About

Richard Hylands is the founder and Co-Chair of the Board of the Kevric Group. Since founding Kevric in 1996, Richard has played a leading role in the acquisition, development, repositioning and management of major real estate assets across Canada, with particular experience in the Montréal and Toronto markets.

Under Richard’s leadership, Kevric built a strong track record of creating value through complex, large-scale real estate projects. The company has completed several notable transformations, including 150 Bloor, 99 Atlantic and Consilium Place in Toronto, as well as Place Bonaventure and the Air Canada Tower in Montréal. Richard has also been closely involved in Kevric’s acquisition and redevelopment of 600 De La Gauchetière, a landmark downtown Montréal office property.

Following Kevric’s leadership transition in 2024, Richard moved into the more strategic role as Co-Chair of the Board. He now focuses primarily on new investment opportunities while continuing to contribute his experience to Kevric’s existing projects, partnerships and long-term direction.

Richard brings an operations-focused mindset and extensive experience managing, developing, advising on and transacting a diverse range of Canadian real estate assets. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with investment partners, management teams and other stakeholders to execute complex projects and pursue long-term value creation.

Richard holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University and a Master of Business Administration from York University.

François has served as Co-Chair of Kevric’s Board of Directors since August 2024. In this role, he contributes strategically to the firm’s growth and projects by participating in new acquisitions, dispositions, and strategic partnerships. His involvement has been instrumental in several major acquisitions, including 600 De La Gauchetière West and 1100 Atwater in Montreal, as well as 99 Atlantic, Consilium Place, and 150 Bloor Street West in Toronto. Since joining Kevric in 2005, François has played a key role in developing and implementing operational and administrative processes for many of the company’s premier properties.

François Desjeans has worked in the real estate industry since the beginning of his career. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from HEC Montréal (1994) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Université de Sherbrooke (2002).

Sébastien Hylands was appointed President of the Kevric Group in August 2024. In this role, he leads all teams responsible for the company's development and redevelopment projects, as well as investments. The nature of his role calls for him to be involved in the strategic aspects of the company, and, thanks to his engineering background, he is also called upon to intervene in the design and construction of the company's projects. He played a key role in the transformation projects of 600 DLG and Place Bonaventure in Montreal, as well as in the development of the Atlantic Complex in Toronto. Sébastien also oversees the company's various densification projects, demonstrating his expertise in managing complex and innovative projects.

As President, Sébastien leads the company's two entities, Kevric Investments and Kevric Management. Kevric Investments focuses on the development of new projects and the realization of strategic investments, while Kevric Management handles all property management activities, including third-party mandates.

Since joining Kevric in 2015, Sébastien has played a central role in the company, contributing to its ongoing success and expansion. Prior to joining Kevric, he gained valuable experience as a management consultant with Deloitte's Montreal team, working on various strategic and operational missions.

Sébastien Hylands holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from McGill University and an MBA from INSEAD. He is also a member of l’Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ).  His academic background and professional experience make him a wise and competent leader, capable of successfully leading ambitious projects and creating value for the company and its partners.

Luigi Cecere joined the team in August 2017 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Cecere is responsible for the Finance, Operations, and Administration departments.

Mr. Cecere comes to Kevric with over 25 years of experience in finance and related activities. Before joining Kevric, he held the position of Senior Vice President, Finance and Strategic Planning at Sobeys Québec Inc. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President, Finance at Aimia Inc., overseeing the finance department for Aimia’s North American business units. Mr. Cecere held various executive roles in the pharmaceutical industry from 1990 to 2009, including Chief Financial Officer for Schering Plough Canada Inc. from 2005 to 2009.

Through his various roles, he has gained a broad range of experience related to commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting, and strategic planning, as well as overall corporate governance and compliance management.

Mr. Cecere holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Graduate Diploma in Accounting from McGill University in Montréal. He is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.

Ghassan oversees all construction and redevelopment projects across Kevric’s portfolio in Montreal and Toronto, working closely with his team of project managers. He is responsible for every stage of the development process, from initial planning and feasibility analysis through to project completion and tenant occupancy.

Throughout his career, Ghassan has contributed to several major development and redevelopment projects, including 600 De La Gauchetière West, Atlantic Complex, 7250-7450 Mile End, 1100 Atwater, Place Bonaventure, Air Canada Tower, 150 Bloor Street West, and 200 Sacré-Cœur. He also plays a strategic role in evaluating real estate investment opportunities and development initiatives.

Ghassan is a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) and holds both a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) and a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) from Concordia University. He is a licensed professional engineer with extensive experience in the planning, execution, and management of complex real estate and construction projects.

With over 20 years of experience in commercial real estate and leasing contracts, Stéphanie oversees leasing strategies for a diverse portfolio of office, retail, and mixed-use properties. A results-driven professional, she is committed to maximizing asset value, driving occupancy growth, and fostering long-term tenant relationships. Her extensive market knowledge, strategic approach, and strong negotiation skills enable her to successfully execute complex leasing transactions and deliver exceptional results for property owners and tenants alike.

Before joining Kevric, Stéphanie was a paralegal at major law firms, as well as at a private financing firm. Stéphanie is a member of the Canadian Association of Paralegals.

Corey Caverly joined Kevric in the summer of 2017 and has served as Vice President, Construction for Greater Montreal since 2019. He has been a key contributor to the redevelopment of 1100 Atwater in Westmount, the modernization of Place Bonaventure, and, most recently, the major transformation of 600 De La Gauchetière West.

With more than 25 years of experience in construction and real estate, Corey began his career as a Project Manager with a general contractor, overseeing the construction of high-end retail stores across North America. Throughout his career, he has worked for a variety of real estate and construction companies, leading projects ranging from hotel renovations to the oversight of property operations and large-scale construction initiatives.

Corey Caverly holds a college diploma in architectural technology from Vanier College.

Benjamin is responsible for developing and executing the investment strategy, with a focus on identifying, evaluating, and structuring acquisitions, dispositions, and financing, as well as on asset performance across the portfolio. His role involves close collaboration with the leasing, property management, and development teams to ensure alignment with corporate objectives and to generate long-term value.

Since joining Kevric in 2015, Benjamin has been involved in and led several major transactions, including the recapitalization of a premier office portfolio with Blackstone, the acquisition and financing of the 600 De La Gauchetière building in Montréal, and the sale of key industrial and office assets in Toronto and Montréal. Before joining Kevric, he worked in the real estate group of CIBC World Markets’ investment banking division.

Benjamin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Butler University and has held the CFA designation since 2012. He is a member of CFA Montréal.

Simon joined the company in 2016. He brings nearly fifteen years of experience in property management and operations oversight within complex real estate portfolios. He is recognized for his ability to optimize building performance and align operational strategies with long-term investment objectives.

In his role at Kevric, Simon supports the property management teams in running operations and projects, while ensuring consistency in practices, implementing structuring processes, and sharing best practices between the Montréal and Toronto teams. He works in close collaboration with the development, leasing, legal affairs, and construction teams, contributing to smooth, integrated asset management—from acquisition to operational launch—and to maintaining high standards of performance, reliability, and sustainability across Kevric’s real estate portfolio.

Before joining Kevric, Simon worked in consulting engineering at CIMA+ and in building management at ENGIE Services—experiences that helped him develop a deep understanding of the technical and operational challenges of real estate assets, which he now applies to an integrated, strategic management approach.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from École Polytechnique de Montréal and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from HEC Montréal, and is a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ).