ParisTech Review

BIO

Francis Mer is a graduate from Ecole Polytechnique and Mines ParisTech.

In October 1970, he joined Saint-Gobain Pont-à-Mousson Group. He was in charge of Saint-Gobain Industries Strategic Planning (1971), then became Manager of Saint-Gobain Industries (1974-1978) before being appointed in September 1978 Vice-President of Saint-Gobain Pont-à-Mousson, in charge of industrial policy. In July 1982, he became Chairman and CEO of Pont-à-Mousson SA and head of Saint Gobain’s Pipe and Engineering Division.

In September 1986, when the French State (main shareholder), decided the merging of Usinor and Sacilor, Francis Mer became Chairman of the new steel group.

The Governement had assigned Francis Mer the mission to carry out the privatisation of Usinor Sacilor, finaly realized in July 1995. Mr. Mer was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the privatised Usinor Sacilor Group on October, 10, 1995.

He was also appointed Chairman of Cockerill Sambre in April 1999.

From December 1990 to 1997, M. Mer chaired Eurofer, the European steelmakers association. From October 1997 to October 1998, he was chairman of the International Iron an Steel Institute (IISI).

He has been President of the French Steel Federation (FFA) from 1988 to 2002, President of the National Technical Research Association (ANRT) from 1991 to 2002, the EPE (Entreprise pour l’Environnement), and the Cercle de l’Industrie.

In March 2002, he became co-chairman of the board of Arcelor, the company issued from the merger of Arbed, Aceralia and Usinor.

In May 2002, he was appointed Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry, a position he kept till March 31, 2004.

In 2007, Francis Mer became Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Safran, a position he kept till 2011.