On June 1, François Jackow took over as CEO from Benoît Potier, who remains Chairman of the Board of Directors. This handover promises both continuity and renewal, and has been in the works for some time. Coupled with the launch of our new strategic plan, ADVANCE, the change in governance marks a new chapter in the Group’s history.
You have just become CEO of Air Liquide. What are your thoughts on the Group’s future?
First of all, I must stress how proud I am to step into Benoît Potier’s shoes and how eager I am to continue the Group’s transformation through ADVANCE, our new 2025 strategic plan that is working in the present to lay the groundwork for the future. ADVANCE places sustainable development among our top priorities, combining financial and extra-financial performance to set us on the right trajectory for global performance. It also strengthens our identity as a corporate citizen, mindful of the interests of all stakeholders and, more broadly, society as a whole.
Our strategic positioning in tomorrow’s markets, primarily hydrogen, electronics and healthcare, gives me confidence regarding our future prospects. I’m determined to take advantage of every opportunity for the Group to grow. We have some solid assets to help us do just that, namely our identity as a builder of the future, the expertise and professionalism of our teams, the diversity of our business activities, our international presence and the stability of our business model.
Decarbonization is a true social challenge. It is central to our new strategic plan. How is the Group responding to this challenge?
It’s an imperative for us all, as growth will be low-carbon from now on. Decarbonizing industry has become a priority in the fight against climate change and it represents an additional development opportunity for the Group. For over 50 years, we have been leading the roll‑out of hydrogen, an energy source whose development potential is no longer in doubt. We are an indispensable partner to industrial customers pursuing decarbonization as we offer hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, biomethane and energy‑efficient technologies and solutions to reduce their CO2 emissions. Of course, we also play our own active part in decarbonization. We’ve committed to cut our emissions by 33% by 2035 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
What roles will you and Benoît Potier, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, each have within the new governance structure?
This handover has been in the works for some time. I will have the executive role inherent to my job as CEO. For his part, Benoît Potier will manage the activities of the Board, give his opinion on the organization’s key strategic decisions and hold discussions with certain stakeholders when the need arises. He will also work to preserve the long-standing bond we share with our Shareholders. We believe this close relationship to be essential. It’s a strength that few other groups can claim. The most recent Annual General Meeting was proof of this — holding it in person once again was a great success. Our Shareholders’ trust in us is one of the keys to the Group’s successful development. Our ambition is to ensure the Group’s growth trajectory and to continue to shape the future, together.
Thank you for your loyalty and happy reading!