The group appoints a new general manager from Saint-Gobain

The group of private nursing homes Orpea, in turmoil since the release of a book-investigation, announced Monday the appointment of a new general manager, from the industry sector, to lead the transformation of the group.

A former employee of Saint-Gobain

Laurent Guillot, who has spent most of his career with the building materials manufacturer Saint-Gobain, will become CEO of Orpea on July 1. “Aged 52, an experienced manager, he will be responsible in particular for developing and implementing the improvement and transformation plan intended to build the new Orpea”, specifies a press release from the group currently present in 23 countries and which manages more than 350 establishments for dependent elderly people in France.

The former managing director of the Ehpad group, Yves Le Masne, was dismissed from his post at the end of January, after the publication of the book The Gravediggers, by journalist Victor Castanet. He denounced mistreatment of residents, misuse of public funds, breaches in social matters and conflicts of interest.

A shocking book

Philippe Charrier, non-executive chairman of the board of directors of Orpea, then became chairman and chief executive officer of the group. He will continue to chair the group from 1 July. After the publication of the book-investigation, the government commissioned a report from the General Inspectorates of Finance (IGF) and Social Affairs (Igas). Published in early April, it pointed to serious malfunctions.

For its part, Orpea had mandated the independent firms Grant Thornton and Alvarez & Marsal in February. Their interim report, made public at the end of April, also noted dysfunctions. The board of directors of Orpea had then asked the general management to propose to it, as soon as “as soon as possible”, “an ambitious plan for improvement and transformation”.