When you chose Corporate Finance as a specialisation, did you intend to pursue a career in finance?
For a company CEO, finance is very important. It is a day-to-day management tool, both from an operational point of view — particularly in terms of management control (operational indicators) — and from a financial point of view (management of banking relations, financing management, etc.).
I chose my studies with a view to taking over the family business, and it seemed to me that finance skills were the most generalist and the most relevant at that time. I did my Master 2 as an apprentice in the family business, because I wanted to make a smooth transition internally. Plus, I knew I'd immediately be given responsibilities that were a good fit for my skills, which I would be able to put to good use right from the start. The apprenticeship went very well and I made a very quick transition to the professional world.
SKEMA runs in the family, as your father Philippe also graduated from the school (class of 1985); what made you choose SKEMA at the time?
You're right. My father was very pleased with his education, so when I was looking for a programme I naturally turned to SKEMA (CERAM at the time). I preferred to stay in Sophia Antipolis, because I wanted to start building my professional network in the area where I was going to work. I could capitalise more on a local network than on extra-territorial experience.
You are now CEO of the Ippolito group. Can you tell us about your position and responsibilities?
My position as CEO is not like that of a CEO of a large corporation, because I still have a very operational role. I alternate between operational management and profit centre management. I oversee the day-to-day work of the branch managers, and I also have a more cross-functional role that involves coordinating the company's support functions. I organise and orchestrate the HR, marketing, IT and general services departments to achieve organisational efficiency and effectiveness. I support the company's development by structuring the industrialisation of external growth processes and relations with all stakeholders.
Read the full interview of Pierre Ippolito on our SKEMA Alumni website
Find Pierre Ippolito on LinkedIn