The Automotive Industries Association of Canada is highlighting the successes of its former leader, Jean-François Champagne, who is leaving the organization after more than a decade with the national auto care association.
Champagne served as president and CEO of AIA Canada from 2015 to 2025. He remained with the Ottawa-based association as senior advisor to the president and CEO through June 2026.
Emily Chung, who succeeded Champagne, marked Champagne’s departure in a LinkedIn post.
The transition was announced in 2025. Champagne announced he would at the Canadian Auto Care Industry Conference assisting in Chung's transition through June 2026.
“For the last six months, he has been working behind-the-scenes with me as we went through the role transition together," Chung wrote in a social media post.
Before joining AIA Canada, Champagne served as executive director of the Canadian Security Association, a Markham, Ont.-based national trade association for the security sector, from 2009 to 2015. He also served as chair of the Canadian Automobile Service Information Standard, chair and vice-chair of the Canadian Society of Association Executives, a Toronto-based association for association professionals, a board member of the Automotive Business School of Canada, based in Barrie, Ont., and a representative on the Canadian Automotive Partnership Council.
Right to repair became one of the central files of Champagne’s AIA Canada tenure.
On Oct. 9, 2024, Champagne appeared before the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy during its study of Bills C-244 and C-294. He appeared with Daryll O’Keefe, senior vice-president of Fix Network Canada, a Milton, Ont.-based collision repair, mechanical repair and glass services network, and Chris Kinghorn, vice-president, strategy and growth, of UAP Inc., a Montreal-based automotive parts distributor.
“It is critical that vehicle owners have a choice when it comes to where they get their vehicle repaired and serviced,” said Champagne at the time. “But this choice could soon disappear if they don’t have access to their vehicle data.”
The bills amended the Copyright Act in areas tied to repair and interoperability. AIA Canada continued to call for standalone automotive right to repair legislation.
During Champagne’s tenure, AIA Canada also expanded several major industry initiatives. The association launched AutoCareVotes.ca, a national election hub, expanded the Innovation in Automotive Training program and continued student outreach through events such as Student Aftermarket Day.
On the collision side, Champagne supported the AIA's efforts developing accreditation through the Canadian Collision Industry Accreditation Program and issued the Statement of Minimum Canadian Standards in Collision Repair in 2025.
Champagne’s departure drew public comments from industry figures.
Guy-Olivier Pin, sales and performance manager at Agile Auto, a Laval, Que.-based provider of automotive industry training and performance services, wrote that Champagne had been “one of the biggest driving forces behind the automotive industry.”
Pin also pointed to Champagne’s work with students at the Automotive Business School of Canada.
“J.F. is especially known at the Automotive Business School of Canada and myself for spending a lot of time helping students carve out an amazing career for themselves,” wrote Pin.
Scott Sinclair, collision industry expert and AIA Canada staff member, wrote that Champagne helped create a welcoming environment at AIA Canada.
“I’ll always appreciate the welcoming presence J.F. brought to AIA Canada when I joined,” wrote Sinclair. “His kindness and dedication have meant so much to so many, and I’m wishing him all the happiness and success in this next chapter.”
