A large workbook passes from hand to hand

The plane which took off from le Bourget, Gérard Mestrallet, CEO of Suez, speaks with Jean-Louis white, Managing Director France of the group. The latter gives latest indications on collaborators and will clients with whom they dine the evening in Rennes. Nearby, Valérie Bernis, Director-General in charge of communications, converse with Yves-Thibault de Silguy, Deputy Delegate General in charge of international development.

A large workbook passes from hand to hand. Nothing is left to chance in the agenda of the President. Each appointment is prepared very upstream with precision: information on the region to visit, synthesis of the regional news, local situation of the group in terms of human resources (hiring, strikes, etc.), information on employees and customers meet. "I don't feel never submerged information", justifies Gérard Mestrallet. "I need to go on the ground." "Meet people, test ideas, visit dams, power plants or treatment stations all feeding my reflection," continues by explaining that it is for him the best way to take the temperature from Suez.

Landing in Rennes. In the day, roadblocks placed on the bypass of the city in protest against the CPE, blocked traffic for two hours. Dinner in a hotel, a hundred men a gathering of elected officials, leaders of local communities, patterns of subsidiaries, associates and clients hosts CEO. Interview to the local daily newspaper, "Western France", then speech of presentation of the group, its strategy and its rapprochement with gas of France project.

An official of the interregional and European branch (DRIE) shakes his cap of regulator: "It is interesting that Suez." "I'm here to keep me informed". Further subsidiaries patterns discussed between them. In the detour of the conversations, we learn that Electrabel weighs heavy in the agri-food sector, that Ineo and Axima are very present in the hospital sector, Lyonnaise des Eaux has focused on medium-sized cities so far. "Brittany is an important market, still in phase of conquest," said Jean-Louis white. Close the trays of cheese, a collaborator of the Group pleasant half, sheets: "in Suez, more and more, there is energy and the rest group has six trades: electricity, gas, energy and industry, cleanliness, water and sanitation Editor's note.". This feeling will be strengthen with SFM... Alas, my job to me, it's the rest! . Light bitterness that does not prevent it but, at the same time, to escape his admiration for the CEO, that he considers close and listen to the teams. "He was there, in the Suez raid." "He was involved in all of the tests," he says.

In the opinion of all, Gérard Mestrallet is an accessible. It is not uncommon for the invite to the Executive Committee of the subsidiaries or even improvise a conversation with a dozen regional patterns on their social or in terms of sustainable development and trade issues. Problem: as much flexibility leads some to short-circuit their direct hierarchy to directly submit an idea or even a project. It is the two assistants of Gérard Mestrallet, who share a time of continuous work between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. 30, to relay information after a sensible sort. Later he and Gérard Mestrallet continues the discussion with the representatives of Alstom, for Airbus, Armolux or CHU of Rennes. "This is our best VRP," whispers the group communication team. The evening ends. Early the next morning, the CEO will meet Edmond Hervé, Mayor of Rennes, and his Deputy.

Friday, April 7.

After breakfast at the City Hall of Rennes, Gérard Mestrallet goes to the Breton City Airport to take place in a plane chartered to Lyon, where it wait thirty patterns of the region. Just arrived in Lyon, a car comes the search for the lead with Gérard Collomb, Mayor of Lyon.

Suez weighs heavily in the region Rhône-Alpes: 80 companies (national company of Rhône, Elyo, Ineo, Sita Mos etc...), 1.3 billion euros of turnover and 7.745 employees. "Such territorial mesh makes the extraordinarily strong group, explains Gérard Mestrallet." This allows to resist storms and through crises. "We do a similar international approach".

After a lunch in a restaurant in the edges of the Rhône with local patterns, Gérard Mestrallet joined the Palais des Congrès of Lyon, where approximately 400 employees of the group are combined. Since a forum, along with leaders of the group, he launches into a detailed explanation of the strategy of Suez, rapprochement with gas of France project and submits to a session of questions and answers with employees.

Late afternoon is arranged with the trade unions and journalists of the "progress of Lyon" before a dinner with colleagues and clients (Sanofi Pasteur, IFP, the Grand Lyon, Mérial, Council General Rhône-Alpes). The next morning, Gérard Mestrallet will take one last breakfast with a handful of local elected officials.