“By the first quarter of 2020, the frescoes room at Gare de Lyon will be turned into a top-of-the-range shopping centre with 12 shops including Ladurée, Michel Cluzel, Fnac, Sephora and Nature & Découvertes. This is a very strategic project in terms of image for SNCF Gares & Connexions and I’m very proud of it.
My work involves the commercialisation of all the station premises. The mission begins with research to determine each station’s commercial potential. Then comes the phase of tender processes to find the right concept and most appropriate business. I manage a 16-person team on this. To cover the broad scope of the work (diversity of the commercial businesses and services, international, national and independent brands, etc.), my team is divided into four fields: large Parisian stations, Île-de-France stations, regional stations and national contracts (newsagents, car rental, vending machines, etc.). We are always in search of innovations. Someone working with my deputy is responsible for finding new companies and new concepts.
Something that I particularly enjoy about my work is the pleasure of managing and supporting the teams in accomplishing major projects. With SNCF Retail & Connexions, I could take on management roles on an activity with very high potential, that hasn’t been done before.
But beyond just team management it’s also the exceptional heritage and diversity of projects that excites me at SNCF Gares & Connexions. From national consultation with car rental companies to modernisation of station cafés which since 2014 have started to develop into quality bistros with well-known local chefs, the work is very varied. For example, the commercialisation of a 4th level at Saint-Lazare station with a very different offer as the first station gym in France or even Europe (L’Usine), a Multiburo business centre and an events club (business in the day, party at night).
It never gets boring in Travel Retail. And at SNCF Gares & Connexions we have the honour of working on a very precious asset in the eyes of the public. We are very committed in what we do in order to live up to this expectation. ”