Benoit Dagenais, the general manager of the City of Montreal, announced his resignation on June 10, 2026 and will leave office with a severance package exceeding one million dollars. The departure comes as the municipal government under Mayor Martinez Ferrada implements a senior‑management reshuffle.
The city confirmed that Dagenais’ exit will be effective immediately and that the compensation figure, reported to be more than $1,000,000, follows the terms of his employment contract.
Alain Dufort, who previously served as deputy general manager under Dagenais, has been appointed to fill the vacant post. Dufort assumes responsibility for overseeing the city's day‑to‑day operations and will report directly to the mayor’s office.
The change is part of a broader reorganization announced by the Martinez Ferrada administration, which has been reviewing the structure of senior municipal leadership. Several other senior positions are also slated for review, though details have not been released.
The city announced the leadership change in a statement released on June 10, indicating that the transition will be managed to ensure continuity of services across Montreal’s departments.
The general manager role is the top administrative position in Montreal’s municipal hierarchy, charged with implementing council decisions, managing the city’s budget and supervising a large municipal workforce.
Officials said Dufort’s familiarity with ongoing projects should minimise disruption as the new leadership team settles in.
The severance amount, reported to be more than one million dollars, will be paid according to the terms of Dagenais’ contract.
The appointment of Dufort was announced on the same day as Dagenais’ resignation, allowing for an immediate transition in leadership.
The senior‑management reshuffle also includes reviews of other top positions, reflecting the administration’s aim to align municipal leadership with its policy agenda.