End of an era for Crédit Mutuel Arkéa with the departure of its chairman Jean-Pierre Denis

The Crédit Mutuel Arkéa bank, which brings together the Brittany and South-West federations of the mutual banking group, will turn a long page in its history, with the departure in May of its charismatic president Jean-Pierre Denis, architect of a split project engaged since 2018.

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In office since 2008,

“Jean-Pierre Denis announced his decision not to request, at the general meeting on May 11, the renewal of his mandate as director of Crédit Mutuel Arkéa, which he will therefore cease to serve. to preside from that date, ”

the bank said in a statement.

In doing so, the group based in Relecq-Kerhuon in Brittany loses its second manager in a few months, after the departure in early 2020 of the former general manager Ronan Le Moal.

"From the moment when two people who have run a house for more than ten years have left, it is undoubtedly the end of a chapter"

, comments to AFP a good connoisseur of the bank.

Together, Jean-Pierre Denis and Ronan Le Moal have formed a dynamic tandem for several years, which has notably led Arkéa in a strategy of territorial anchoring and diversification with multiple investments in promising young shoots such as Pumpkin, Leetchi or Max .

Arm wrestling

But the duo had also engaged in a politico-judicial standoff with the Confédération Nationale du Crédit Mutuel, the central body of the group, accusing it of attempts at centralization and favoritism towards the other. dominant entity, Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, based in Strasbourg.

A multitude of trials followed, almost all started and then lost by Arkéa.

To read also: Mutual credit: Arkéa's divorce project "put on hold"

Himself the object of recurring attacks by the media, especially on the issue of his remuneration, Jean-Pierre Denis had appeared withdrawn from Arkéa's communication in recent months.

The manager was in particular the architect of an independence project initiated in 2018, consisting for Arkéa to leave the bosom of the Crédit Mutuel group altogether to stand on its own two feet.

Initially supposed to become reality in 2020, this project has however taken a long time and now seems largely bogged down, even if the establishment reiterated Monday

"resolutely determined to obtain it"

.

A successor soon elected

“Jean-Pierre Denis now wishes to devote himself to other projects.

He will nevertheless remain at the full disposal of Crédit Mutuel Arkéa, beyond the 2021 General Meeting, to support his successor in particular during the transition period ”

, specifies the bank.

“This successor will be elected in accordance with the rules and the group's governance schedule.

He will continue, alongside Hélène Bernicot and Anne Le Goff, who are in charge of the executive management of Crédit Mutuel Arkéa, the development of the group's unique model at the service of its customers and members, as part of Transitions 2024 ”

, is -he adds.

Asked by AFP, the National Confederation of Crédit Mutuel affirmed to take note of the departure of Jean-Pierre Denis, welcoming him

"the architect of the development of Crédit Mutuel Arkéa in its territories of Brittany and the South-West and through its subsidiaries, within the protective and sustainable framework of Crédit Mutuel ”

.

An overdiploma passed by the Elysée

A graduate of HEC, Science Po Paris and ENA, Jean-Pierre Denis began his career in 1988 within the Financial Inspectorate before joining Paris City Hall in 1992 as deputy director of Jacques Chirac's cabinet.

Elected Head of State in 1995, Jacques Chirac entrusted him with the responsibility of Deputy Secretary of the Presidency of the Republic.

In 1997, he left the public service to join the Compagnie Générale des Eaux (which became Vivendi in 1998).

In 2003, he was elected Chairman of the Executive Board of the Bank for the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (BDPME), then in July 2005 he participated in the creation of the public body for financing innovative SMEs, Oséo, of which he became CEO. .

In October 2007, he joined Crédit Mutuel Arkéa and became Chairman from 2008.