Matrox fosters loyalty through collaboration and caring

Three months after being hired as a marketing representative at Matrox, Kimberly Brown received an email from the company’s vice-president of research & development, someone she had never met.

“He said he had heard good things about me and that he thought I had a really bright future,” says Brown, now marketing manager with the Montréal technology firm. “I thought, ‘Wow, out of hundreds of people, he took time to reach out to me.’ That was my introduction to the Matrox work culture and I was shocked. It’s just such an open and welcoming place, no matter what your title is.”

Co-founded in 1976 by Lorne Trottier, who remains company president, Matrox is a leading manufacturer of innovative video products and software solutions for an array of high-tech industries.

Trottier modelled Matrox on Hewlett-Packard, an early Silicon Valley pioneer and a company he admired for its innovative engineering, relaxed and informal work culture and commitment to philanthropy.

The success of Matrox helped spawn the Montréal-based Trottier Family Foundation, a private charitable organization renowned in the city and beyond for its support of charities in the areas of science, education, health, the environment and community or international aid.

As a consultant, Aron Klein had been well aware of Matrox and had collaborated with Trottier before joining the company in 2016.

“I went from knowing the products to knowing the people behind the products,” says Klein, now Matrox’s chief operating officer. “It really is the kind of place that puts employees at the centre of the operation and gives them the tools to collaborate, innovate and excel.”

Matrox puts a strong focus on the values of transparency and accountability — both among colleagues and with its customers.

“Because of COVID, the last few years have been challenging,” says Klein. “We’ve gone the extra mile to navigate supply chain constraints to continue to supply our customers with the products they need. That’s one reason we have such customer loyalty.”

The same is true when it comes to Matrox employees.

“We have a lot of people who have been with us 20 or 30 years and came to us straight out of university,” says Klein. “Teamwork and accountability help attract and retain smart and innovative people. That’s been key to our success. I mean, how many companies have survived in the high-tech world for 50 years?”

Brown says leadership is another core Matrox value.

“From the start, I’ve found that people wanted to know what you have to say and were open to new ideas. Growing up with that leadership style, I’m now excited to apply those teachings to people who report to me.”

From its inception, the company has promoted a culture that balances the personal and the professional. The Matrox work campus includes a daycare and recreational facilities and, post-pandemic, the company is following a hybrid work model. Over each two-week period, employees are expected to spend five days in the office, but there’s flexibility in choosing the days and times.

“The most important thing,” says Klein, “is that anyone who faces a personal challenge is going to find the support they need here.”

As COO, Klein says he has the privilege of watching talented teams across multiple departments live out the company’s values and goals.

“It’s rewarding to work with people who are passionate about what they do and are committed to each other. It energizes me.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Montreal’s Top Employers winners, published March 18, 2025 in the Montreal Gazette. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.