Éric Nazon, Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Charlois

A Journey Beyond Work

Éric Nazon, Chief Information Officer at Charlois since 2019, is preparing to turn an important page in his life. At 65, he is retiring after a career spent across a wide range of industrial environments, always guided by curiosity, commitment, a passion for innovation, and a constant desire to support teams and business operations.

His departure is not quite official yet. Éric still has a few weeks ahead of him to hand over ongoing projects and prepare for what comes next under the best possible conditions.
“Many projects have already been completed, and many others are still underway, projects I won’t see through to the end, which will be a little frustrating, but I trust the teams to carry them forward successfully.”
After 41 years of professional life, a new chapter is beginning, one that will be devoted more fully to his family, his three children, and his six grandchildren. “That’s what I want to prioritize now.”
Discreet, calm, and attentive to others, Éric has spent more than six years structuring and harmonizing the IT, information, and communication systems across Charlois’ different companies. A mission carried out in support of the teams, the métiers, and the group’s development, guided by a spirit of service and knowledge sharing.

Arts & Métiers

Born in Montpellier, Éric grew up in an environment shaped by the frequent relocations linked to his father’s profession as an engineer at EDF.
“I was born in Montpellier, then lived in the Paris region and spent a few years in Iran during the Shah’s era. My father was working there on electrification projects. Those are experiences that leave a lasting impression.”
Back in France, in Aubagne, and naturally drawn to mathematics and science, he discovered the Arts et Métiers engineering school during an open house event while still in high school.
“I immediately understood that it was the path for me.”
That decision set him on a solid course that would later lead him into industry, IT, and information systems.

3D Specialization

Over the decades, Éric has witnessed profound changes in his profession.
“The 20th century was the century of the IT revolution, and the 21st century is extending that revolution through digital transformation and, of course, the rise of AI. In this constantly accelerating environment, the ability to adapt is essential.”
After graduating from Arts et Métiers, he joined Matra Datavision, a software publisher and subsidiary of the MATRA Group, following a final-year project dedicated to 3D CAD (Computer-Aided Design). It was 1985, at a time when these technologies were still emerging.
“We were notably working for Renault with the Euclid software. I was responsible for the CAM module (Computer-Aided Manufacturing), dedicated to controlling numerically operated machine tools. This first experience was extremely rewarding and naturally led me toward new technologies, while remaining closely connected to industrial design and manufacturing processes.”
He then continued his career at Lebranchu, an automotive equipment supplier, as an IT project manager, before joining REEL in Lyon.
“REEL was originally a family-owned company, much like Charlois, which gradually developed into an internationally recognized group specializing in high-end handling systems for industrial sites, particularly nuclear power plants.”
A career built with consistency and high standards, in a sector defined by constant evolution.

Family Life

Married and the father of three children, two sons, Loris and Théo, and a daughter, Philaé, Éric has always sought to maintain a balance between his professional responsibilities and his family life, despite frequent international travel. Today, it is naturally toward his loved ones that he has chosen to turn his attention.
“In our line of work, it is essential to stay connected to the field: listening to teams, understanding their needs, and designing tools that truly fit the company and its people, in line with the IT strategy* defined by the group. I stayed at REEL for twenty-five years. I wanted to discover a different environment, and the opportunity to join Charlois came at a time when it made perfect sense for me.”
Éric joined the group in September 2019, just a few months before the Covid crisis. Very quickly, several major projects were launched, beginning with the deployment of fiber optics in Murlin. This key step enabled the implementation of remote working and videoconferencing tools during the lockdowns, while also supporting the rollout of a unified accounting information system across Europe.
The momentum then continued on several fronts: team structuring, harmonization of tools, applications, and communication systems between the group’s different entities. In a company experiencing constant growth, the pace has remained steady and projects have continued to multiply.

*An IT strategy (or information systems strategy) is a plan that defines how a company uses technology to support its business objectives.

Questions for Éric

We are now in mid-April, and your retirement is set for July 1st. What frame of mind are you in at the moment?

For now, I still feel more as though I’m in a transition phase than truly retired. After 41 years of professional life, what I look forward to most is spending more time with my family. With my wife Florence, we plan to enjoy reconnecting with our children and grandchildren, while dividing our time between Paris, Montpellier, Morocco, and Nevers. I also hope to get back into tennis and spend more time riding my motorcycle.

How do you look back on this career, which is coming to an end here in Nièvre, at Charlois?

I truly loved this final chapter of my career at Charlois, a group with a unique working atmosphere, operating in a field very different from those I had known before. There was so much to build! All these developments were made possible thanks to an outstanding IT team, the constant support of management, and highly committed support and operational teams.

Here in Nièvre, I found a personal and professional balance that I value greatly. After spending many years living in large cities and in the Paris region, I fully appreciate the quality of life that can be found here.

What will you remember most about your time at Charlois?

Above all, I will remember the quality of the group itself, both international in scope and deeply attached to its local roots and family spirit.

It is a group whose core activities, while sometimes perceived as “traditional,” are nonetheless strongly driven by innovation, whether in production tools and processes or in IT.

The many trips throughout France and abroad, aimed at developing information systems and working alongside the teams, have left me with wonderful memories. For me, these past six years have been rich, stimulating, and marked by meaningful encounters.

Photography © Christophe Deschanel