Vincent Bolloré has been one of the youngest and most successful French
patrons. He was born in Quimper, in Brittany, a
catholic with a strong streak of Christian Socialism.
Trained in banking, he bought out the declining paper-manufacturing family business in
1981 for a
nominal four francs. He went on to head the Bolloré group which in 1998
had a turnover of some 24 billion francs.
His success is said to be based on
three principles: diversification, a good balance of activities and the ability to
identify the right market niche. He is renowned as a gifted communicator and
has been seen as un modèle de patron, an
exemplary boss.
Today Bolloré
Technologies is split into two companies:
- Bolloré
Techonologies (plastic films and various paper products)
- the subsidiary company SDV
(tobacco, transport, distribution of oil-derived products)
The group has reached
maturity and growth is now generated through the buy-out of other companies and
financial deals. |
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