Leadership in the Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises (CPME) is set to change as François Asselin steps down after ten years. Three candidates, Alain Gargani, Gaétan de Sainte Marie, and Amir Reza-Tofighi, are competing for the presidency. Asselin reflects on his tenure, highlighting achievements in elevating SME visibility and advocating for their interests. As he prepares to leave, he expresses concerns about the disconnect between SMEs and political figures while remaining hopeful for a more pragmatic economic future.
Leadership Transition in CPME
The Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises (CPME) is set to announce its new president on Tuesday, following a decade of service by François Asselin. Asselin steps down with a sense of accomplishment, having significantly elevated the profile of SMEs within the economic landscape.
Meet the Candidates
Since September, three candidates have emerged from a pool of 122 federations and 112 regional unions vying for a five-year term. The candidates, aged 60, 50, and 40, bring diverse experiences to the table.
Alain Gargani, who leads the CPME Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and runs the congress organization agency AOS, aims to enhance the strength and influence of the CPME.
Meanwhile, Gaétan de Sainte Marie, the vice-president of the CPME of Rhône and head of the purchasing center Qantis, is keen on promoting what he calls the ‘SME reflex.’
The youngest contender, Amir Reza-Tofighi, has gained substantial support from various federations and is viewed as the frontrunner. As the co-founder of Vitalliance, which employs 8,500 individuals, he’s previously led a federation in personal services, giving him a unique advantage over his rivals. He envisions a CPME that actively contributes to the exchange of ideas.
The results of this competitive selection will be announced on Tuesday afternoon.
The CPME stands as the largest employers’ organization by membership, boasting a representativeness of 25.54%, positioned between Medef at 69.21% and U2P, which represents local businesses at 5.24%. A new count, conducted every four years, will be revealed in July.
François Asselin, who has led the organization since 2015, expresses pride in transforming the CPME from a group that primarily ‘shouted’ into one that can ‘propose’ meaningful solutions. He emphasizes the significance of having a ‘strategic roadmap’ for future challenges.
Throughout his tenure, Asselin has been a vocal advocate for SMEs, ensuring their perspective is represented in media discussions. He believes that social partners must take responsibility for issues like pension negotiations and hopes for advancements in areas such as capitalization and professional wear.
Looking ahead, Asselin highlights the critical need for social coverage for 2.4 million self-employed individuals, alongside efforts to legally secure contracting companies. He reflects on his decade-long leadership as ‘exceptional years’ characterized by significant changes under the current administration.
Despite some challenges faced during the latter part of François Hollande’s presidency, Asselin commends the fiscal stability achieved and the pivotal labor reforms of September 2017 that have facilitated hiring practices.
However, he admits feeling somewhat ‘outdated’ amidst the emergence of the ‘start-up nation’ concept. The Yellow Vests crisis of 2018 marked a turning point where the focus shifted from SMEs to broader societal issues, causing a disconnect from the ‘common sense of SMEs.’
Asselin does acknowledge the ‘magical moment’ during the Covid pandemic when rapid aid was made available to struggling entrepreneurs. He has often likened SME leaders to ‘risk-takers bothered by risk-averse individuals,’ humorously clarifying that it’s not aimed at specific individuals.
Now at 60, Asselin is preparing to hand over the reins of his family business, known for its exceptional carpentry and framing work, which he has managed since 1993 in Thouars (Deux-Sèvres). His company recently contributed to the reconstruction of Notre-Dame’s spire, enhancing its prestige, particularly in the United States, where it generates 15% of its revenue through high-end French-style woodwork.
As he departs, Asselin carries a sense of regret over the ongoing disconnect between the goodwill SMEs have garnered and elected officials who tend to politicize their contributions. Nonetheless, he remains hopeful that pressing issues like public debt will lead to a more pragmatic economic approach.