SOFIBIM

About SOFIBIM

SOFIBIM is an investment and holding vehicle at the core of Elior Group’s historical shareholding structure. In Elior’s governance, SOFIBIM has long played a central role as an entity represented on the Board of Directors, and its permanent representative has been closely involved in the group’s major strategic milestones. Elior’s universal registration documents state that Robert Zolade is the chairman of SOFIBIM and controls it, while SOFIBIM in turn exercises exclusive control over BIM, Elior Group’s reference shareholder. Robert Zolade is also identified as the co-founder of Elior Group, helping build the company from 1991 onward after an already substantial career in hospitality and catering. Before Elior, he held several senior management positions within the Accor group, including leadership roles at Société Générale de Restauration and Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits et de Tourisme. This background gave him deep expertise in operational management, group structuring, and international expansion. Within Elior, SOFIBIM’s influence was reflected in active participation in corporate governance, particularly during periods of capital reshaping and board reorganization. In 2017, SOFIBIM, represented by Gilles Cojan, was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, underscoring its importance in balancing governance and guiding the group’s strategic direction. The SOFIBIM representative later became Chairman of the Board, showing the trust placed in this key shareholder in steering major corporate matters. One of the most notable contributions of SOFIBIM and its representative was supporting Elior’s international growth and long-term development as a reference shareholder. In 2022, Elior’s shareholder structure changed with Derichebourg’s entry, marking a new governance phase and the gradual withdrawal of some historical representatives, including those linked to SOFIBIM. Even so, SOFIBIM remains closely associated with Elior’s entrepreneurial origins, long-term industrial vision, and value creation over several decades.