Avery Akkineni
CMO, VaynerX | Founder, Vayner3 | AI, Digital Marketing & Brand Strategy Expert | Salesforce AI Council
Daniel Lamarre
Executive Vice-Chairman & Former CEO of Cirque du Soleil | Co-Founder of C2 Montréal | Bestselling Author of Balancing Acts | Creative Leadership Expert
Daniel Lamarre is the former CEO and current Executive Vice-Chairman of Cirque du Soleil, where he turned a Québécois circus into a global entertainment powerhouse reaching some 15 million spectators a year. Few leaders know better how to make creativity repeatable and reinvention possible. On stage, the author of Balancing Acts shares a practical playbook for putting creativity at the center of strategy, in any industry.
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Daniel Lamarre biography
Business speaker Daniel Lamarre is the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board of Cirque du Soleil and the former President and CEO who helped transform it into one of the most distinctive entertainment brands in the world. He joined Cirque du Soleil in 2001, became chief executive in 2006, and led the company for some fifteen years, overseeing global expansion and the discipline required to deliver creativity consistently across markets, languages, and cultures.
Under Lamarre’s leadership, Cirque grew into a global powerhouse, reaching annual sales of roughly one billion dollars, dozens of shows running simultaneously, and some fifteen million spectators a year, more than all of Broadway combined. He became known for a leadership style that fiercely protects the creative process while insisting on clarity, accountability, and execution, an approach that makes his experience relevant to leaders in any industry where innovation must coexist with performance. He also guided the company through the upheaval of the pandemic and its subsequent recovery.
Creativity, Reinvention, and the Business of Wonder
After moving from CEO to Executive Vice-Chairman in 2021, Lamarre returned as interim CEO in 2025 and, once a new chief executive was appointed, resumed his board role with a focus on Cirque’s global business development. Beyond Cirque, he co-founded C2 Montréal, a global forum at the intersection of business and creativity, and earlier led major media organizations, including serving as President and CEO of Groupe TVA, Canada’s largest television network. He is also the author of Balancing Acts, a Harvard Business Review Press book on integrating creativity and business, drawn directly from his years at Cirque.
As a speaker, Daniel Lamarre is candid, practical, and deeply experienced in the realities of leading creative talent and complex operations at once. He shares clear principles for building cultures where creativity becomes repeatable, reinvention is possible, and teams execute under pressure without compromising the work. Audiences leave with a tested playbook for putting creativity at the center of strategy, no matter their industry.
Daniel Lamarre Speaking Videos
Daniel Lamarre of Cirque du Soleil on How to Put Creativity at the Center of Your Strategy
Daniel Lamarre - The Importance of the Mission
Daniel Lamarre Keynote Topics
Drawing on his book Balancing Acts and two decades at Cirque du Soleil, Lamarre shows how organizations in any industry can make creativity a core business discipline rather than a happy accident. He shares how leaders can unlock ideas across the whole organization and turn them into results.
What leaders everywhere can learn from Cirque about building the conditions for creativity, working with creative talent, and moving from inspiration to execution. Lamarre focuses on the systems and behaviors that protect originality while still delivering on deadlines, budgets, and audience expectations.
A practical guide for leaders growing across regions or integrating new partnerships. Lamarre shares lessons on preserving a brand's essence, aligning teams across borders, and building operating rhythms that keep quality high as complexity grows.
Drawing on guiding Cirque through the near-collapse of live entertainment during the pandemic and its recovery, Lamarre explores decision-making when visibility is low and trade-offs are unavoidable. A candid talk on prioritizing, communicating, and rebuilding momentum while keeping standards high.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Daniel Lamarre
Why Daniel Lamarre?
Booking Daniel Lamarre brings the leader behind one of the world's most beloved creative brands to your stage. As the former CEO who grew Cirque du Soleil into a global powerhouse and steered it through the pandemic, he offers a rare, firsthand look at how to make creativity a disciplined, repeatable engine of growth. Few speakers can bridge the worlds of art and business as credibly, or speak as practically about leading creative talent while still delivering on budgets and deadlines. For events on creativity, innovation, leadership, and reinvention, he is an inspiring and substantive choice. Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you bring Daniel Lamarre to your next event; complete our contact form to check his availability.
What is Daniel Lamarre known for?
Daniel Lamarre is best known as the longtime President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil, which he helped grow into one of the world's most successful live entertainment companies. He is now Executive Vice-Chairman of its board. He is also the co-founder of the C2 Montréal business and creativity forum and the author of Balancing Acts, a book on bringing creativity into business. Earlier, he was President and CEO of Groupe TVA, Canada's largest television network.
What is Daniel Lamarre's book about?
Daniel Lamarre is the author of Balancing Acts: Unleashing the Power of Creativity in Your Life and Work, published by Harvard Business Review Press. Drawing on his years leading Cirque du Soleil, the book shows how leaders can put creativity at the center of their strategy, work effectively with creative people, and build organizations where original ideas turn into real results.
What topics does Daniel Lamarre speak about?
As a speaker, Daniel Lamarre addresses creative leadership, innovation culture, scaling a brand without diluting it, and leading through crisis and reinvention. He blends inspiring stories from Cirque du Soleil with practical frameworks any leader can apply. To invite Daniel Lamarre to speak at your event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau through our booking form.
How to book Daniel Lamarre as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Daniel Lamarre as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Daniel Lamarre's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Daniel Lamarre or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Daniel Lamarre speaking fee?
Daniel Lamarre speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Daniel Lamarre to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Daniel Lamarre.
How can I contact Daniel Lamarre?
We only work with Daniel Lamarre on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Daniel Lamarre and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Daniel Lamarre speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Daniel Lamarre for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Daniel Lamarre for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Daniel Lamarre is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Daniel Lamarre for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
