Yves Bernaert appointed CEO of Atos
As Atos continues to put a major transformation plan into place, the firm’s board has appointed a new CEO of the Atos Group. Yves Bernaert will now work to accelerate the company’s turnaround activities, after a difficult 2023.
At a time when the IT services market is growing, long-time IT consulting giant Atos has seen its own revenues tumble. In 2021, they shrank by 3%, while in 2022, the company three profit warnings in eight months, blaming to a decline in customer’s classic IT business. As alarm bells rang across the company, a plan was proposed that would radically overhaul the firm’s old structure.
Over the last year, this has seen the splitting of Atos’ internal operations has seen it divide into two entities: Atos (its data centre and hosting, digital Workplace, unified communications and business process outsourcing division) and Evidian (the digital, big data, and security businesses wing). In order to complete this transition, Atos is strengthening its management team.
Earlier in the year, Atos installed Paul Saleh as the company’s new CFO. Now, it has followed that up by selecting a new professional for its top job – appointing Yves Bernaert as its CEO.
Bernaert is a leader with “proven expertise in the technology and digital transformation industries”, according to a release from Atos. Looking ahead, his first mission will be to successfully complete the next stages of the group’s transformation plan, and to accelerate the turnaround of its activities. If and when the finalisation of the group's separation is decided by the board, he would then be exclusively responsible for leading the development of the new Evidian group – offering the full range of solutions for digital transformation, including digital, cloud, AI, cybersecurity and high-performance computing solutions.
Speaking on his new role, Bernaert said, "I am delighted to be joining the Atos Group. After more than 30 years in the technology sector, I am well aware that Atos possesses strong assets, and I have great respect for the world-renowned skills of its teams. Atos has considerable technological capabilities and holds strong positions in many strategic areas. This is why, with the support of the Board of Directors and the ongoing dedication of the Group’s talented employees, I am confident that we can overcome the challenges that lie ahead and successfully deliver the ongoing transformation.”
Bernaert began his career as an auditor at PwC before joining in 1992 Accenture. After several executive roles in France and abroad, he served as CEO Europe of Accenture Technology for the past nine years. Under his leadership and alongside his teams and partners, Accenture Technology Europe achieved double-digit growth by focusing on new digital technologies: cloud, data and AI and security.
Bertrand Meunier, chair of Atos' board, added, "His personal and professional strengths, ability to lead teams through major transformations, in-depth knowledge of our industry and belief in the critical role our sector plays in meeting the national and European digital sovereignty objectives, make him the ideal leader. The Board would like to thank Nourdine Bihmane, Philippe Oliva and Diane Galbe, who have to date, carried out the Group's operational performance improvement plan and its strategic transformation project.”
