#1 - JANUARY 2024
Portrait : Arnaud Rolland
Arnaud Rolland
SKEMA ALUMNI CSR VP, Lagardère Travel Retail
A self-made man in ESG
“We learn a lot from the experts in every subject. If you’re interested in recycling processes, go and see the people who work in this field; they will explain how they work, how they treat waste and packaging. Go and look at the processes used for glass, plastic, cardboard and so on. They will explain what is at stake and the problems they face. I would visit factories; it’s really through talking to the people in your ecosystem and value chain that you get a picture of all the issues involved at each stage of production.”
From the strategy…
“If CSR is not supported by the Board of Directors, the CEO and the Management Committee, there’s no way it can work. The first thing an investor looks at is who is involved in defining a company’s CSR strategy. If it remains solely at operational level, it’s missing the point.”
…to the field
“We have a lot of stores, so we can try things out in some of them, use them as test laboratories, and introduce disruptive elements to see how people react.”
Keeping tabs on innovation
“I am very interested in all businesses that have a ‘shadow ExCom’ or a ExCom of young people who cast a fresh eye on the company.”
A vision of the future
“In 10 years’ time, the world will be different from how it is today. It won’t involve a revolution, but a genuine evolution. Consumers are changing, and younger generations have different expectations. There will be much more transparency and information for consumers. Today, when you go shopping, you don’t know the environmental impact of the products you buy. In 10 years’ time, this knowledge will be completely normal. People will then be able to make informed choices, and price will not be the only criterion.”
Key dates
1994
graduates from SKEMA Business School
2000
Joins Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
2008-2023
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners CSR/Sustainable Development Director
2016
Wins the LSA Carbon Reduction Trophy
2023
Becomes CSR Vice President at Lagardère Travel Retail