After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in education from McGill in 1987, he taught for a decade before holding leadership positions in publishing houses such as Beauchemin, Duval, and Nelson from 1997 to 2009. In 2009, he became the head of the Education division at De Marque.
In 2013, he acquired Les 400 coups, a publishing house known for its editorial boldness. His vision for Les 400 coups emphasizes discoverability, accessibility, and diversity.
Active in the publishing community, he has served and continues to serve on various committees of the Quebec National Association of Book Publishers (ANEL). His international engagement includes his appointment to the Freedom to Publish Committee of the International Publishers’ Association and his involvement on the board of Copibec. In 2020, he cofounded Publishers Without Border (PWB), providing a meeting and support space for publishing professionals worldwide.
In summary, Simon de Jocas is an influential and respected figure in the Francophone publishing world thanks to his dedication to education, the French language, and editorial innovation.