With only a few months left before Luc Rémont’s tenure as CEO of EDF ends, the Élysée Palace has announced its decision to appoint Bernard Fontana, the current head of Framatome, as his successor. The Prime Minister aims to strengthen industrial control over ongoing and future projects.
On May 2nd , just days after the Nuclear Policy Council meeting, the Élysée issued a brief statement announcing that “the President of the Republic intends, upon the Prime Minister’s recommendation, to appoint Mr. Bernard Fontana as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Électricité de France.” This decision must now be submitted to the National Assembly and the Senate. Consequently, Luc Rémont, who was appointed in 2022 and whose term was set to end in the summer, will not be renewed. While the precise date of this leadership change has not been specified, a source close to the matter, cited by AFP, mentioned that the transition would take place “as soon as possible.”
During a press briefing on the sidelines of a visit, Prime Minister François Bayrou stated: “Bernard Fontana is an industrial leader accustomed to managing teams and overseeing major projects. The decision was made to project nuclear energy into the future.” In practical terms, this appointment is intended to bolster the construction of the future EPR2 program. Indeed, the latest Nuclear Policy Council communiqué emphasized: “(The council) reiterates the necessity for EDF to consolidate its industrial control over the program. Enhanced monitoring will be carried out by the Interministerial Delegation for New Nuclear, in coordination with the Ministry of Energy.”
ArcelorMittal, Holcim, Framatome
Bernard Fontana, 64, has spent his entire career at the heart of the industrial sector. A graduate of École Polytechnique and ENSTA Paris, he has held leadership roles at ArcelorMittal’s Stainless Steel division and later at cement manufacturer Holcim, where he oversaw the merger with Lafarge. In 2015, he was appointed CEO of Framatome, leading several major projects, including EDF’s acquisition of the former Areva NP and the capacity expansion of the Saint-Marcel plant to support France’s nuclear revival.
