Governance
To deal with a constantly evolving world, we draw on our stable, responsive corporate governance to shape a sustainable growth.
Sonepar is a simplified joint-stock company (SAS) under French law with its registered office in Paris. Its operating principles and rules are governed by its bylaws, the Internal Regulations of the Board of Directors and the Group's Corporate Governance Charter.
The Governance Charter
The Charter, which covers two chapters—corporate governance and operational governance—now explicitly includes the Group’s Code of Conduct for compliance and integrity matters. Learn more about Compliance and Integrity.
Sonepar's decentralized organization is based on the principle of subsidiarity, which aims to establish clear responsibilities within the Group at the most relevant level, without gaps or redundancies.
A family shareholding group
Since its inception in 1969, Sonepar's family shareholders, through the family holding company Colam Entreprendre, which is the majority shareholder, have provided strong and constant support for the Group's long-term growth strategy.
The shareholders grouped together in the family holding company, Colam Entreprendre, have strongly and consistently support Sonepar’s lasting growth strategy from the outset. Their close ties to the Group and its executives have fostered mutual trust and helped make Sonepar’s values a living reality.
Visit Colam Entreprendre Website
Development of employee shareholding
Sharing the fruits of value creation with the Group's employees has been an integral part of Sonepar's philosophy since its creation. Employee shareholding is organized through a dedicated company and is strictly supervised.
The Shareholders’ Meeting
The Shareholders’ Meeting meets every year and provides a forum for discussion between shareholders and the executive committee.
Among other things, it approves the annual financial statements, decides on the allocation of income and the distribution of dividends, and appoints the members of the Corporate Board and the Statutory Auditors.
It is an essential meeting point, during which the Group's results and strategic directions are presented.
The Corporate Board
The Corporate Board is composed of figures from the business world, family entrepreneurs and executives with historical roots in Sonepar who meet several times a year.
The Corporate Board exercises permanent control over the management of the Group and approves its strategic orientations.
The Board also authorizes major transactions that affect the Group's future and ensures that it has a solid governance system.
Marie-Christine Coisne-Roquette
Permanent representative of Colam Entreprendre, Sonepar Chairman
Patricia Bellinger
Jean-François Cirelli
Nathalie Coisne
Stéphane Coisne
Maria Götsch
Nathalie Gaveau
Christophe Lambert
Quentin Devilder
The Audit Committee, the Nomination and Compensation Committee
These Committees act in support of the Corporate Board and the Chairman, both assisting with and consolidating corporate governance. They are composed of family shareholders and independent personalities.
Their role is to perform studies, make recommendations, investigate particular issues and contribute to the Corporate Board’s thinking.
The Sonepar Executive Committee (SEC)
The Sonepar Executive Committee adopts the policies and procedures to be applied across the entire Group and addresses issues and takes decisions relating to the Group’s strategy and general approach.
The Country Boards
The Board of Directors for each country or group of countries meets several times a year to examine performance, as well as operational and strategic issues, in its area, extending the work of General Management.
International Committees
Since the early 1990s, Sonepar has set up international communities and committees that bring together managers and experts from different countries and fields across the Group. Their purpose is to share best practices and work on Sonepar's strategic developments.