Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Steering the Future: Leadership at Schneider Electric
In times of change and disruption like the Covid-19 crisis and the evolving business landscape, businesses have had to face the challenge of adapting to the “new normal” in order to succeed in a competitive environment. Schneider Electric, a French multinational energy firm, is at the forefront of global energy management and automation, and it has been steering through challenges and making the most of emerging trends.
In its newly released 2021 financial results, Schneider Electric shows how it overcame supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic. The company came in at 29 billion euros ($32.2 billion) in revenue and reached its profitability target one year early, exceeding it by 17%. It also reported a record operating profit of five billion euros ($5.5 billion) and a 51% increase in net profit, passing the three billion euros ($3.3 billion) milestone.
Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman and CEO of Schneider Electric, attributes this success to the company’s strategic pivot toward becoming a digital partner for its customers, emphasizing efficiency and sustainability. This shift was prompted by the accelerated digitalization of business operations during the pandemic and a heightened global awareness of climate change issues, particularly following the COP26 summit.
As global calls for sustainability grow louder, Schneider Electric leads the charge. Tricoire affirms, “It’s a complete alignment of everything we do at Schneider.” The company is on a mission to optimize energy resources for its customers, leveraging electrification and digitalization technologies to reduce emissions and adopting a highly localized operational model. Recognized as the world’s most sustainable company at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Schneider Electric remains committed to driving positive change.
In the Middle East and Africa, a key hub for Schneider Electric, the company’s innovative solutions benefit countries like the UAE, contributing to enhanced efficiency and sustainability across various aspects of infrastructure. Tricoire emphasizes the profound impact on the Emirates, stating, “We contribute to all aspects of life of the Emirates.”
Demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and digital transformation, Schneider Electric has joined the UAE’s Industry 4.0 and Champion 4.0 network through its sister company, AVEVA. In discussions with Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology, Tricoire explored avenues for Schneider Electric to support UAE SMEs in leveraging technology.
Recognizing the challenge of women’s underrepresentation in industries like technology, energy, automation, and software, Tricoire is a proactive advocate for gender equality. As an ambassador for the United Nations’ He for She initiative, he emphasizes the need for fair gender representation in companies, a commitment reflected in Schneider Electric’s gender-parity board and progressing leadership with 30% female representation.
