French multinational food services and facilities management company Sodexo is going to split its chairman and CEO roles, naming Thierry Delaporte as group CEO, while Sophie Bellon remains non-executive chairwoman of the company.
The company will make the move after four years of consolidating the roles, and after a recommendation from the nominating committee following a selection process coordinated with the Bellon family.
Delaporte has previous experience in CFO and CEO roles in Europe, Asia and the United States. He was a CEO at Wipro and currently sits as a board member at Saint-Gobain and Edenred.
After four years as both Chair and CEO, Sophie Bellon will transition to non-executive Chairwoman.
“We have implemented large-scale structural changes in recent years, and we are now ready to start a new chapter in the growth history of the Company,” she said.
“In preparation for this next phase, we engaged a while ago in a governance reflection and started working on a succession process for the CEO role. I, together with the Board and my family, have full confidence in Thierry Delaporte’s leadership,” Bellon added.
This appointment is viewed as a strong signal of Sodexo’s intent to increase innovation, profitability, and market share.
“This is the fruit of a collaborative and methodical process. Thierry Delaporte is the right leader to steer Sodexo into the next stages of growth. He has the skills to lead global and people-intensive businesses, a strong connection to the US market, a history of delivering solid and profitable growth and a good cultural fit,” Gilles Pelisson, Independent Director and Chair of the Nominating Committee said.
Meet Thierry Delaporte
Born in France, Thierry Delaporte is mainly known for his extensive international management experience and expertise in finance and operations. He holds Economics and Finance degrees. He completed his degrees from Sciences Po Paris and a Master of Law from Sorbonne University, respectively.
He started his career as a Senior Auditor at Arthur Andersen in Paris and London in 1992. During his career, he developed a strong foundation in business analysis, corporate finance, and governance. The early career years shaped his mindset and global perspective regarding corporate financing and governance.
He gave 25 years to Capgemini, one of the world’s largest consulting and technology services firms. He served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for many of its business units, as well as its “Global Outsourcing Division” and “Financial Services Global Business Unit,” before becoming Global COO and Deputy CEO in 2018.
Thierry Delaporte moved to Wipro Limited in 2020, where he was the CEO and Managing Director. During his time, the company modernised operations, increased profitability, and drove double-digit revenue growth.
His move from the IT sector to hospitality and services highlights his versatile leadership style and deep experience in managing large, diverse, and international organisations. Thierry Delaporte is also famous for his social commitment, as he co-founded Life Project 4 Youth (LP4Y), a federation of 16 organisations in 13 countries whose aim is the development of innovative solutions for the comprehensive inclusion (professional and social) of young adults (18-24 years old) living in extreme poverty and suffering from exclusion.
Image Credits: Sodexo