Jean Cassegrain is the grandson of the man who founded the fashion brand Longchamp. Mr Cassegrain, the company's chief executive, speaks about what it is like working with the family - and whether he plans to change its management structure.
What were your thoughts about joining the family business when you were younger?
I have always felt very comfortable with this.
How were you groomed for a position in the company?
I have benefited all my life from the experience of my father and mother, and it has been a very natural process for me to absorb the brand values.
Did your father or grandfather require you to master certain positions?
I [began] travelling very early with my father. This helped me to have a global view of the business, participating [in] trade fairs and business trips mostly in Europe and in the Far East. After my studies, I worked two years for a management consulting firm. After I joined Longchamp, I held various positions, initially in the field of finance and organisation, which was in line with my studies and previous work experience. I have then gradually moved toward sales, in particular in France and in the US.
Does working with family members complicate your relationship?
As a member of a family business, I grew up to welcome input from other members. Our close relationship means that we each can share the vision of the company and enjoy a personal contribution to the business. We come from a common heritage and a shared set of values that our parents and grandparents brought to Longchamp. Our personal relationship is therefore not affected by our common business goals.
What kind of succession plans do you have for the company, and will family members continue to be involved?
My brother, my sister and I are still in our 40s and we have no plans to quit. We are supported by a strong management team and are not planning any changes in the management structure in the short or medium term. Of course, we wish that our children will at some point join us and become the fourth generation of the family working at developing Longchamp.
What was your biggest challenge in your career, and how did you deal with it?
Certain seasons or certain years are tougher than others and more challenging. This was the case in 2008/2009 during the international economic crisis. Thanks to the strength of our product offer and to our worldwide distribution, we have managed to end the year 2009 with an honourable 4 per cent up, when most of our competitors were down. In 2011, our sales jumped again [25 per cent up] with a new record in the Middle East region [105 per cent up] with the support of the Chalhoub Group.
If you were not in this position, what else would you have done professionally?
The same, I guess.
* Gillian Duncan
