Anne Lauvergeon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anne Lauvergeon
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Lauvergeon in 2012
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| Born | 2 August 1959 Dijon, France
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| Alma mater | École normale supérieure Mines ParisTech |
| Spouse(s) | Olivier Fric |
Anne Lauvergeon (born 2 August 1959) is a French businesswoman. She was the CEO of a big energy company called Areva from 2001 to 2011. Many people around the world know her as a strong supporter of nuclear power.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Anne Lauvergeon grew up in a regular family. Her father was a history teacher, and her mother was a social worker. She was born in Dijon, France, and later lived in Orléans.
She studied physics and then joined a special group called the Corps des Mines. This group trains engineers for important roles in France. In 1983, she worked in the iron and steel industry. The next year, she studied how to keep chemical processes safe, especially in the nuclear field.
Career Journey
Starting Out in Government and Banking
From 1985 to 1988, Anne Lauvergeon worked for a government inspection group. In 1990, she started working for the French President, François Mitterrand. She helped with international economic matters and foreign trade. The next year, she became an assistant secretary-general. She was also a "sherpa" for the president. This meant she was his personal helper for big international meetings like the G7 summit.
In 1995, Lauvergeon moved into the banking world. She became a managing partner at a company called Lazard. She was the only woman partner there. She spent some time working in New York. Later, she left Lazard and joined Alcatel, a technology company, in 1997. She became a general director and helped manage the company's international business, especially in energy and nuclear areas.
Leading Areva
In 1999, Anne Lauvergeon became the CEO of a company called Cogema. In 2001, she brought Cogema together with other companies like Framatome to create a new, bigger company called Areva. She became the head of Areva, joining a small group of women leading large international companies.
Under her leadership, Areva became a "one-stop shop" for nuclear energy. This means the company could do almost everything related to nuclear power. Areva became one of the world's top producers of uranium, which is used to make nuclear energy. She once explained Areva's business model like a coffee machine company: "we sell coffee machines and the coffee that fits them." She said that selling uranium was very profitable for Areva.
However, Areva also faced challenges. In 2006, there were delays with a new type of nuclear reactor being built in Finland. This delay was expected to cost a lot of money. After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, Anne Lauvergeon often spoke on TV to support nuclear power.
By 2011, there were questions about the costs of the Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant and a lost contract in Abu Dhabi. In June 2011, the Prime Minister of France decided not to renew her role as head of Areva. She was replaced by Luc Oursel.
After leaving Areva, Anne Lauvergeon continued to work in business. She became a partner at an investment firm called Efficiency Capital. This firm focuses on energy, technology, and natural resources. She also leads her own advisory company, A.L.P. SAS.
Other Activities
Company Boards
Anne Lauvergeon has been a member of the board of directors for many different companies. This means she helped guide these companies and make important decisions. Some of these companies include:
- IB2 (since 2019)
- Koç Holding (since 2016)
- Avril Group
- Sigfox (since 2014)
- Suez (since 2014)
- American Express (2013–2021)
- Rio Tinto (2014–2017)
- Airbus (2013-2016)
- Total S.A. (–2015)
- Libération (2011–2014)
- Vodafone (2005–2014)
- Safran (2001–2009)
Non-profit Organizations
She has also been involved with non-profit groups, including:
- École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Nancy, where she was President of the Board.
- Trilateral Commission, as a member of the European Group.
- Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, as a member of the Advisory Board.
- International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND), as a member of the Advisory Board.
Recognition and Awards
During her time at Areva, French media often called Anne Lauvergeon one of the most powerful women in the world.
- In 2006, Fortune magazine ranked her as the 2nd most powerful woman in Europe.
- Forbes magazine ranked her as the eighth-most powerful woman in the world in 2006. She was also ranked ninth in 2008 and 2009.
- In 2007, the Financial Times named her Europe's top businesswoman.
In July 2011, she was chosen as an International Fellow by the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK.
See also
In Spanish: Anne Lauvergeon para niños
- UraMin
- Areva
