Frédéric Oudéa
Frédéric Oudéa | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 3, 1963 Paris, France |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Known for | CEO of Société Générale, President of the European Banking Federation |
Frédéric Oudéa (born 3 July 1963) is a prominent French executive who has held the position of CEO at Société Générale and served as president of the European Banking Federation.
Early life
Raised in Paris, Oudéa experienced the loss of his father, a medical professor, at the age of 13, after which he took on responsibilities caring for his two younger siblings. Initially aspiring to pursue a career in surgery, he redirected his ambitions toward engineering. His academic journey included studies at Lycée Louis-le-Grand, followed by enrollment at both the École polytechnique and the École nationale d'administration. During this period, he undertook extensive travels alongside Stéphane Richard.
Public sector
After completing his education, Oudéa embarked on a career within the French civil service's economic departments from 1987 until 1995. His professional experience encompassed advisory roles in Nicolas Sarkozy’s office and assignments within various ministries, including finance, economy, budget, and treasury. Notably, his collaboration with Sarkozy in 1993 stands out as a significant part of this phase.
Career at Société Générale
In 1995, Oudéa was recruited by then-CEO Daniel Bouton to join Société Générale, where he assumed multiple responsibilities across offices in Paris and London. He started as deputy head of corporate banking in London before advancing to lead the department. By 1998, he was responsible for the group's global supervisory functions and directed the development of equities. Between 2002 and May 2008, Oudéa held the roles of deputy CFO and CFO, culminating in his appointment as CEO.[1][2]
In November 2014, Oudéa was chosen to serve as president of the European Banking Federation for a term of two years beginning in January 2015, taking over from Christian Clausen of Nordea Bank.[3]
During the early years of his leadership as CEO, he encountered pressure from investors due to underwhelming financial results.[4] In 2019, Société Générale introduced a restructuring initiative aimed at reducing expenses, which included eliminating approximately 1,600 positions. That same year, shareholders extended Oudéa’s leadership mandate for an additional four years.[5] In May 2022, he declared that he would not pursue renewal of his term upon its expiration in 2023.[6]
Corporate boards
- Sanofi, Non-Executive Chair of the Board (appointed in 2022)[7]
- Capgemini, Independent Member of the Board (since 2018)[8]
Non-profit organizations
- Institute of International Finance (IIF), Chair of the Steering Committee on Regulatory Capital (since 2010)