEACOM in 1994 where her avant-garde approach soon led to the production company becoming a pioneer in the convergence of TV and the Internet. President since 2000, Josette now acts as both content and executive producer, managing business development while spearheading all aspects of the complex international co-productions that have become her signature.
Under Josette’s leadership, IDEACOM has produced more than 500 hours of high-end original programming, and has received over 100 national and international distinctions along the way.
In 2010, Josette established Zenith ABC—a digital offshoot that has become the heart of digital development for the group. Over the years, she has forged several first-look co-production partnerships - notably with French conglomerate Mediawan’s AB and CC&C labels, and Factual Factory, a division of France’s leading independent TV production company, Satisfaction Group. In 2017, Josette also signed a strategic partnership with prolific production and distribution house Cineflix Media to facilitate and accelerate the creation of factual and scripted content for the global market.
Involved in policy-making at all levels of government, Josette is a long-standing member of various boards and advisory committees where she has contributed to critical advancements in independent TV and digital production. She is currently on the national board of directors of the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) and President of the independent media producers’ association of Quebec (AQPM).
As an educator, Josette helped reboot the documentary producer training program at INIS - the professional audiovisual training center in Montreal - and headed the program from 2007 to 2012. A sought-after speaker, panelist and moderator, she has twice addressed the National Assembly in Paris, toured New Zealand at the invitation of French Fest, and represented Canada at the Bogotá Audiovisual Market in Colombia.
A black belt in both karate and aikido, Josette has competed in national and international tournaments, and headlined the TV series Deadly Arts where she travelled the planet to train with - and be tested by - the world’s greatest martial arts masters.
Josette studied at Colorado College and Harvard University, and received a BA in English Literature from the University of Sherbrooke where she is co-chair of the board of directors. Among her many accomplishments, she was decorated by France with one of the country’s highest honors, the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.