IFA and EDHEC partnership

Last July, EDHEC signed a partnership agreement with the IFA (Institut Français des Administrateurs/French Administrators Institute) at the instigation of our Administrator, Jean-Louis Flamand. The IFA has over 3000 members, and is designed to promote good governance practices and to bring together ‘future’ administrators (managers or former managers of companies of all sizes) and firms looking for members for their respective Boards, as their expertise can be invaluable to the SME concerned.
The IFA also offers administrator training sessions for Edhec alumni, and forms working groups with EDHEC professors on topics such as CSR (corporate social responsibility), for instance.

More information about IFA.

Interview
Jean-Louis Flamand, member of Edhec Alumni committee, has been a member of the IFA (Institut Français des Administrateurs/French Board members’ institute) for 2 years, and instigated a partnership between the 2 associations that was signed on 21 July, 2011.
Where did the idea for this partnership come from?
JLF: Lots of Edhec alumni who’re reaching the end of their career can carry on working, but less intensively, by becoming an board member (for 3 to 6 years – depending on the length of their mandate), at the same time, passing on their accumulated expertise. It’s a great way to stay in touch with the world of business, often in SMEs or non listed companies that really lack a strategic vision. That’s where a Board can be especially useful!

What can the IFA give to Edhec?
JLF: The IFA, the French board members Institute offers information and training programmes. It includes a research centre on best governance and a training institute, and delivers a "Certificat Administrateur de Société/corporate board member certificate in collaboration with Sciences Po," which certifies to the holder’s basic training in law, fiscal matters, strategy, and problem resolution via case studies. I teach in the SME module. 
The IFA is growing fast, with between 400 and 500 new members a year. The growth has been furthered by the Zimmerman-Coppé law, which specifically encourages the inclusion of women on company boards.
The IFA also benefits from the presence of a major business school in the Nord region of France. Many other schools already collaborate with the IFA, such as Sciences Po, ESSEC, ESCP Europe and INSEAD.

Can you tell us something about your background?
JLF: I graduated from EDHEC in 1969, and began my career as a management controller for Mayolande SA (Bénédicta - Bénénuts) in Seclin, near Lille. I stayed there for 10 years before moving to Paris as Finance Director of the French subsidiary of the American industrial group, Graco Inc (1986 - 1990).
For the last 21 years, I worked in the European head offices of Precision Valve Corp (New-York), world leader in the manufacture of valves for aerosols, first as Finance Director Europe, and then as CEO of the French subsidiary until last year.
I am now Director of Special Finance Projects, based in our main factory in the south of Paris.
I am gradually reducing my workload so as to chair the "Industry" Commission of the Chamber of Commerce in Evry (Essonne) as effectively as possible.