The Board of Directors of GDF SUEZ, chaired by Gérard Mestrallet, met on 21 October and received the unanimous recommendations made by the Nomination and Compensation Committee in preparation for the Group’s leadership transition. With the exception of a Director who did not take part in the vote, the Board co-opted unanimously Isabelle Kocher as a Director and Board Member and appointed her as Deputy CEO of GDF SUEZ, replacing Jean-François Cirelli.
These decisions will become effective on 12 November 2014.
The Board of Directors and its Chairman also sought to emphasize the success of this rigorous and collective decision-making process, the goal of which was to serenely and with anticipation prepare Gérard Mestrallet’s succession.
Gérard Mestrallet, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GDF SUEZ, also appointed Isabelle Kocher as Chief Operating Officer. The five business line Executive Vice Presidents will report to her as well as three divisions: Major Projects, Action Plan and Group Performance, and Research & Technologies.
Gérard Mestrallet also appointed Dirk Beeuwsaert, Executive Director and Vice Chairman of the Board of Electrabel, as Executive Vice President in charge of the Energy Europe business line. A new Chief Financial Officer will be appointed soon.
The Board of Directors would like to thank Jean-François Cirelli for its key role since the merger between Gaz de France and Suez and his contribution to GDF SUEZ Group’s development, including the implementation of the new organization of the Energy Europe business line in a particularly difficult economic climate.
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