July 8, 2025
Three Industry Veterans Reunite To Acquire Hèmèra Lighting
Former Acuity and TLG colleagues take over 30+ year old architectural lighting brand
Hèmèra Lighting, the thirty-three-year-old Montreal maker of architectural interior fixtures, has new owners with familiar names. On July 3, François Renaud, Matthew Curatolo and Nicolas Cohen — colleagues from their days at The Luminaires Group (TLG) and Acuity — finalized their purchase of the company founded by industrial designer Vincent Dion and his partner Monica Brunet in 1992. Brunet has been leading the company for many years since Dion’s passing.
Quebec business filings show Cohen holds more than fifty percent of the voting rights, putting him firmly in control if ties ever need breaking. Government records also place Hèmèra’s headcount between eleven and twenty-five Quebec-based employees.
Hèmèra has made its mark with architectural luminaires that offer discreet performance over flash. The product line hasn’t chased every trend; instead, it has stayed rooted in careful design and local manufacturing.
Familiar Faces and Shared History
Renaud and Curatolo will share the title of co-president, a structure that can test even the most aligned partnerships. Their longtime shared history means they know exactly what they’re taking on, which could help this arrangement run smoothly.
Each of the new owners brings senior-level experience across design, sales, or operations with brands like a-light, Cyclone, Eureka, Luminis, and Luminaire LED — the same group that made up The Luminaires Group before Acuity’s acquisition. Cohen, the majority voting stakeholder, adds private investment know-how that could help Hèmèra stay independent without leaning too heavily on outside capital.
Left to right: Matthew Curatolo, Nicolas Cohen, Monica Brunet, François Renaud
One open question is whether any restrictive covenants from Curatolo and Renaud's recent departure from Acuity might surface. Acuity is known for using non-compete and non-solicitation agreements with executives, though it’s unclear whether these apply here. Quebec’s civil code generally views non-competes with skepticism, requiring them to be clear, narrow and reasonable. If any exist, they’d need to hold up under Canadian labor laws — something the new owners surely weighed before signing the deal.
Curatolo told Inside Lighting that Acuity was “a great company to work for” and that he and Renaud left on "very good terms" after six years there.
“We are excited to lead Hèmèra into its next phase, continuing its tradition of quality and innovation,” said Renaud. “Our goal is to ensure that every product reflects the cutting-edge design and operational efficiency that has become synonymous with Hèmèra.”
Looking Ahead
For now, no sweeping overhaul appears on the table. The new owners seem intent on sticking to Hèmèra’s existing lane: architectural fixtures built for interiors where aesthetics matter as much as performance. Any near-term focus will likely stay practical — tightening operations, improving turnaround times, and reinforcing relationships with the spec side of the business.
In an industry full of bold pivots and splashy rollouts, this handover looks more like quiet continuity. For Hèmèra’s small team, that’s probably just fine.
