Vicat Group leadership

Jacques Merceron-Vicat,
Chairman of Vicat

Jacques Merceron-Vicat is President of the Board of Directors. He joined the company in 1962 when he obtained his Engineering degree from the École Spéciale des Travaux Publics. Vicat was founded by his grandfather, Joseph Vicat, in 1853. He was later succeeded in 1889 by Maurice Merceron-Vicat, who married Suzanne Vicat, one of the daughters of Joseph Vicat. In 1904, Joseph Merceron-Vicat took over the company, followed by André Merceron-Vicat in 1960.

Jacques Merceron-Vicat learned his craft as an operations engineer and participated in the construction of the Créchy cement plant, which was inaugurated in 1968. Until 1972, he contributed, along with his father, André Merceron-Vicat, to managing the company's alliances, acquisitions and mergers in the cement industry of France, with plants in Saint-Egrève, Chambéry, Voreppe, Bouvesse, Pont-à-Vendin, Xeuilley. This enabled Vicat to become the third largest cement company in France and paved the way for the growth and development of ready-mix concrete. Parallel to these developments, the Group established its presence in the southeastern region of the United States by acquiring the Ragland plant near Atlanta. 

Appointed Managing Director in 1973, Jacques Merceron-Vicat promoted a policy of modernization, energy savings research and the automation of cement plants while at the same time protecting jobs during a marked decline in the construction industry. Since 1984, the year he took over as President, he has been relentlessly pursuing restructuring efforts of production equipment and developing the Group's business at the international level.

In 2006, Jacques Merceron-Vicat launched the 2010 Performance Plan, whose principal objectives were to increase the capacity of the Group's cement production by 50% by 2010, and to improve profitability by reducing production costs. 

In 2008, Jacques Merceron-Vicat ceded the Managing Director position to Guy Sidos, who joined the Group in 1999 to start a new profession after a distinguished naval career.

Guy Sidos, CEO of Vicat

Guy Sidos was born on September 13, 1963 in Ozouer-le-Voulgis (77). In 1996, he married Sophie Merceron-Vicat, eldest daughter of the president of the Vicat Group, Jacques Merceron-Vicat. They have five children.

At a young age, Mr. Sidos was very passionate about the sea; he was fascinated by the work of his father, François, in the Forces Navales Françaises Libres - FNFL (French Free Naval Forces). In 1984, he graduated with an Engineering degree from the Ecole Navale (Naval School) and became a marine officer.

In 1985, he trained with the French cruiser Jeanne d'Arc (R97) and was second officer of the Dumont d’Urville until 1987. A specialist in arms and sonar (sound navigation and ranging), he held chief positions in the "Sapphire" and "Amethyst" submarines from 1987 to 1992.  Mr. Sidos was also commander of the Guépard building school.  A student at the military school in atomic energy (1993), he became second commander of the Emeraude (1994-96), a nuclear submarine, before being appointed commander of the Pearl nuclear submarine in 1997. At the age of 33, he became the youngest commander of a nuclear submarine in France. His experience has equipped him with exceptional expertise in team management, project leadership, and crisis management.

In 1999, he joined the Vicat Group as a plant engineer and in 2001, took over the managing director's position of the Ragland cement plant in Alabama. He was appointed Managing Director of National Cement in 2002, a company that consolidates the American business activities of Vicat. In 2004, he returned to France and became Deputy Managing Director for the Vicat Group. 

Guy Sidos was appointed Managing Director after the Board of Directors meeting on March 7, 2008. Jacques Merceron-Vicat, aged 70, and who had been President since 1984, gave up his position as Managing Director but remains Chairman of the Board of Directors.

More than 7,040 team members worldwide

Skilled and experienced workers, including technicians, supervisors and staff specialists in their fields ... All contribute their expertise to product excellence.

Staff by Business Segment

• 2,902 : Cement (41%)
• 2,717 : Concrete and Aggregates (39%)
• 1,421 : Other Products and Services (20%)

 
  Breakdown of the Group's average workforce by business