While politicians and economists are warning us of the likelihood of severe austerity measures in the coming years due to expected low growth, Business Development, the book by Jérôme Gayet (1993), founder of the business development consulting agency, B.D.C, makes a welcome change. Featuring 40 interviews with experts and business leaders, the aim of this new book is relatively ambitious, namely to offer original business growth ideas based on concrete business examples. A glimmer of optimism in an otherwise gloomy economic landscape!
First presented at EDHEC Lille on 26 April 2009, the book was then the subject of a conference-debate organised at Dauphine University on May 18, with 4 keynote speakers who contributed to the work:
- Marc Delamarre, CEO of Editions Atlas
- Eric Dos Santos, CEO of Feedback 2.0
- Jean-Paul Tréguer (1978), founder of TVLowCost
- Laurent Haynez, Development & Strategy Director, Galeries Lafayette Group

Rationality … intuition … loving a challenge … the speakers presented the methods that have enabled them to successfully ride out the downturn while at the same time allowing them to find new pockets of growth. These include daring to launch a low-cost offer on the ultra-premium TV production market, closely monitoring your e-reputation to boost online traffic, and focusing on a fast-growing international segment to develop the market.  Visionary business leaders? Perhaps! But whatever their sector, all agree that two conditions are crucial to Business Development , in other words, knowing how to safeguard what you already have while at the same time continually calling this into question to reinvent the firm’s future. Basically, being ready to take risks!

Practical information
Business Development (Eyrolles publications – Stratégie collection)
Recommended retail price: €23
For more information:  www.le-business-development.com

Article by Sophie Baqué (2004)
rnd.sbaque@gmail.com