Discover the portrait of Frédéric Bardet, Asia-Oceania director

Can you tell us about your career path? 

I attended training at EM Grenoble. After my studies, I had the opportunity to work for a textile SME in the Lyon region. I then joined Thuasne^® at the end of 1997, as export area manager for Eastern Europe. 

Can you tell us about your career at Thuasne^®? 

I started by expanding my area of influence to other regions, such as Scandinavia and the UK. Later on, I took over managing operations in Spain and Italy, which gave me a broader perspective on international management. Finally, I ran all export activities, covering both distributors and subsidiaries. At the time, Thuasne® was not as structured as it is today, which meant it had to be versatile and adapt to many challenges. 

What will your tasks be in this new position? 

As the recently appointed Asia-Oceania director, I run the Group’s business development in this region of the world. The aim is to strengthen our presence in these dynamic markets and oversee operations to ensure sustainable growth. 

How is this region organised? 

I coordinate the country managers for Australia, Japan and Vietnam. I directly manage the Chinese subsidiary and am in close contact with our distributors for the entire Asia-Pacific region. 

What are the objectives of this new cluster? 

Our long-term strategy is to reduce our dependence on the French market by accelerating our development in Asia-Oceania, a region with strong growth. To achieve this, we need to expand our distribution network and understand local specificities to meet the expectations of patients and healthcare professionals. Each geographical sector has its own opportunities and challenges. 

A last message to conclude this interview? 

I declined an offer to go to Japan in 1999, but this time I am ready to seize the opportunity! This new challenge marks an important step in my career, finally moving to expatriation after years of international work from France. I’m excited about taking this turn and taking up this challenge from Seoul, South Korea.