Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> September 6, 1999

Jean-pierre Sonois – Compagnie Des Alps (5332.pa)

Jean-Pierre Sonois, aged 54, is the Chairman and CEO of Compagnie des Alpes since its creation in 1989. He joined Caisse des Depots Group, the main shareholder of CDA, in 1988 as Executive Manager of the tourism division. He graduated in Chemistry and received his MBA from ESSEC, he spent 15 years in Le Groupe des Arcs, the managing company of the resort of Les Arcs in the French Alps, successively as VP Hotel Sales and Planning, and Chief Executive Director. In 1987, he joined HAVAS Group as General Manager of Havas Tourisme and Havas Voyages. Apart from his functions at Compagnie des Alpes and as non-executive of nine subsidiaries, Jean-Pierre Sonois is also non-executive Director at Maison de la France, a corporation which promotes the destination France abroad; at Maeva/ Vacantel, the second largest rental accommodation companies in France; and at VVF, one of the largest social recreation company in France. All these responsibilities make Jean-Pierre Sonois one of the top specialists of leisure and tourism in France. Profile
TWST: I'll start off by asking you to give me a brief overview of your

company, a little bit of history, what is your core business and where

you see yourselves today.

Mr. Sonois: For 10 years