Catherine Guillouard

Catherine Guillouard (born 23 January 1965 in Cannes ) is a French businesswoman. She was the chairwoman and chief executive officer of RATP from August 2017 to 30 September 2022.

Early life and education After having finishing her secondary studies in Cannes and a ski diploma (she holds a national diploma as a ski instructor)., Catherine Guillouard obtained a law degree from Sophia Antipolis University in Nice. She then went on to receive a master's degree in political science from Panthéon-Assas University in 1986. She also holds a diploma from the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Public Service section), is a 1993 graduate of the École nationale d'administration (Léon-Gambetta class) and has a master's degree in European law from Panthéon-Sorbonne University. She joined Air France four years later where she remained for 10 years (1997–2007), working in a diverse range of positions, from finance to human resources, operations and the management of transformation projects.

Air France (1997–2007) From 1997 to 1999, Catherine Guillouard worked at Air France as a Senior Project Manager. and deputy chief executive officer as of May 2014. As deputy executive director, her mission was to assist the CEO in the implementation of the strategy confirmed by the group's board of directors and to manage the group's financial performance. Her role also covered the group's auditing, internal control, risk management, compliance, legal matters, indirect procurement and mergers and acquisitions.

She actively contributed to defining and implementing the strategic plan, notably regarding the setting up of a digital transformation plan. She also drove a very steady external growth policy composed of 14 operations over three years (2013–2016), in South-East Asia, the Middle East, the United States and France. At the same time as these targeted acquisitions, she managed the company's departure from Latin America, Poland, the Baltic States and Slovakia.

She also led several large-scale transformation projects, such as the review of the governance of risk management and compliance, the implementation of a very efficient procedure for the closing of accounts and the revision of the legal department.

RATP Group (2017–2022) On 2 August 2017, Guillouard succeeded Élisabeth Borne as Chairwoman of the Régie autonome des transports parisiens (RATP).

This operational plan, builds on Élisabeth Borne's "2025 Challenges" business plan, based on extensive in-house consultation, and sets a two-fold ambition for RATP Group: to be a leader in sustainable and connected mobility and to establish itself as the privileged partner of smart cities. Ingenico, Chair of the Supervisory Board (since 2022) Engie, Member of the Board of Directors (since 2015) Airbus, Independent Member of the Board of Directors (since 2016) KPN, Member of the Supervisory Board (2020–2023) Systra, Vice-Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board (2017–2022) Aéroports de Paris, Independent Member of the Board of Directors (2011–2013) Technicolor, Independent Member of the Board of Directors (2010–2013)

Recognition Guillouard was awarded the title of Chevalier in the National Order of Merit, on 14 November 2008.