Pascale Cottin, Secretary General of the Charlois Group, as recounted by Stéphane Ebel.

At the Heart of the Reactor

This year, Pascale is celebrating a special anniversary… 30 years spent within the Charlois Group, during which she, now the Secretary General, has witnessed the transformation of the small family business into an international group under the leadership of Sylvain Charlois. These 30 years have forever marked both her professional and personal life!

It’s well known that appearances can be deceiving. In Pascale’s office, a bit of disorder reigns, revealing the vast scope of the files she handles every day. But it’s a well-organized chaos, as she has happily rediscovered her application letter from February 1990!
“At that time, it was Denis Charlois who was in charge. There were two sites: Murlin and a sawmill in Givry, in the Cher region. I started there on May 2, 1990, before moving to the heart of the Bertranges.”

The Group memory

Secretary General, this role fits her like a glove. A versatile position, from which she oversees the legal follow-up of the group’s various companies, as well as handling disputes with suppliers, clients, and more. “When a file doesn’t fit into any category, it ends up on my desk,” Pascale emphasizes. “I love finding solutions when things get complicated. In thirty years, I’ve never been bored. I love what I do. Everything is fascinating and so varied. In my role, I interact with many different people. I’ve never felt like I was ‘coming to work’!”
Pascale knows the company, its subsidiaries, and the Murlin site better than anyone. So, when in doubt, people ask her.
“I know the site’s history; I’ve seen it grow. I know the buildings, even those that no longer exist.”
Water pipes, underground electrical networks? Ask Pascale! It’s no surprise that she is the go-to person for monitoring construction work and handling building permit requests.
“I’ve been following these projects for years; it’s second nature to me.”
Originally trained as an accountant, Pascale worked for several years at an accounting firm in Cosne-sur-Loire.
“I was in charge of multiple companies. It was a tedious job. I wanted something different, especially to work for a unique company.”
She couldn’t have predicted how true that wish would turn out to be!.

A Unique Company

« In May 1990, there were about ten of us at the Murlin site. The heart of the reactor. A site that is the birthplace of the Charlois family, where, like the oak tree, it has its roots. Today, there are over 100 of us!” Solid roots that have allowed the group to grow, develop, and become what it is today, not forgetting that this is also where it all began over 350 years ago. Pascale savors each day the happiness of going to work.
“My personal life is inseparable from my professional life. And the story of the Charlois family is also mine, in moments of joy, as well as in more difficult times. It’s a big family that I am proud to be part of. I have a job I love, which has allowed me to raise my two sons (Maël, 28, and Lilian, 24) the way I wanted. This is a company that knows how to trust its employees. As long as trust is there, it’s good. We move forward together, at the same pace. And in recent years, things have been moving pretty quickly. We have to keep up,” she jokes.
A unique work environment, true autonomy, and a love for a job well done, in a healthy environment. That’s what, according to Pascale, could summarize a career at Charlois.
At 54, she is still looking ahead. So, when asked to take a look back, she does so with emotion, recalling certain memories. The birth of her children, her job interview, her progression. The anecdotes flow.
“When I was pregnant with my first son, I was in great shape. Then I had to stop working, and it was a tragedy. I returned sooner than expected. I came to the office with my crib. A workaholic, Pascale is persistent, determined. The company’s interests always come first.”

Three questions for Pascale Cottin :

How would you define yourself?

Oulah (long silence), It’s complicated to talk about oneself. I feel like I’m a simple, natural, curious person, close to people. In work, I am demanding, even perfectionist. I love what I do, and I feel lucky. On a personal level, I am very down-to-earth; gardening and reading occupy my free time. A bit of sports too, but without overdoing it (laughs). I am deeply attached to values of honesty, openness, and family.

A common trait with the Charlois House…

Indeed, kindness and solidarity, it’s like a common thread.”

What do you take away from these first 30 years?

Retirement? I don’t want to think about it yet.
As for these 30 years, it’s hard to say they’ve gone by so fast. What reminds me of the time passing are my two sons, whom I am incredibly proud of. On a professional level, I feel like I’ve been part of an unparalleled human adventure. I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting into at the beginning. Thirty years later, I’m certain I made the right choice. I’m happy to be part of this group, which has given me so much, and I hope I’ve been able to make my modest contribution to it.

Photo © Christophe Deschanel