If you reach here you are land anywhere

In 2002, Jacques Lehré is proposing the direction of the mergers and acquisitions of Rhodia. "I have immediately wanted to know how this function was organized in other companies." The easiest was to make contact with the association of specialists in this job, but to my surprise, there was in France no structure so! "Thus was born the Arfa (Association of managers of mergers and acquisitions), co-founded in October 2003 by Jacques Lehré and Pierre Berthon, his counterpart from Veolia Environnement, which was the first President. Recently reappointed head of this structure today high of some 50 companies, the pattern of the mergers of Rhodia intends to devote his second term to the promotion of trade, still largely unknown.

Three shocks

"Métis Alsatian and Lorraine, born 47 years ago in Saint-Avold, in Moselle, Jacques Lehré grew far the hushed universe where he is today, changing between bankers-advice and counsel to business. The son of working-class, stock, he discovered the capital by integrating the national Ecole supérieure des mines de Paris. First shock. The second will be cooperation in Colombia, in the steel industry. The third, his debut as engineer of exploitation in coal mines of France his father forbach employer. "I went every morning at the bottom of the mine." I was twenty-five years and 400 people under my command. For a first experience of management, it was rather rude! "But, despite the great plan of recovery by Pierre Mauroy, the mines have little future and Jacques Lehré knows. It therefore strikes in 1988 at the door of Rhône-Poulenc, where it awaits yet highly operational position responsible for manufacturing facility in a plant of the Lyon region, until a DESS in business management, obtained at the price of two years of course of the evening at the IAE, allows him to redirect his career to less technical functions. In turn apprentice strategist responsible for thinking about the fate of the chemical activities of Rhône-Poulenc, construction activity papers-paintings-materials management controller and financial Director of silicones, Jacques Lehré then performs its molt of Executive Engineer.

At the same time, Rhodia the hiving-off of Rhône-Poulenc chemistry the company is, at the turn of the year 2000, to two unfortunate purchases, Albright & Wilson and Chirex, affecting its financial health. Before the growing weight of the debt and the challenge of minority shareholders, CEO, Jean-Pierre Tirouflet, is forced to end 2003 to surrender the reins to a man familiar with Jacques Lehré was his roommate for two years in the Mines of Paris: Jean-Pierre Clamadieu. Appointed head of mergers & acquisitions a year before the change of Captain, the Moselle spent the year 2004 to divest assets on assets, in accordance with the course set by the new direction. Which earned him to make a long stay in Manhattan, in the temple of the "M & A", to be negotiate a significant LBO. "As the Americans say:"If you can make it there, you can make it everywhere!". ("If you reach here, you are land anywhere!").