07.01.23
Bris Rocher, chairman of the board and CEO of the Groupe Rocher for 14 years, has elected to delegate his executive functions to Jean-David Schwartz to focus on the group strategy as chairman starting July 1, according to the company in a press release.
While the group has become heavily internationalized over the past decade and is facing significant challenges, Rocher is initiating this new governance structure to adapt the group to market changes and maximize its future development. The delegation of his executive duties will provide the agility and pragmatism crucial for navigating complex environments, the company said.
“Dissociating the executive functions of chairman of the board and CEO is an essential practice in modern business governance,” said Rocher. “By delegating the executive duties to a new chief executive officer, we seek to reinforce transparency, independency, and responsibility within our organization. Jean-David Schwartz has my full confidence. His many interpersonal and managerial qualities, his outstanding knowledge of the groupe as well as his international experience and his track record in leading the groupe's brands make him the natural candidate. I firmly believe that this strengthened governance will enable us to tackle future challenges collectively, maximizing our development potential and financial performance. This is the best way we will secure to pass on our family heritage to next generations.”
Rocher's role will notably be to define and lead the group's long-term strategic vision, and its unique position as a mission-driven company. It will be the responsibility of the executive management to ensure the operational management of the business and the implementation of short and medium-term strategies.
“I would like, first and foremost, to thank Bris Rocher for the confidence he is placing in me by giving me this responsibility,” said Schwartz. “I will be mobilized every day, along with the executive committee I have the honor of chairing, and alongside all of the groupe’s collaborators to keep implementing our transformation plan, Green Conquest 2030. This plan is already starting to yield results, and this new team will allow us to increase them.”
Green Conquest 2030 Strategy
Within the framework of the Green Conquest 2030 strategy, which is already yielding initial results, the executive management will focus on operational execution, starting with prioritizing efforts based on three identified priorities: improving the group's profitability; meeting its financial commitments; and preparing for the future particularly by addressing the environmental and social challenges that lie at the heart of its mission. The executive committee’s organization, serving the deployment of the Groupe Rocher’s strategy and promoting the success of its collective project, is evolving to better meet the company’s challenges. Composed of new members, issued mainly from the Groupe Rocher, the new Excom will be more operational, swift and agile.
Led by Schwartz, it will be constituted in two core, operational and brands divisions. For core divisions, a People and Mission group will be directed by Jeanne Renard, with a finance and legal group led by Laurent Delaurière.
For operational divisions, an Information Systems group will be directed by Stanislas Duthier, new product development group with a forthcoming appointment, and operations group led by Vincent Taglioni.
Regarding Brands divisions, In September, Guillaume Darrousez will be appointed CEO of Yves Rocher, also in charge of Dr. Pierre Ricaud and Global Strategic Insights, and Alexandre Rubin as CEO of Petit Bateau. Schwartz will oversee the transition for Yves Rocher until September 1.