Roland Lescure is resigning as executive vice president and chief investment officer of Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec, Montreal, effective Thursday, a spokesman confirmed.
Mr. Lescure plans to run for political office in his native France, according to a news release from Caisse, which manages C$270.7 billion ($203.2 billion) in Quebec provincial and other public pension assets.
“I have decided to enter public and political life because I want to play a quite active role at a crucial time for France and for Europe,” Mr. Lescure said in the news release.
He will not detail his specific political plans while he remains at Caisse “since la Caisse is apolitical and non-partisan,” Mr. Lescure said.
A search for his replacement will begin immediately. Michael Sabia, Caisse president and CEO, will assume Mr. Lescure's duties in the interim.
Mr. Lescure has been with Caisse since 2009 and is responsible for its C$101 billion public equity portfolio and C$89.5 billion in fixed-income investments.
