Executive Committee members
Damien Verdier
Group Executive Vice President
and Chief Marketing Officer
Offer Marketing, Client Retention, Supply Chain and Sustainable Development
In 1991, he was named Director, Business & Industry Operations, France, and in 1993, Director of the Business & Industry division. In a difficult business environment, he set up a quality enhancement and cost-cutting plan that significantly improved profitability. He also pioneered the sub-segmentation process, introducing specialized teams and products tailored to the specific needs of clients, inter-company restaurants, institutions and large accounts.
Damien was promoted Managing Director, France in 1998. Applying the same sub-segmentation approach, he made strong inroads in the Education and Healthcare markets by setting up an operational organization focused on close-to-the-customer service. At the same time, he centralized corporate functions and created a Shared Services Center. Under his leadership, Sodexho achieved stronger organic growth and regained its leadership position in France.
In 2003, Sodexho responded to his request to work more outside France and named him President, Strategic Planning and Control, Continental Europe, with the mission of helping European countries implement key Group initiatives. Damien's objective is to implement strategic guidelines in the field, measure the results of these actions and define corrective measures, always insisting on "the need for teamwork to attain sustainable development goals."
Committed to improving the food services industry's image and promoting Sodexho, Damien is also involved in several trade organizations. President of France's National Contract Catering Association (SNRC) since 2001, he is also President of the European committee of the Services Industry Association within MEDEF, the French employers' federation, and Vice President of the European Federation of Contract Catering Organizations (FERCO).
Born in 1957, Damien is married and has four children. He enjoys gardening and playing golf with his family. He spends his vacations either in Brittany, which he came to love as a student, or traveling "so that the children can discover the world."
