He will soon hold 30 of the voting rights

Do you see signs of economic recovery

Not really... The indications that I have on April do not let me see significant improvement, and the whole of the first half will be particularly difficult. I said, commenting on the turnover of the first quarter of our group ( 15 per cent in value and 17 in volume), that at this stage no tangible sign we to suggest that we have hit the low point. Then why the beginning of optimism The crisis in which the world is thrown is characterized by the combination of a financial crisis and a crisis of economic cycle. The phenomenon is both synchronous and world. Hence a crisis of confidence. Side financial, we have avoided the disaster, although it will still feel the ups and downs. But it will be able to manage them and therefore no one fears the apocalypse. Hence these elements of confidence returning in the financial markets as, for example, relaxation of the "spreads" of businesses. In the case of Saint-Gobain, it is even greater than the average increase of capital of the beginning of the year aimed at restore us financial room for manoeuvre. But I will keep me well to be too optimistic, because it does not not as quickly out of a financial crisis. As the economic crisis, it is not over, even if it seems to me that is closer to the low point.

Is there not still less negative indicators, particularly in the construction

We see actually some positive signs, first in the United States, in the construction sector. The number of new housing construction has been divided by four, and consider that currently it is built much housing in the United States in Spain three years ago! At the top, this market was 2.1 million on an annual basis, it fell between 500,000 and 600,000, but it will not last. It is estimated that 1.5 million average market. Second point, the déstockages were important everywhere, even if I am not sure that it is completed.

Other signs, order books go in China, especially for our business lines. It is the result of the Chinese stimulus plan. However, the weight of the Chinese economy in the world economy is what it is and the impact of a recovery in China is obviously less than if it were the United States.

Are bankers responsible for the crisis

I do not think that we should attribute the crisis in the banking sector alone, but to the financial sphere in General. Low interest rates encouraged debt American responsibility for the Federal Reserve is committed to this issue and regulator has not sufficiently done its work, no doubt because banks have made pressure to not be too regulated...

Are you penalized by the tightening of bank credit

Our funding is essentially bond and non-banking. Therefore, we are less concerned with the problem of the banks, which, if they renew the credits when they consider that they are dealing with a good risk, grant only relatively rarely of additional appropriations.

1.5 Billion capital increase we have conducted in February-March allowed us to strengthen the confidence of investors in Saint-Gobain: the cost of insurance against risk Saint-Gobain, which is reflected in what the financial call CDS (credit default swaps"), has declined. These own funds, we seize market opportunities. If this increase in capital was surprised, it is because we were the first to do so this year. But we have followed since. My goal was to strengthen the financial structure. In the same way, we have lifted Thursday EUR 750 million. There was no urgency, but we prefer to be alone on this side there.

Do you share the outrage of opinion on the remuneration of certain leaders

There were excesses in the remuneration of managers, but it would be naive to think that this is by demonizing the patterns, designating them as scapegoats, as we emerge from the crisis. These excesses are, moreover, that a very limited number of companies. The installation of a Committee of wise men is going in the right direction, but a well-managed company should not need. Boards of Directors are best placed to determine pay. In Saint-Gobain, the Chairman of the remuneration Committee is the Chairman of the Afep (French Association of private companies), and I think I can say that our practices are best.

I believe that it is necessary that the remuneration include a variable part linked to the performance of the company, even if sometimes it plays with delay. I am also in favour of stock options for executives, because it is an important way to restrain them in the context of the talent war.

Nicolas Sarkozy spoke of the "thirds" rule for the sharing of profits between shareholders, employees, and investment. Is this a good idea

I think many collaborators Association benefit, through the award when it is possible, and to the capital by the employee share ownership. This year, we proposed a savings product for employees who massively agreed, even beyond the amount offered.

But Saint-Gobain is a large international company with the bulk of profits is directed beyond the borders. The France represents only 30 of our activity. For other groups of the CAC 40, it's even less. We do not take the consolidated net income of the Group and declare that a third party will be redistributed to the only French employees! In addition, the largest share of the profits should be reserved for investment. This is why the rule of the thirds, even if I understand the philosophy, do me not practicable as such by Saint-Gobain.

Wendel is the reference shareholder of the group. He will soon hold 30 of the voting rights. What brings you there

We have an agreement with Wendel of inclusive governance and our relations are part of this framework. Wendel has reaffirmed its support for the strategy of the group, I am responsible to propose and implement, and willingness to accompany us. Wendel participates in the Board of Directors of the company and, as such, represents all shareholders and can bring good ideas. It is always smarter to many.

Wendel has appointed Frédéric Lemoine to represent the Council and I am pleased to welcome him. The first contacts were excellent.

Are stimulus enough "green" to the taste of Saint-Gobain

The French plan contains very important elements such as the renovation of public buildings and a part of social housing or loans to zero ecological. The thermal rehabilitation of habitat is the example of a good measure of Keynesian: it is both very job creator and source of future savings. Moreover we are about to open a new plant for the manufacture of glass in Maine-et-Loire. This is a first for thirty-five years. Abroad, all stimulus plans include measures relating to our businesses. They will benefit in time, everything will depend on the implementation of these plans. This will be visible in the summer in China, towards the end of the year and especially the year next in France.

What technological innovations they seem you the most promising in the near future

Glass is an extremely technological area in which we innovate continuously. We're to the point, for example, self-cleaning glasses that could run allow to wipers. We produce lenses capable of retaining winter heat and prevent it from returning summer, others called active glasses and that cloud is request. We equip Ferrari of electrochromic glass roofs which tints. One day, this technology could allow to remove the components in the houses! We are working on solar lenses which will allow to Silicon, so that the glass itself will become the solar panel. Longer term, a revolution is preparing in lighting with Oled technology which will produce informative panels: the light will come from the walls...I note in this regard that a very important part of our research is carried out in France, even though we also have important research centres in Germany, in the United States, China, etc.

How have you managed the flu alert

As soon as the World Health Organization is passed in stage 5, and the lack of visibility, we have implemented, as a precaution, a plan including banning the travel of all our collaborators, including the Directorate-General. In the Mexico, where we employ 2.700 people, we have closed our facilities for four days. Then, from the time when the situation has stabilized, we have limited travel ban to the only US and the Mexico. In the appearance of avian influenza, the company it was prepared for the hypothesis of a pandemic and had developed a prevention plan. We have therefore, in particular, stocks of masks and sufficient medicines.