International mobility at CFAO

CFAO has always cultivated a spirit of business and adventure. The Group currently has around 240 expatriates of multiple origins with numerous skills. Present across 40 regions, CFAO is using expatriation, more than ever, as a formidable tool to develop its ambitions!

“Eastern Africa, Mediterranean Africa, Asia… these last few years CFAO has been prospering in new regions, while all the while continuing to grow in its long-established ones”, explains Alain Viry, Chairman and CEO.
All these countries represent wonderful development opportunities for the Group’s employees: it is an opportunity for them to bring their expertise to the Group and be fulfilled in a new environment. As for CFAO, its rapid expansion could probably never have happened without the revival and diversification of the expatriate profile. “In 2003, CFAO had 200 expatriates, 90% of whom belonged to the euro zone. They currently number 240, 70% of whom are from the euro zone and 30% from other regions: United-Kingdom, India or Africa”, stresses Thierry Robert, Back-Office Human Resources Director.

 

Historically, the expatriation policy of CFAO was designed for French-speaking people, as much in terms of social protection, as retirement and even salary. In a context of diversification and internationalisation of expatriated profiles, the Group had to improve its international mobility policy. All the more so, because, as Thierry Robert asserts, “Expatriation is a lot more than a step along the way. It is a real professional life choice at CFAO”.

 

At the end of 2008, following several months work, the Human Resources Direction presented joint principles and regulations to all its expatriates, whatever their country of origin, to be applied at the beginning of 2009. “In order to be in accordance with the realities of the field and the ambitions of the Group, it was necessary to offer expatriation conditions which were coherent and similar in terms of social protection, medical cover and pensions and applicable throughout the world”, explains Thierry Robert. He adds: “From now on, every employee on secondment will benefit from a salary and social cover based on that of his or her country of origin, to which will be added specific conditions from the host country”.

 

With this new international mobility policy, CFAO acquires an additional tool to retain its talents at the same time as attracting the best new ones on the horizon.