Full Name: Jean-Claude Lasserre
Position: CEO, Saint-Gobain for sub-Saharan Africa
Main Activity of the Company: Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and solutions that can be found everywhere in our living places and our daily life: in buildings, transport, infrastructure and many industrial applications
Date and Place of Birth: 1967, France
Education: Postgraduate degree in quantitative marketing, Grenoble University, France; MBA, ICN Business Graduate School, France; university courses, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China
First Job: Export manager
Career History Prior to Current Position: I have had the opportunity to work in seven countries – Cote d’Ivoire, Colombia, China, Poland, Italy, France and South Africa – across Asia, Europe, South America and Africa, gradually climbing the ranks to senior management. I have worked in Africa for nine years, four of which I spent in Cote d’Ivoire. Before my appointment as CEO for Saint-Gobain in sub- Saharan Africa, I was the VP for Saint-Gobain PAM, in Europe, and then for Abrasives in Europe, Middle East and Africa
Size of First Pay Packet: $27 000, in 1992
First Job with Present Group: Deputy Africa director, Pont-A-Mousson
Value of Assets under Your Control: In South Africa, Saint-Gobain has ten plants and two quarries; in the rest of Africa, it has an industrial presence in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Angola, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Ghana, and representative offices in Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire
Number of People under Your Leadership: 1 500
Management Style: Inclusive and open-minded; I fully believe in subsidiarity
Personal Best Achievement: Enjoy every moment of family time
Professional Best Achievement: I created and then led a team of 250 sales people in China in 2002 and gained 25% market share
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Christian Streiff, former Pont-A-Mousson and then Peugeot-Citroen president
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Bill and Melinda Gates
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Louis Gallois, former president of Airbus and Aerospatiale
Philosophy of Life: Adapt to others and enjoy what you do
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being chosen to lead Saint-Gobain in Africa
Biggest Ever Disappointment: The Colombian civil war (1899 to 1902)
Hope for the Future: A peaceful South African transition towards strong development
Favourite Reading: Harlan Coben and Michael Connelly
Favourite TV Programme: 24: Just in Time
Favourite Food/Drink: French dishes with a nice South African wine, such as Groot Constantia or De Toren Stellenbosch
Favourite Music: Jazz
Favourite Sport: Rugby and golf
Favourite Website: www.ted.com
Hobbies: Playing the piano, travelling
Car: Lexus NX
Pets: A 12-year-old cat called Zen
Miscellaneous Dislikes: People who disregard the particularism and behaviour of others
Favourite Other South African Company: Nedbank
Favourite Foreign Company: LVMH (Louis Vuitton Möet Hennessy)
Married: To Nathalie, since 1992
Children: Malaurie, 21; David, 17; Elsa, 16
Clubs: Callaway X