A crisis overcome: this is how Stephane Maquaire, CEO of Carrefour Brasil, defines the situation between the French retailer and the Brazilian government and agribusiness.
“We deal with this major crisis in order to hear the pain we created with the statement. We also stayed, through its ambassador”, says Maquaire, who participated in the program From Zero to Topdo InfoMoneywith presentation by Mariana Amaro.
The statement Maquaire refers to was issued in November by Alexandre Bompard, CEO of Carrefour in France. At the time, Bompard announced that the chain would stop selling Mercosur meat in French stores.
The information was interpreted, in Brazil, as criticism and resistance to the Brazilian product, however, Maquaire’s agility in dealing with the issue was essential to dispel the misunderstanding.
For Maquaire, the disagreement with meatpacking companies, which ended up interrupting supply to the country’s network, “was left behind” and the lesson that the episode left was about agility in response. “That [a resolução rápida] It was good for both the meatpackers, our business in Brazil and our customers,” he stated.
Leadership Lessons
In the exclusive interview, in addition to crisis management, Maquaire spoke about the role of the leader. “The leader shows the way and there is no point in just ‘talking’, it is necessary to show [o caminho]lead by example”, he says.
Continues after advertising
For Maquaire, the presence of the leader is essential in positive moments, but especially in the toughest moments. “A leader has to be present. It is not possible to lead from ‘outside’”, he summarizes.
“The strongest change we experience when we go from being led to being a leader is loneliness. People who want to be CEOs need to prepare a little for that.”
The executive also cited the importance of clear communication and contextualizing the team, especially when it is necessary to make difficult decisions, in situations that directly affect the lives of employees. “When we decided at the end of last year, it wasn’t an easy decision – it never is, for a retailer, to make a decision like this – but we had to, because it was the right decision. It was my responsibility,” he says.
To learn more leadership lessons and discover other chapters in the story of Stephane and the company, watch the complete special episode published this Monday (10) on . The program is available in its podcast version on the main streaming platforms such as , , , , and .
Continues after advertising
About From Zero to Top
O podcast From Zero to Top enters its fifth year of life and brings, every Friday, the stories of prominent women and men in the Brazilian market, sharing the biggest challenges faced along the way and the main strategies used in building the business.
The program has already received names such as , from Grupo Simpar; one of the founders of Mercado Livre; the businessman; , chairman of Cogna; , founder and CEO of Cobasi; co-founder of the Supley Group; CEO and founder of 3tentos; executive responsible for Renner’s rise; founder of XP Investimentos; and told dozens of success stories.
