It will be probably replaced the pole fitness EUR 3

Change in continuity. In view of the Statute of Saint-Gobain, which provide that its Executive Director leaves office the year of his 65 years, its President the year of his 68 years and any administrator the year of its 70 years, the Board of Directors of the company approved yesterday afternoon, with the order of the accounts of the fiscal year 2009 (read below), appointment - which will be submitted to the future Assembly of groupJune 3 - the current Director General, Pierre-André de Chalendar, to the position of CEO of one of the world leaders in the trades of the habitat. Jean-Louis Beffa, former boss of the Group and Chairman of the Board of Directors, will continue to be administrator. "There is a little more than two years, the Council dissociated from the functions of Chairman and Managing Director to organize the transition and to facilitate the process of succession." "It is quite banal way tradition and the culture of Saint-Gobain", commented in an interview with the "Echos" future CEO, adding that Frédéric Lemoine, President of the Executive Board of Wendel, first shareholder in the group, "a part of those who suggested this development". A way to silence the rumours on the alleged persistence of disputes between the management of Saint-Gobain and the family Fund. "Relations with Wendel are pacified and confident," said same Pierre-André de Chalendar.

Action on one-year increase

Comforted at the head of group, it cannot however be satisfied with a stock route which, certainly, saw the course of action, to 32 euros yesterday, climbing 65 on a year - compared to slightly more than 48 for the values of the building and construction materials sector-, remaining nevertheless still far from some 50 euros that was worth the title when he took the reins of Saint-Gobain. "Compared us to major European sector, cement-related values, and as they we have somewhat affected by the crisis," recognizes the current Director General. To add immediately: "Must be understood that it was a quite different dynamic", because of the positioning of the group in innovative materials, especially in the promising field of the energy retrofit. "It proves when the markets will be reversed," said Pierre-André de Chalendar.

In the meantime, it is not coming in 2010 "a significant rebound" activity in North America and Western Europe, although he says he is "more confident" about the renovation sector as those of the nine and the will. In the United States, according to him, the new housing market "hit a low point", but the question is whether, he adds, if, fallen to some 550,000 units per year, it will double or triple in the next few years. In Europe, the pattern of Saint-Gobain perceives a "slight better", but, especially, does not exclude "of good surprises in the industrial sector." Important, insists Pierre-André de Chalendar, is that we are more on value-added on commodities ". This implies, a contrario, that emerging markets, where the needs are more basic, the Group has a smaller share. Indicates the leader, "we're regaining full employment of our capabilities" in these countries, with an "acceleration of growth" in the Brazil and, more broadly, of strong progressions in Latin America and Asia.

Thus, after "much reduced" its investments in 2009, Saint-Gobain "will increase very selectively in 2010", to enhance its capabilities by tactical acquisitions in emerging countries, enhance R & D in energy efficiency and making solar power a full pole company. This activity should see its turnover grow 50 in 2010, to almost EUR 300 million, some 2 billion to five years. It will be probably replaced the pole fitness (EUR 3.5 billion in 2008, i.e. 8 of the total), for which "there is no change in the strategic intention" to convey. "Not being not met" conditions, it will not be this year "of significant arbitration", however prevents Pierre-André de Cha-lendar.