Paris (AFP) – The state and the Dassault Group, which jointly control Thales chose to entrust the operational management of the defense electronics to an internal candidate, thus avoiding a new crisis of governance within ‘ a group shaken by the sudden departure of its CEO.
Thales had no patron since the end of October and the unexpected appointment of its CEO Jean-Bernard Lévy the EDF presidency without his estate has to be settled first.
While the group was traditionally headed by a CEO, the two functions will be separated, learned Saturday the AFP source close to the case.
Henri Proglio, who had lost his place at the head of EDF in favor of Mr. Levy, is given a consolation prize with the Presidency of Thales, but it will be “non-executive” Does adds -on the same source.
The operational management of the group will return to Patrice Caine, who, despite his young age (44 years), was already the de facto number two of the company.
Mr. Caine, an X-Mine engineer, was particularly responsible for the implementation of the competitiveness of the group improvement program.
This amateur golf and riding, passed by cabinet ministers is become over the last twelve years a connoisseur of the house thalésienne. There has acquired a strategic vision of the group by accumulating key positions.
The youngest among the frontrunners for the position, he was able to convince the state but especially finicky house Dassault, to choose it.
The state owns 26% stake in Thales and the manufacturer 25%. The two shareholders are bound by a pact and nothing can be done in the group without their consent.
Mr. Caine went for the candidate of the state, while his main rival in-house, Pierre Eric Pommellet, 50, was credited with the support Dassault.
While it is unknown to the general public, Thales is an essential component of French sovereignty. Employing 65,000 employees, the Group generated last year a profit of € 644 million on sales of € 14.2 billion
-. Ability to listen –
appointment of Patrice Caine should have the virtue to reassure internally, while the group is in full deployment of its growth strategy and internationalization.
The unions but also Apat, the association of employee shareholders of Thales, had indeed claimed that the new boss is from the group in order to ensure continuity and ensure its stability.
All keep in mind the difficult episode of the Presidency Luc Vigneron, characterized by a detestable social climate that Jean-Bernard Levy had sought to appease the past two years … in precisely pressing Patrice Caine.
He had made his right arm with the title of general manager in charge of operations and performance.
Patrice Caine and had the largest portfolio of business after the CEO, operations but especially the “Ambition Boost program “designed to improve the profitability of Thales.
His task now will be to continue and expand this strategy and it declined under the key words-words” competitiveness and growth. “
For this, it has strengths: his knowledge of the house and his managerial qualities, but also its proximity and listening skills
“Brilliant, end accessible” are. the adjectives that come up to her.
It also goes well with the unions, with whom he strived to finally turn the page Vigneron.
The man who had been spotted and hired by the former CEO Denis Ranque and has entered the executive committee with the arrival of Mr. Levy, however, will have to sail close to the complex relationship between Thales its two major shareholders.
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