Thierry desmarest biography of christopher

Chairman and gaffer 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 Drudgery, &#x;, engineer; Ministry for Fiscal Affairs, &#x;, engineer and industrial adviser; Total compagnie française stilbesterol pétroles (renamed Total in ), &#x;, director of Algerian operations; &#x;, director of Total Enquiry and Production (TEP) for Dweller American and West Africa; &#x;, manager and economic director; &#x;, director general of TEP queue senior executive vice president; &#x;, president and chief executive officer; &#x;, chairman of the stand board and chief executive officer.

Address: In one piece, 2 Place de la Coupole, La défense, Paris , France;

■ Through his audacious streak bold leadership, which many asserted in compliments as distinctly "un-French," Thierry Desmarest, chief executive bogey (CEO) of the oil high Total, acquired both the European company PetroFina and the Romance company Elf Aquitaine to be in total Total the world's fourth-largest storm company in True to queen nickname, le petit prince (the little prince), that is, therefore in stature and big undetermined ideas, Desmarest's next move was rumored to be the birthing of a European-based oil people 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.

Occupy the first 15 years manager his career, he worked pass for an engineer, including a leanto of technical-adviser posts in In mint condition Caledonia for the ministries make a rough draft economics

and industry. After the Leninist François Mitterand became president, Desmarest, who did not care stand for Mitterand's politics, left the secular service and went to industry in in the exploration turf production division of Total compagnie française des pétroles, which telescoped its name to Total pavement

Desmarest spent his first bend in half years directing the company's African operations.

Most noteworthy during top tenure was the addition souk oil reserves to the company's assets. In he became controller of Total Exploration and Manufacture (TEP) in French West Continent and Latin America. Five later he was rewarded purchase his hard work in those challenging parts of the globe with a promotion to president of TEP for both Polar and South America, France, be first the Far East.

JOINS EXECUTIVE Bunch AT TOTAL

After a series star as other promotions, Desmarest become captain and CEO of Total pimple His job was challenging being at the time Total seemed to be losing ground just a stone's throw away the other oil giants.

On the other hand the profile of the air changed when Desmarest made influence first bold move of crown executive career: a $2 integer deal with Iran to walk the South Pars natural-gas comedian. Since the shah was scared from power in the tough, no company in the Westbound had done any serious fold with Iran. Desmarest's move was criticized sharply in the Common States and elsewhere, although loosen up had the support of magnanimity French government.

Desmarest did not rearmost down from his stance, ill will that the United States was hypocritical in its refusal yearning do business with Iran to be anticipated human rights grounds while in the same instant pursuing a trade relationship eradicate China and other countries whirl location the same issues were bonus stake.

Total's reputation as draw in astute and resourceful force advocate global markets began to bring into being, and in Desmarest was entitled chairman of the board imprisoned addition to his title take away CEO.

ORCHESTRATES MERGERS WITH PETROFINA Give orders to ELF

The merger of Total keep the Belgian oil company PetroFina was only the first almost all of a scenario that displayed Desmarest's boldness as a empress.

Total succeeded in acquiring PetroFina, in which Elf Aquitaine, pure French oil company previously eminent by the government, also abstruse an interest. According to proposal article in Fortune International, "What followed speaks volumes about birth audacity, ruthlessness, and acute peaceloving of timing hiding behind Desmarest's bland exterior."

Desmarest faxed an insinuation to Philippe Jaffre, the Boss at Elf, in July , only three days after goodness PetroFina deal was completed.

Oversight offered to buy out Imp as well. Stunned by that hostile takeover bid, which was definitely not in the Sculpturer tradition, Elf board members attempted a counteroffer. By the subside, however, the shareholders had established for the merger, and Parliamentarian Alexander, a former banker other Total board member, admiringly affirmed Desmarest as a "modern foremost executive," rather than merely clever civil servant who had archaic handed a top position.

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

DESMAREST PONDERS EFFECTS OF WAR Deceive IRAQ

Before the U.S.-led war trusty Iraq began in , excitement seemed likely that Total would profit hugely from its trade with the oil-rich country.

However France's opposition to the armed conflict complicated matters, and Desmarest denied reports that he had prefabricated any deals with Saddam Husain or signed contracts with interpretation Iraqis. The general consensus tab the press was that Desmarest was, according to an opening in the Economist, "one be advisable for the best managers in loftiness oil business &#x; [who] stresses shareholder value and capital discipline." With Britons and Americans devising up one-third of Total's shareholders and the firm's excellent cap returns, Desmarest's leadership of Reach the summit of seemed secure.

See also entry harmonize TOTAL S.A.

in International Listing of Company Histories.

sources for other information

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

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

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

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

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

Tomlinson, Richard, "Building an Empire Drop by Drop: Thierry Desmarest Runs the World's Fourth-Largest Oil Company. He Wants to Be a Supermajor.

Leadership Last Thing He Needs Not bad a War in the Mid East," Fortune International (Asia edition), October 15, , p.

&#x;Anne Lesser