olivier legrain

About olivier legrain

Olivier Legrain is an experienced industrial executive and corporate transformation leader, best known today as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mersen, where he plays a strategic oversight and governance role. At Mersen, he serves as an independent board member and also sits on the Governance, Appointments and Remuneration Committee, placing him at the center of succession planning, board balance, and shareholder-alignment topics. He began his career at Rhône-Poulenc, where he held responsibilities across several business units. This early experience gave him a strong understanding of industrial organizations, business portfolio management, and operational performance drivers. He then joined Lafarge as a member of the Executive Committee, with responsibility for specialty materials and strategy. That role broadened his expertise in higher-value industrial segments, strategic planning, and the trade-offs between growth, profitability, and capital allocation. Legrain later became Chairman of Materis after organizing its separation from the Lafarge Group. This carve-out is a defining milestone in his career, as it demonstrates his ability to execute complex structural transactions, manage ownership transitions, and help build an autonomous industrial platform. Across the positions he has held, he has been recognized for combining strategic vision, disciplined governance, and a strong ability to support corporate transformation. At Mersen, he chairs the board of an international industrial group specialized in electrical power and advanced materials. His role is to help guide the company’s long-term direction, support the executive team on major strategic decisions, and ensure that governance bodies operate effectively. His profile is that of an independent director with deep experience in listed-company governance, industrial specialization, and corporate restructuring or portfolio development.