The Board of Directors considered that his career within the Group as well as his experience and knowledge of SUEZ’s businesses, partners and values, means he has all the qualities to succeed Mr. Gérard Mestrallet, whose term as Chairman of the Board of Directors will finish at the end of the Annual General Meeting on May 14 this year, in line with the Company’s articles of association.
With the appointment of Bertrand Camus as CEO, a new chapter begins for SUEZ. This coming year will be marked by him taking up the role and the team that he is going to form, as well as the development and approval by the Board of Directors of a strategic plan for SUEZ for 2030. Under the chairmanship of Jean-Louis Chaussade, the Board of Directors will contribute to the success of this important year for SUEZ, and will provide the new CEO with all the support he needs.
The Board would like to extend Jean-Louis Chaussade its wishes for every success in his new role.
The Board particularly welcomes the initiatives undertaken by Gérard Mestrallet and Jean-Louis Chaussade who, since the Group’s IPO in 2008, have led SUEZ’s development and transformation, adapting to market developments and to the needs of customers.
Commenting on this, Jean-Louis Chaussade said: “I am deeply honored to have been chosen by the Board of Directors to succeed Gérard Mestrallet to whom I pay tribute.
I will leave the top management of a Group prepared for the future. In 15 years, SUEZ has undergone significant transformation. Our businesses have transformed, we have doubled our global foothold, we have seen robust revenue growth, as well as moving to a single brand and undergoing digital transformation. Bertrand Camus will take over in May and I am delighted with this appointment. I know he will be able to carry out the necessary transformations at a sustained pace: he is a born winner with a bold entrepreneurial mindset.”
Gerard Mestrallet added: "I am delighted that SUEZ’s Board of Directors has unanimously decided to appoint Jean-Louis Chaussade as the Group’s future Chairman, effective at the next Annual General Meeting of May 14, 2019. On the threshold of this important year for SUEZ, the Group will be able to count on a Chairman who combines all the required qualities and experience."
Composition of Board of Directors and its committees
Ms. Valérie Bernis and Mr. Lorenz d’Este, whose term of office expires at the next Annual General Meeting, have decided not to seek renewal. The Board would like to thank them for their active contribution to the Board’s undertakings.
At the Annual General Meeting, the Board proposes the renewal of terms of office for three directors, which are to expire this year - Mrs. Isabelle Kocher, Mrs. Anne Lauvergeon, and Mr. Nicolas Bazire, in addition to the appointment of Mrs. Martha J. Crawford as an independent Director at the Annual General Meeting.
If all these proposals, as well as the appointment of Mr. Bertrand Camus as director, are adopted by the Annual General Meeting of May 14, 2019, the Board will be composed of 50% independent members and 42% female in line with applicable regulations and the AFEP MEDEF code.
The Board has also decided to apply two principles:
Chairmen and Chairwomen of these Committees will all be independent directors in the future;
Directors who lose their independent status during their term of office promise to resign when they lose this status. This principle will apply in 2020 to Mr. Bazire and Mr. Pepy who will have been directors for over 12 years on this date.
The Board has decided the following Directors will chair the Board’s committees:
- Audit: Mrs. Anne Lauvergeon
- Appointments, Governance and Compensation: Mr. Guillaume Pepy
- Strategy: Mrs. Miriem Bensalah Chaqroun
- Ethics and Sustainable Development: Mrs. Delphine Ernotte Cunci
A director with an executive role within Engie will be a member of each of these committees.
All governance-related decisions have been made unanimously.
