Annexair's Next Generation: A New Era of Leadership and Innovation

SAINT-GERMAIN-DE-GRANTHAM, QC – February 12, 2026

In a significant move poised to shape its future, family-owned HVAC manufacturer Annexair has announced the appointment of Vincent Lemieux to the role of Co-President. The appointment, effective immediately, marks a pivotal moment in the company's planned succession strategy, transitioning day-to-day leadership to the next generation while ensuring the founder's innovative spirit continues to drive its technological edge.

Vincent Lemieux will now share the presidential title with his father, Francois Lemieux, the company's founder. This father-son transition is designed to sustain the firm's significant growth trajectory and secure its long-term continuity. While Francois Lemieux will remain President, he will now shift his focus toward his passions for innovation, product design, and industrial engineering—the very areas where he built Annexair's reputation. Vincent will assume responsibility for management, execution, and organizational alignment, working closely with Executive Vice President Alain Veillette to guide the company's operational future.

A Strategic Succession for Sustained Growth

Annexair's leadership transition is not a sudden shuffle but a carefully orchestrated step in a long-term plan. The press release describes the move as part of a “planned succession strategy aimed at ensuring the continuity of the family business while sustaining the remarkable growth achieved since its beginnings.” This growth is far from just a talking point. Since its founding in the late 1990s, Annexair has carved out a formidable niche in the North American HVAC market, achieving an estimated annual revenue of $22.1 million and expanding its workforce by 25% in the last year alone.

With 99% of its sales concentrated in the United States, the Quebec-based manufacturer has installed over 11,000 of its high-efficiency ventilation systems for a client roster that includes global giants like Meta, Google, Amazon, NASA, and Boeing. This success is built on a foundation of relentless innovation, a legacy Francois Lemieux will now dedicate himself to preserving and expanding. His new role will allow him, as he enters his 64th year, to “gradually step back” from daily management while remaining a daily, active presence focused on developing the next generation of Annexair products.

Meanwhile, Vincent Lemieux is tasked with steering the operational ship. His new duties encompass the full spectrum of executive leadership, from team engagement and company culture to managing crucial relationships with partners and stakeholders. The collaboration with Alain Veillette ensures a robust executive team is in place, blending fresh perspective with seasoned experience to “bring renewed energy, strong momentum, and inspire the entire team.”

The Challenge of the Torch: Navigating Family Business Transitions

The path of intergenerational business transfer is notoriously difficult. Industry data reveals a stark reality: only about 30% of family businesses successfully transition to the second generation, and a mere 12% survive into the third. The challenges range from emotional family dynamics and a founder's reluctance to cede control to a lack of adequate preparation for the incoming leadership. Many family enterprises falter due to the absence of a clear, structured plan.

Annexair's approach appears to be a direct countermeasure to these common pitfalls. By formalizing a Co-Presidency and clearly delineating the roles between father and son, the company is creating a transparent framework for the transition. This allows the founder to gracefully pivot his contributions rather than abruptly depart, mitigating the risk of a knowledge and leadership vacuum. This planned strategy, communicated openly, provides stability for employees, customers, and partners, signaling that the company’s future is being managed with foresight.

Furthermore, the success of such transitions often hinges on the successor's readiness. Rather than simply inheriting a title, the next-generation leader must have earned their place through experience and proven competence. Annexair's appointment of Vincent Lemieux seems to reflect a deep understanding of this principle, following a long and deliberate period of preparation.

Forging a Path: The New Co-President's Credentials

Vincent Lemieux is no newcomer to the organization he now co-leads. With over seven years of hands-on experience at Annexair, he has cultivated a comprehensive understanding of the business from the ground up. His career within the company has been a methodical tour through its most critical functions, including Sales, Marketing, Human Resources, and After-Sales Service. This cross-departmental journey has provided him with an invaluable 360-degree view of the company’s operations, its market, and its customers.

His practical experience is bolstered by a formidable academic and professional background. He holds a degree in Business Administration from UQAM (ESG), a Mini-MBA from McGill University, and a certification in Sustainable Development. His additional training in Project Management, LEAN Green Belt, and Industry 4.0 from UQTR demonstrates a commitment to modern management principles and a forward-looking perspective. This unique blend of skills is particularly well-suited to an industry undergoing rapid transformation, positioning him to lead Annexair through the next wave of technological and environmental challenges.

Innovating in a Dynamic HVAC Landscape

The leadership shift at Annexair is occurring as the global HVAC industry experiences unprecedented change. The market, valued at over $220 billion globally, is projected to grow significantly, driven by a convergence of powerful trends. Sustainability, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality are no longer niche concerns but central pillars of the industry. Governments and consumers alike are demanding smarter, greener solutions, from high-efficiency heat pumps to AI-powered predictive maintenance systems.

Annexair has historically thrived by staying ahead of these curves. It was the first North American manufacturer to replace traditional belt-drive fans with direct-drive technology, a move now emulated by nearly 95% of the industry. More recently, the company made waves by unveiling a biocomposite air unit made from recycled plastic bottles, a product that is lighter, recyclable, and reduces greenhouse gas effects by an estimated 85% compared to steel alternatives. In line with this vision, the company ceased production of steel units in 2021 and is targeting carbon neutrality by 2025.

Francois Lemieux’s new role allows him to concentrate his inventive energy on continuing this legacy. As the industry pivots towards low-GWP refrigerants and smart, connected systems, having a founder dedicated solely to research and development is a powerful strategic advantage. This focus is backed by major investment, highlighted by the company’s recent announcement of a $30 million expansion of its Saint-Germain-de-Grantham facility, which will grow to 500,000 square feet and solidify its status as a major industrial hub in Quebec.

A Blueprint for Balanced Leadership

The new structure at Annexair represents a compelling model for balanced leadership. It is a deliberate blend of legacy and progress, of seasoned expertise and youthful drive. Francois Lemieux provides the visionary continuity, ensuring the company’s innovative DNA remains at its core. Vincent Lemieux brings the operational rigor and modern management expertise needed to scale the business efficiently and maintain a strong company culture. Supported by the executive experience of Alain Veillette, this leadership trio appears well-equipped to navigate the complexities of the modern manufacturing landscape.

By embracing a co-leadership model, Annexair is not just planning for a transition; it is actively redesigning its engine for future growth. The company is betting that this synergy—the founder’s passion for invention combined with the successor’s focus on execution—will be the key to extending its remarkable success story for another generation and beyond. This strategic realignment ensures that while leadership evolves, the core principles of innovation and quality that define Annexair will continue to guide its path forward in an increasingly competitive market.