Corporate Strategy

The key to making a business thrive in an increasingly competitive world can be summed up in one word: strategy. With the support of Pierre Pupier, Xavier Fontanet has written a book that makes strategic thinking accessible, concrete, and captivating, allowing every reader to grasp and apply the methods used by top business leaders. Pierre Pupier — entrepreneur and private equity investor specializing in SMEs — engages in a series of in-depth conversations with Xavier Fontanet, former CEO of Essilor. Under his leadership, Essilor’s revenues grew from €500 million to €5 billion, and its market value increased a hundredfold. Through these exchanges, the book unfolds like a story. Step by step, the reader follows Xavier’s journey — from his early days at BCG, to leading Chantiers Bénéteau, Eurest, and finally Essilor — and discovers how strategic decisions are made at the highest level, in the real world, facing real challenges. The concepts explored are universal: they apply equally to SMEs, mid-sized companies, and large corporations. By the end, the reader has not only understood strategy — they have learned to think like a strategist. Xavier explains where profitability truly comes from, how to find and sustain growth, and how to mobilize teams to achieve ambitious goals. This book is a practical guide and an initiation: it gives entrepreneurs, executives, and managers the real strategic tools used by leading CEOs, so they can apply them directly in their own companies.