On this point nothing revolutionary to wait

Submit to the shareholders of the annual accounts showing a dizzying fall in the net result of 85 would have what undermine the morale of any leader! Not that of Pierre-André de Chalendar, CEO of the Compagnie de Saint-Gobain. And for cause, the boss operational French giant trades of habitat, the throttles for three years, a number of reasons to celebrate. First, the General Assembly held today in Paris will endorse his appointment as President and CEO of the group, thus marking the culmination of a "transition that is well past" welcomed, with its iconic predecessor, Jean-Louis Beffa, which will remain administrator. And for those who would see in this return to the tradition of Saint-Gobain governance risks of a solitary exercise of power, Pierre-André de Chalendar replies, quiet: "This is not a subject", citing the quality of its Board and the three Chairpersons of the committees are Michel Pébereau, for accounts, Jean - Martin Folz, for agents, and Jean - Cyril Spinetta, the strategy. In this respect, the future CEO of Saint - Gobain does not hesitate to scratch the Anglo-Saxon, often quick to give lessons in this regard. With respect to the increase in the number of women leaders within the advice, real trend of the general assemblies season which ends this week in France ("Les Echos" from June 2), it is not possible for the Saint-Gobain, the only renewal provided as... Pierre-André de Chalendar. While stressing the moving ahead in its time by the company, which has to date three women among the 16 members of its Board of Directors, ensures that he will work to improve their representation in the future.

Future, it will be of course issue today before shareholders. And the perception of that sign by Pierre-André de Chalendar is another reason for satisfaction. After seeing welcome market - as Saint-Gobain is an increase of 15 on a year - one of the most violent crisis management that will be forced to confront the group, he is now waiting for the fruit. Including as a result of his program reduced costs of 1.1 billion euros last year. "An important part of the efforts will pay this year and outside any recovery on the other hand, we have a strong improvement of our results," he confirms. Recovery it is question, even though Pierre-André de Chalendar relies even d ' "low visibility" and keeps well any precise forecast. The new CEO of Saint - Gobain in no less a "reasonable optimism" poster in the light of the evolution of its markets. If it remains "well shy in Europe", he table nevertheless on the passage "of a still significant decrease in the first quarter to a gradual return" to the positive, with a very slight possible increase at the end of the year. According to him, "the decline of the euro is the best news that could happen to the European economy". And he hopes that it will compensate the "recessionary fears related to monetary problems disconnected from the real economy." In the United States, "we are on the way of a clear recovery," also noted Pierre-André de Chalendar, which also highlights the return to growth in emerging countries.

Waiting for a strategy

Sensitive, course conditions, the shareholders will want to hear the pattern of the group a strategic vision to restore action luster that it had when its course caracolait around 80 euros three years ago, when his appointment as Director General. On this point, nothing revolutionary to wait. "Drawing the consequences of the evolution of our portfolio, I defined a strategy based on a market, that of habitat." "It was new to Saint-Gobain," said Pierre-André de Chalendar. Saying thus giving the Group greater visibility, creating a greater mobilization internally, he now intends to society a reference, "one that believed when talking about innovation, quality and energy savings for home". Hence the increase in the share of research and development in investment and renewed in solar ambitions (see box), market on which, if it took a bit of delay because of the crisis, the Group's net sales EUR 5 billion in five years. Another ray of sunshine for the CEO of Saint-Gobain.