Of
Italian origin, Henri Proglio was born on June 29, 1949 in
Antibes, France. He graduated from HEC Paris.
There
are individuals who possess the character, skill and drive to become leaders
and Henri fits in this category. He began working for Compagnie Générale de
Eaux in 1972. Henri reached the top
position in the firm in a little less than twenty years becoming Chairman and
CEO in 1990. Almost a decade later in 1999 he was named Vice-President of
Vivendi Universal and Chairman and CEO of Vivendi Water. Henri became Chairman
of Violia Environnement in 2000 and was also appointed CEO three years later.
In
November 2009 Henri was named Chairman and CEO OF Electricité de France (EDF).
EDF is one of the largest companies in the world. Running it has its
challenges. To be efficient and profitable it has to be run like a private
company but EDF is basically a state-owned utility company with the French
government owning 84 percent of it. It is the French president who appoints the
head of EDF from a short list of candidates.
EDF
is also the world’s biggest
operator of nuclear plants. Henri has performed very well. Although he was
appointed by a conservative government, the current government of French
President Francois Hollande kept him in place. Henri has had a good working
relationship with the socialist government which has allowed EDF to increase
its tariffs by 5 percent last year.
During
Europe’s energy crisis of recent years, other European utilities suffered while
EDF stocks have broadly outperformed the sector. Henri has also cut debt,
pulled EDF out of its struggling North American nuclear business and ended
legal dispute with water group Veolia over their energy services joint venture
Dalkia. With his five year term ending in November 2014 there are even talks
that the current government may extend his term.
Outside
of EDF Henri is a non-executive director of CNP Assurances, Dassualt Aviation
and Natixis. He was decorated Commander of the National Order of Merit of the
Legion of Honour.
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