OREANDA-NEWS. The Board of Directors of GDF SUEZ, chaired by Gérard Mestrallet, met on 21 October and received the unanimous recommendations made by the Nomination and Compensation Committee in preparation for the Group's leadership transition. With the exception of a Director who did not take part in the vote, the Board co-opted unanimously Isabelle Kocher as a Director and Board Member and appointed her as Deputy CEO of GDF SUEZ, replacing Jean-François Cirelli.

These decisions will become effective on 12 November 2014.

The Board of Directors and its Chairman also sought to emphasize the success of this rigorous and collective decision-making process, the goal of which was to serenely and with anticipation prepare Gérard Mestrallet's succession.

Gérard Mestrallet, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GDF SUEZ, also appointed Isabelle Kocher as Chief Operating Officer. The five business line Executive Vice Presidents will report to her as well as three divisions: Major Projects, Action Plan and Group Performance, and Research & Technologies.

Gérard Mestrallet also appointed Dirk Beeuwsaert, Executive Director and Vice Chairman of the Board of Electrabel, as Executive Vice President in charge of the Energy Europe business line. A new Chief Financial Officer will be appointed soon.

The Board of Directors would like to thank Jean-François Cirelli for its key role since the merger between Gaz de France and Suez and his contribution to GDF SUEZ Group's development, including the implementation of the new organization of the Energy Europe business line in a particularly difficult economic climate.

Isabelle Kocher is a graduate from Ecole Normale Supérieure, one of the most prestigious Ivy League French school. She holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Physics. Isabelle Kocher is a Graduate from the Corps des Mines Engineering School.

Isabelle Kocher initiates her industrial experience between 1991 and 1997 by becoming Project Manager for the reorganisation of production workshops within the Société Européenne de Propulsion. She will join as well between 1992 and 1993 the mergers and acquisitions department of the Compagnie Financière de Rothschild before becoming Director of the industrial inspection department at the Ile-de-France regional department of industry, research and environment division.

From 1997 to 1999, Isabelle Kocher became Director of the postal and telecommunication budgets, followed by the defense budget at the French Budget Department. She will then be promoted as Industrial Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister of France.

Isabelle Kocher joined the SUEZ Group in 2002, then GDF SUEZ, within which she holds, since 12 years, functional and operational positions. Between 2002 and 2005, Isabelle Kocher is Vice President in charge of the strategic overview of the SUEZ Group and the strategic monitoring of Suez Environnement. She will become in 2005, Senior Vice President in charge of Performance and Organization programs before being promoted in 2007 Chief Operating Officer of Lyonnaise des Eaux (subsidiary of Suez Environnement). In 2009 Isabelle Kocher becomes Managing Director of Lyonnaise des Eaux, as well as Executive Vice President in charge of the development of water activities in Europe within Suez Environnement.

Since 2011, Isabelle Kocher is Chief Financial Officer of GDF SUEZ. She is a member of the board of Suez Environnement, International Power and AXA Group. Isabelle Kocher is married and has 5 children.