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