EMLV graduate from the class of 2003, today Charles Mathey is director of marketing and communication at Bansard International, a freight forwarding and overseas logistics company.
After 7 years in health communication, Charles entered the world of logistics as a 360-degree marketing and communication expert. Having specialised in Sales and Marketing, he is now forging a career in supply chains. We share his story.
After a change of direction in business school, a career in marketing
I went to a state school and graduated with a science-economics baccalaureate. Then I went to study law at Assas (a Parisian university particularly renowned for its law faculty). But I decided to change course: I took advantage of the EMLV spring intake, joining the school in February 1999. Above all, I was looking for a broader sort of education that would expand my options.
What also drew me to EMLV was its image as a modern, innovative institution offering practical courses with high-quality visiting teaching staff, alongside brand-new computer rooms and sport integrated into the curriculum.
Lastly, some friends convinced me to join, friends who had joined the commercial and science and technology tracks the year before.
My lasting memories of the Pole are of a highly stimulating atmosphere, professional and easy-going in equal measure.
Add to this a vibrant extra-curricular scene, with active student societies, wonderful ski weekends and events inside the Pole, where we experienced the first mixes of one of the promising students, Laurent Picandet, who would go on to become a world-renowned DJ under the stage name Martin Solveig.
After graduating from EMLV, I worked in sales positions in the events industry for about 3 years, gathering formative hands-on experience.
I spent 5 years in sales and business development-oriented positions, but still within the relationship marketing sector (direct and then digital marketing), in the Marketing Services branch of Soloccal (formerly Pages Jaunes), then at Acxiom.
After that I joined the health division of the Publicis group as Head of Multi-Channel and Digital Marketing. My brief there was to create and deploy a marketing offering for use by the pharmaceutical companies (from brand content to developing apps and platforms, via the training of medical sales representatives, all while respecting strict compliance laws. A real challenge!
Becoming an expert in marketing and logistical communication
For more than 2 years now, I’ve held the role of Director of Marketing and Communication at Bansard International. Marketing is transversal and it supports the group’s evolution and business development.
The objectives involve global marketing strategy with respect to the group’s identity and the creation of new products and services.
The brand content strategy is also crucial, and it’s disseminated via the full range of communication channels (website, social media, PR, events, sales reps…)
The marketing team also works on projects linked to the development of the CRM and the involvement of the sales teams in optimizing client knowledge. Moreover, internal communication is crucial to inform all employees of the group’s developments, since things move very fast here!
To progress as efficiently as possible in logistics marketing and communication, you have to listen to the teams on the ground and follow the news.
Bansard International is a French company founded in 1963, specialising in the international transport of goods, which today employs over 700 people in 18 countries with 61 offices.
Their model is based on several pillars, notably:
*experts at different levels
*an international, constantly growing presence
*tailored, flexible solutions (regarding transport, storage as well as customs formalities)
*a constant desire to evolve
Some advice for EMLV students
Accumulate experience in different sectors and different sorts of companies because the work methods and lessons to be learned will vary.
Be curious, maintain your desire to learn, and indeed learn from everyone (young and not so young), because at every level a company is composed of multiple forces.
Know how to question yourself, because as the saying goes, no-one is irreplaceable. And lastly, you need to have fun every day!
To understand global supply chain challenges requires management skills, adequate processes and methods, tools and data literacy.
EMLV relies on its proximity with ESILV, an engineering school, to provide students with advanced technical skills, Corporate Sustainability intelligence and the latest developments in the logistic industry.
Find out more about EMLV’s MSc in Supply Chain Management
