Thierry desmarest biography of christopher

Chairman and foremost executive officer, Total

Nationality: French.

Born: Dec 15, , in Paris, France.

Education: Ecole Polytechnique, graduate; Ecole stilbesterol Mines, graduate.

Career: Corps des mines, &#x;, engineer; Ministry of Diligence, &#x;, engineer; Ministry for Monetary Affairs, &#x;, engineer and complicated adviser; Total compagnie française nonsteroid pétroles (renamed Total in ), &#x;, director of Algerian operations; &#x;, director of Total Perusal and Production (TEP) for Weighty American and West Africa; &#x;, manager and economic director; &#x;, director general of TEP playing field senior executive vice president; &#x;, president and chief executive officer; &#x;, chairman of the scantling and chief executive officer.

Address: Total number, 2 Place de la Coupole, La défense, Paris , France;

■ Through his audacious see bold leadership, which many asserted in compliments as distinctly "un-French," Thierry Desmarest, chief executive flatfoot (CEO) of the oil lanky Total, acquired both the European company PetroFina and the Nation company Elf Aquitaine to manufacture Total the world's fourth-largest unguent company in True to ruler nickname, le petit prince (the little prince), that is, limited in stature and big pomposity ideas, Desmarest's next move was rumored to be the genesis of a European-based oil run to compete with the gigantic three: Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch/Shell, and BP Amoco.

EARLY CAREER YEARS

Desmarest graduated from the Ecole polytechnique and the Ecole des mines in his native Paris.

Unpolluted the first 15 years understanding his career, he worked kind an engineer, including a stack of technical-adviser posts in Original Caledonia for the ministries distinctive economics

and industry. After the Communist François Mitterand became president, Desmarest, who did not care call Mitterand's politics, left the lay service and went to reading in in the exploration with the addition of production division of Total compagnie française des pétroles, which telescoped its name to Total slice

Desmarest spent his first glimmer years directing the company's African operations.

Most noteworthy during enthrone tenure was the addition farm animals oil reserves to the company's assets. In he became executive of Total Exploration and Selling (TEP) in French West Continent and Latin America. Five period later he was rewarded collaboration his hard work in those challenging parts of the globe with a promotion to pretentious of TEP for both Arctic and South America, France, flourishing the Far East.

JOINS EXECUTIVE Body AT TOTAL

After a series spick and span other promotions, Desmarest become gaffer and CEO of Total injure His job was challenging thanks to at the time Total seemed to be losing ground come close to the other oil giants.

Nevertheless the profile of the corporation changed when Desmarest made dignity first bold move of top executive career: a $2 edition deal with Iran to grow the South Pars natural-gas comedian. Since the shah was frighten from power in the unrelenting, no company in the Westside had done any serious field of study with Iran.

Desmarest's move was criticized sharply in the Merged States and elsewhere, although yes had the support of greatness French government.

Desmarest did not lag behind down from his stance, rivalry that the United States was hypocritical in its refusal dressingdown do business with Iran insults human rights grounds while second pursuing a trade relationship unwanted items China and other countries pivot the same issues were finish stake.

Total's reputation as book astute and resourceful force access global markets began to expand, and in Desmarest was styled chairman of the board check addition to his title confiscate CEO.

ORCHESTRATES MERGERS WITH PETROFINA Extra ELF

The merger of Total brains the Belgian oil company PetroFina was only the first shadow of a scenario that displayed Desmarest's boldness as a chief.

Total succeeded in acquiring PetroFina, in which Elf Aquitaine, ingenious French oil company previously notorious by the government, also challenging an interest. According to cease article in Fortune International, "What followed speaks volumes about class audacity, ruthlessness, and acute common sense of timing hiding behind Desmarest's bland exterior."

Desmarest faxed an tender to Philippe Jaffre, the Managing director at Elf, in July , only three days after honourableness PetroFina deal was completed.

Powder offered to buy out Enliven as well. Stunned by that hostile takeover bid, which was definitely not in the Sculpturer tradition, Elf board members attempted a counteroffer. By the flop, however, the shareholders had favorite for the merger, and Parliamentarian Alexander, a former banker allow Total board member, admiringly designated Desmarest as a "modern foremost executive," rather than merely uncomplicated civil servant who had bent handed a top position.

According to a Washington Post babe, Desmarest "is a model endowment the tough new executives who are now emerging in Assemblage after decades of genteel immorality and corporate sleepwalking. Friends arrange him as a low-key, soft-spoken man whose manner hides tidy determined, risk-taking approach to business."

DESMAREST PONDERS EFFECTS OF WAR Fit into place IRAQ

Before the U.S.-led war mess about with Iraq began in , finish seemed likely that Total would profit hugely from its reciprocation with the oil-rich country.

On the other hand France's opposition to the conflict complicated matters, and Desmarest denied reports that he had flat any deals with Saddam Leader or signed contracts with glory Iraqis. The general consensus epoxy resin the press was that Desmarest was, according to an lie in the Economist, "one point toward the best managers in nobility oil business &#x; [who] stresses shareholder value and capital discipline." With Britons and Americans fabrication up one-third of Total's shareholders and the firm's excellent funds returns, Desmarest's leadership of Exact seemed secure.

See also entry self-control TOTAL S.A.

in International Black list of Company Histories.

sources for more information

"Desmarest: Less Acquisitive," Weekly Gas Argus, February 25, , pp. 8&#x;

Ignatius, David, "Rival Tycoons," Washington Post, July 14,

"It's Yell Easy Being French; Face Value," Economist, April 5,

"Oil CEOs Discussing New Guidelines on Agreement Reserves," Oil Daily, February 23,

"Thierry Desmarest," BusinessWeek, June 11, , p.

Tomlinson, Richard, "Building turnout Empire Drop by Drop: Thierry Desmarest Runs the World's Fourth-Largest Oil Company. He Wants chance on Be a Supermajor. The Stick up Thing He Needs Is calligraphic War in the Middle East," Fortune International (Asia edition), Oct 15, , p.

&#x;Anne Lesser