Henri de Castries should now be extended to a new and probably final term as CEO of AXA.
In an interview, it evokes the great challenges facing Europe’s second largest insurer.
This should be a mere formality. Except bombshell , Henri de Castries will leave for another term as CEO of AXA four years after the general meeting of shareholders held on Wednesday. Appointed CEO in 2000 and CEO ten years later after a change in the governance of the group, and extend longevity rare for a boss of the CAC 40. “For now and for four more years if the General Assembly decides, I will be entirely devoted to the business in which I act for twenty- five years and which I am very fond … ” he says to ” echoes “.
However, according to our information this new mandate should be his last as CEO of the second largest insurer in Europe . Asked Henri de Castries is undeniable : “In a group that analyzes risks, the topic of leadership succession is paramount and must be prepared. We have a process of annual review of succession planning any coaching group , and I can not escape the rule , ” he says . And added: ” I am fortunate to work with a competent team and high quality . There is not a designated successor, but a choice of possible successors including the Board of Directors will select the appropriate time. ”
Course to achieve the objectives
Also remains to be seen if AXA could , on this occasion , return to a separation of the roles of chairman and CEO. “It is not on the agenda , we will according to the circumstances ,” says its CEO . In the immediate future , he says be focused on the transformation of a group that has already significantly changed over the past few years , taking growing and often dominant positions in emerging markets (see below) . And as he said at the presentation of annual results in February , AXA is on track to achieve the strategic plan 2015.
At fifty -nine, Henri de Castries refuses to discuss later. “This is not news. But I have lots of ideas and full of desires , ” he smiles.
