#Iconic_Audencians: Didier Gaffinel (GE 87), a steadfast rise through the ranks

In 2022, Didier Gaffinel celebrates 30 years of service at Crédit Agricole. After 16 years of investment banking and its notoriously strenuous regime, he later transitioned to managerial positions, inheriting the huge responsibilities that come with heading up divisions of over 800 employees. What lies behind this enduring lifespan? Didier puts it down to his drive and competitive spirit as well as his ability to sense when his physical resources run dry.

In these times of professional hyper-mobility, such a steady career can seem out of place. But there is a strong sense of corporate loyalty that emanates from Didier when he retraces his steps, one that has become scarce. He is grateful to a group that has enabled him to progress and even reinvent himself more than once. He has led emblematic deals for well-known French companies, such as re-nationalising the troubled Alstom engineering group, or privatising Gaz de France.

But his commitment to the company does not prevent him from sketching out his vision of a post-Crédit Agricole life… which might entail trading in his suit and tie for a pair of overalls and rubber boots.

Let’s meet a man who strives to be - in his own words - “a nice guy who stands by his convictions”.

 

It all began back in 2020 when we celebrated Audencia’s 120th anniversary by launching our very first iconic alumni collection. For this second series, we are delighted and proud to showcase 12 new profiles of Audencians from around the globe. The alumni that you will discover have very generously given up their time for an interview with fellow alumna, Katia Hérault (GE 2001), for which we are immensely grateful.