Project Management

Atos Origin's Eric Guilhou

The IT firm's support services boss talks turnarounds, turmoil and the Olympic Games.

December 8, 2008

It's been both a demanding and varied year for Atos Origin, what with a wide-ranging turnaround plan, negotiations with activist shareholders and the task of running the technology behind the Olympic Games. Life won't get easier for the €6 billion Paris-based IT services company yet. "Atos Origin is changing," says Eric Guilhou, its senior executive vice president of global support services including finance, as a transformation plan continues apace. Launched in February 2007, the three-year restructuring programme has three goals: to improve operational efficiency, boost organic growth and help the group break free from its old decentralised business model to keep up with global competitors. There have been distractions. In mid-2007, the company came under heavy fire from two unhappy activist shareholders, Centaurus Capital and Pardus Capital, leaving it under a cloud of uncertainty — would the shareholders push for control of the group or press it to make a deal with a rival? In May 2008 Atos Origin's chairman resigned amid pressure from the two funds, and each put a representative on the company's supervisory board. Some observers called it a capitulation on Atos Origin's part, although the company itself insisted it was "very good news." Centaurus and Pardus said they now had faith in the management team and had no plans to buy or break up the business. But there's been further change since, with CEO Philippe Germond replaced by Thierry Breton in November. Read more...