board of directors




An essential body for governance

 

The Board of Directors is elected by the corporation’s shareholders to supervise the management and operations of the businesses of the Group. The Board is the guarantor of the Essilor vision and ensures that the management operates in the interest of the corporation.

 

The role of the Board

  • to call shareholder meetings
  • to establish and certify corporate financial statements and present them to the shareholders
  • to appoint and dismiss corporate officers
  • to appoint the members of the three Board of Directors’ Committees, and to monitor and co-ordinate their work
  • to approve strategic decisions, including acquisitions and transfers
  • to approve large-scale reorganizations and investments
  • to monitor the implementation of corporate decisions
  • to assess its own performance and that of the executive management
  • to define and review annually the attribute of "independent director"
  • to designate independent directors
  • to assess the work carried out by the Board of Directors

 

Each member of the Board:

  • contributes his or her expertise and professional experience
  • owes a duty of vigilance
  • exercises total freedom of decision

 

Quality of corporate governance hailed by professionals

 

Members of the jury of Agefi Hebdo, a French financial daily, made up of economists and financial specialists, acclaimed the quality of Essilor’s governance by awarding the corporation their 2006 Grand Prix for Corporate Governance.

 

Constantly updated expertise

The renewal of mandates fosters the exchange of experience and expertise, and allows members of the Board to combine skills with knowledge of the corporation.

 

A balanced and representative body

Employee categories are represented on the Board by three members of the Valoptec Association.

These members represent almost 15% of shareholder voting rights.

 

Members of the Board

founding chairmen

  • René Grandperret
  • Anatole Temkine 

 

honorary chairmen

  • Gérard Cottet
  • Bernard Maitenaz

 

Composition as of September 1, 2008

 

 
chairman and chief executive officer chief operating officer chief operating officer
 
 
Xavier Fontanet Philippe Alfroid Hubert Sagnières
 
independant directors
 
 
Alain Aspect Michel Besson Jean Burelle
 
 
Yves Chevillotte Bridget Cosgrave Philippe Germond
 
 
Maurice Marchand-Tonel Olivier Pécoux Michel Rose
 
directors representing inside shareholders
 
 
Aïcha Mokdahi Alain Thomas Serge Zins

 
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