the horizon seems to be more open than ever

Angular face, steep and a jet black hair, eyes folded behind small round glasses... Patrick Babin, fifty years, has no poupins strokes or "ultra-bright" of his predecessor Michel Combes smile. And, he says, "I speak slower than him." Add to the chapter of the differences that it does not belong to the caste of the X-telecoms: it is CET. But the two leaders had no less than the chemistry and constituted an effective tandem at the head of TDF. Just as effective as one that Patrick Babin was previously with Bruno Chetaille, the man who made it come in broadcaster early in 2003 for entrust Finance of the House... and more if affinities.

Affinities there, since the defector from Suez was quickly promoted CEO delegate. Alongside Bruno Chetaille and then, from 2006, Michel Combes, he was the linchpin of the transformation of TDF. The group, which had only minority shareholdings in Finland and Spain five years ago, today performs half of its turnover abroad. Technically, it is poised to succeed its failover in the era of the all-digital and surfing with happiness on the wave of wireless. TNT, personal mobile television, digital radio...: the horizon seems to be more open than ever. This will be the two no.1 to drive its 5.600 employees to the conquest of these vast regions. It takes in effect today even duties of administrator-Director General of the broadcaster, including Michel Combes, party at Vodafone, remains President.

Vaccinee against administration

Be in waves, Patrick Babin was in waters. After a cooperation with the Embassy of France in Khartoum, a short passage to the Ministry of the economy that has vaccinated it at all ever against the administration he even married an enarque and a first experience in the business, in Total, where he learned his trade of financial, this Morlaisien of birth and heart Brestois joined in 1987 the Lyonnaise des Eaux. Recruited as financial controller, he will be appointed five years later Deputy Financial Director, support including communication destined to investors. The position will not any rest, markets blaming the Lyonnaise its acquisition of the firm of MGB Dumez. But Patrick Babin in custody not less an excellent memory of this period, marked by its proximity to Jérôme Monod.

However, it is across the channel that the unrepentant traveller and entranced visitors of major metropolises Cairo, London, New York, Hong Kong will do the bulk of his career in the Group of services to the communities. In 1990, he went live for the first time in the British capital to manage the finances of four small companies of water and sanitation of her most gracious Majesty. He will return in 1996, after having largely contributed to the success of the OPA on Northumbrian Water Group, one of the big players in the sector. First experience of Directorate-General for the French who will live at distance, in 1997, episodes of the Suez-Lyonnaise merger before re-cross the channel to become Director-General Deputy of Ondeo, the water of the new set pole.