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NEWS & FEATURES |
Interview of the Month – November 2001: Alain Barbet (ESSEC 1980)
Q: What is your background ?
I am Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Pernod Ricard USA. I held the same position at Austin, Nichols & Company. In addition to my responsibilities with Pernod Ricard USA, I serve as Chief Financial Officer of Pernod Ricard North Americas, the Pernod Ricard subsidiary covering Canada and Mexico as well as the US. Prior to joining Pernod Ricard's U.S. subsidiary in early 1999, I was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of DMC, Inc., a large international textile manufacturer, which I joined in January 1995 as Chief Financial Officer, subsequently adding the title of Senior Vice President. Previously, between 1987 and 1994, I was Vice President, Finance and Administration, at the U.S. subsidiary of dairy powerhouse Fromageries Bel SA, the maker of Laughing Cow cheeses. I joined Fromageries Bel from Allibert, Inc., U.S. subsidiary of Sommer-Allibert SA, a leading European plastics transformer, where I was Vice President, Finance. I began my career in France with the French unit of Andersen Consulting. I hold an MBA from Essec, a leading French business school, and completed Columbia Business School's Senior Executive Program in 1998.
Q: Why did you decide to come and stay here?
I did my Cooperation (VSNA then in 80/81) in NY, loved it, went back to France for a few years at Arthur Andersen, where I befriended someone who had just come back from the US where he had been an intern for Sommer Allibert. He thought the position was still open. I was eager to get a "real job" here in the US. My partner at AA, whose wife was American, told me to "Go West young man". Despite the tremendous opportunity that AA offered, I decided to send my resume and was accepted. I thought I would stay 3 to 5 years and go back to France. After 2 years, I was promoted to a much bigger position, then 2 years later, got a big opportunity to take a senior Finance position at Fromageries Bel (I was less than 30) so I took it and then stayed for 7 years. After that, the experience and skillset became stronger here than in France and I am therefore more valuable in the US where I have also made my home and become a citizen.
Q: What advice would you give to ESSEC graduates who would like to come to work here?
It is a cliché but so true: opportunities are endless. If you work hard and take some risks, one's ability to get to the top will come faster than in a similar situation in France. The downside is that you may not be in the "bullpen", mentored by a senior person who could help your career, which is how a lot of Grandes Ecoles graduates succeed in France. You will be more of a free lancer, and failure risks may be greater. Monetarily, the return is also better, I believe, but sacrifices are to be made from a lifestyle perspective. Things move really fast here.
Q: How do you think your ESSEC background helped you to be where you are?
The name is very powerful in French owned companies where most of my career was spent. The network is solid in the US and graduates do help each other out. You will notice that my bio says "MBA" from Essec, which is not completely true, but in the US (in this case a PR announcement), the MBA degree is the only thing that outsiders will recognize, as Essec is still a fairly unknown quantity in the business community.
Q: What do you consider as you role in the ESSEC family?
For years, I have been active in the US ESSEC community as President for several years and as treasurer until next week. Essec is a wonderful memory as a student and has always been a source of pride since. I try to give back through the alumni group and by counseling new Essecs in the US. I have also tried to hire Essec graduates and interns all along, as I know they are the best...
Thank you ...
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