Thierry Legrand

14th February 2014

By: Zandile Mavuso

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor: Features

  

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Full Name: Thierry Legrand

Position: CEO of Lafarge South Africa

Main Activity of the Company: The manufacture and supply of cement, aggregates, ready-mixed concrete, gypsum plasterboard and interior building fittings

Date and Place of Birth: May 1, 1966, Nancy, France

Education: Ecole Polytechnique, Paris, France, majoring in physics and materials science; Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees, industrial engineering degree

First Job: Cost analysis engineer

Career History Prior to Current Position: Engineer in charge of cement plant automation for Lafarge in France; plant manager of Lafarge’s Contes cement plant, near Nice, France; human resources director of Lafarge Ciments, in France; GM of Lafarge Gips (Lafarge’s plasterboard operation in Germany and the Netherlands); CEO of Lafarge South Africa Holdings and CEO of Lafarge Cement

Size of First Pay Packet: R11 250 a month. The rand was twice as strong as the French franc in those days!

First Job with Present Group: Information technology project engineer

Value of Assets under Your Control: More than R4-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: 2 000

Management Style: Democratic and participative

Personal Best Achievement: Being part of a wonderful family

Professional Best Achievement: Being in a position to recruit and develop exceptional talent for Lafarge when I was human resources director

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife

Person who has had the biggest influence on your career: A mentor who guided me in my career

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: None

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: The late Antoine Riboud, founder of world food giant Danone. He transformed the former glass business into one of the leading global food companies, famous for its yoghurts and Evian mineral water.

Philosophy of Life: Never leave for tomorrow what you can do today

Biggest Ever Opportunity: An industrial and media crisis in Nice, France, which resulted in working closely with senior management of the company

Biggest Ever Disappointment: I cannot recall

Hope for the Future: Improved educational opportunities for all

Favourite Reading: Anything related to history

Favourite TV Programme: Sport programmes

Favourite Food/Drink: Cheese/wine

Favourite Music: I enjoy a wide range of music – from classic to jazz and rock

Favourite Sport: Snow skiing

Favourite Website: Yahoo – for French news updates

Hobbies: Travelling with my family to new and interesting places

Car: Volvo XC90

Pets: No, but if my daughter’s two hamsters count, then yes – Speedy and Oasis

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Arrogance and disrespect

Favourite Other South African Company: South African Breweries

Favourite Foreign Company: Audi, part of the Volkswagen stable

Married: To Helene

Children: Two young daughters aged twelve and nine, and a five-year-old son

Clubs: None

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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