Alexandre Bompard (born 4 October 1972) is a French businessman. He became CEO of the retail chain Fnac in 2011. Since July 2017, he has also been chairman and CEO of Carrefour.
Alexandre Bompard | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Alexandre Joubert-Bompard 4 October 1972 Saint-Étienne, France |
| Education | Sciences Po, ÉNA |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Title | Chairman and CEO, Carrefour |
| Term | July 2017- |
| Predecessor | Georges Plassat |
| Board member of | Fnac |
| Spouse | Charlotte Bompard |
| Children | 3 daughters |
Early life
editAlexandre Bompard was born on 4 October 1972 in Saint-Étienne, France.[1][2] As the son of Alain Bompard, a businessman and president of the AS Saint-Étienne football club from 1997 to 2003, he was exposed to the business world at a young age.[3]
He earned degrees from two Parisian institutions: the Paris Institute of Political Studies and the National School of Administration (Cyrano de Bergerac class).[4]
Career
editAfter graduation he joined the Inspection Générale des Finances. There, he served as a junior inspector until 1999 before being promoted to finance inspector in 2002. After serving as a project manager for the chief director of the Inspection Générale des Finances, he became a technical advisor to François Fillon, then Minister of Social Affairs, Labour and Solidarity in 2003.[5]
He joined French broadcaster Canal in 2004 as the chief of staff for the group's president, Bertrand Meheut, and in June 2005, was appointed director of the sports department.[6]
In 2008, he joined Europe 1 as the radio station's chairman and CEO.[7]
In November 2010, he became CEO of French retail chain Fnac.[8] In 2013, Bompard was in charge of listing the company and splitting Fnac from Kering,[9] allowing the holding company to focus on luxury brands,[10] while aiming to create growth autonomously.[11]
Bompard joined Carrefour as CEO in July 2017. In January 2018, he announced a strategic plan for the company, entitled "Carrefour 2022", with ambitions to make Carrefour the "leader of the food transition for all". The plan includes measures for better food and package sustainability, limitation of food waste, development of bioproducts, e-commerce partnerships, two billion euros in annual investments from 2018 as well as organisational and cost reduction measures.[12][13]
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bompard granted 85,000 employees at work and exposed in France a bonus of €1,000,[14] and waived 25% of his fixed salary for a period of two months.[15]
Diplomatic controversy with Brazil and Mercosur
editIn November 2024, Alexandre Bompard, CEO of the Carrefour Group, became embroiled in a diplomatic controversy between the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and the European Union amidst ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement between the two regional economic blocs.
On November 20, 2024, Bompard issued a letter to Arnaud Rousseau, President of the National Federation of Agricultural Holders' Unions (FNSEA), announcing that Carrefour would cease purchasing meat from Mercosur producers to support and protect French agriculture. He further urged other stakeholders in the agri-food and hospitality sectors to join this act of "solidarity.[16]
The Brazilian government swiftly responded, defending its agricultural industry.[17] In retaliation, Brazilian meat packers suspended meat deliveries to Carrefour's operations in Brazil, including Carrefour, Sam's Club, and Atacadão stores. This action disrupted supply chains and caused localized shortages in several stores. The incident escalated, drawing in the French Ambassador to Brazil and Carrefour's Brazilian subsidiary, both of whom worked to mediate the fallout. Bompard ultimately issued public apologies to senior Brazilian officials and the broader Mercosur agricultural sector.[18]
On November 26, 2024, the French Embassy in Brazil delivered a formal apology from Bompard and the Carrefour Group to Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Fávaro. The letter expressed regret over the initial statements and praised Brazilian agriculture for providing "high-quality meat, adhering to standards, and delivering flavor".[19][20]
The controversy is widely seen as connected to broader French government resistance to the European Union–Mercosur free trade agreement, reflecting underlying tensions between French agricultural interests and international trade dynamics.[21]
Personal life
editHe is married to Charlotte Caubel, the vice president of Bobigny's High Court, and they have three daughters.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Alexandre Bompard". LSA-Conso. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
- ^ a b Magazine, ESM (9 June 2017). "Who Is Alexandre Bompard? An Explainer - ESM Magazine". Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ Profiles, EuropeanCEO, 23 September 2011
- ^ Alexandre Bompard’s Background, Businessweek, as of 10 July 2013
- ^ Bompard to become Fnac chairman and ceo, The Bookseller, 24 November 2010
- ^ Alexandre Bompard To Head Fnac, Billboard.com, 26 November 2010
- ^ PPR: Alexandre Bompard Appointed Chairman and CEO of FNAC, Reuters.com, 24 November 2010
- ^ PPR Names Bompard Head Of Fnac Retail Chain, Women's Wear Daily, 24 November 2010
- ^ Luxury goods group PPR to spin off Fnac books chain, Financial Times, 16 June 2013
- ^ PPR's Fnac sees stable operating margin by 2016-report, Reuters.com, 3 June 2013
- ^ PPR Confirms Plan to Spin Off, List Fnac Unit, Fox Business, as of 10 July 2013
- ^ "French Retailer Carrefour Set To Start Fresh Consumer Revolution Using Bricks, Clicks and Block chain". Forbes. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
- ^ "Presentation of the transformation plan "Carrefour 2022"" (PDF). Carrefour.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-06-20. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
- ^ "Q1 2020 Sales: Carrefour Mobilized to Respond to Strong Customer Demand in the Face of the COVID-19 Crisis". businesswire.com (Press release). 28 April 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
- ^ "Compensation of Carrefour Group executives in the context of the covid-19 pandemic". Carrefour.com. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
- ^ Bompard, Alexandre (November 20, 2024). "Instagram. Par solidarité avec le monde agricole, Carrefour prend l'engagement de ne commercialiser aucune viande en provenance du Mercosur. Tel est le sens de mon message aux présidents des syndicats agricoles". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Paraguassu, Lisandra; Benedito, Luana Maria (November 21, 2024). "Brazil blasts Carrefour over vow to keep Mercosur meat off shelves". Reuters.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Harvey, Simon (2024-11-25). "Carrefour opposition to EU-Mercosur trade deal sparks backlash in Brazil". Just Food. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
- ^ "Carrefour Apologizes to Calm France-Brazil Meat Spat". Bloomberg.com. 2024-11-26. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
- ^ "Carrefour attempts damage control against Brazil 'boycott'". France 24. 2024-11-26. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
- ^ "EU-Mercosur: Why the French have opposed this free trade agreement". 2024-11-16. Retrieved 2024-11-26.