Meet Matthieu, a Kedger living in Melbourne for eight years!

GRADUATION YEAR: 2010

POSITION: Business Development Manager

COMPANY: ANL, a subsidiary of CMA CGM

LENGTH OF TIME LIVING ABROAD: Eight and a half years

INTERVIEW: 

Hello Matthieu! To start, please quickly introduce yourself.

Hello, my name is Matthieu Boinel. I’ll be 34 years old. I was part of the 2010 graduating class of KEDGE Marseille. I’m currently a Business Development Manager for ANL, which is a subsidiary of the CMA CGM group, in Melbourne, Australia.

What does your job entail? What are your duties?

As Business Development Manager, I develop maritime traffic and solutions for the intra-oceanic zone.

To give an example of my job, we recently bought a small shipping company that operates in Oceania. We are integrating it into our global network and use it to respond to specific calls for tenders. For example, we are working on mining projects in New Caledonia where we need smaller, individual ships to reach their sites. The small shipping line we just bought has ships that provide access to these small ports. The goal is to access more ports and sites to offer them more import/export solutions

Another of my jobs is dealing with cargo. This affects everything that is out of the ordinary - that is to say anything that does not fit in a conventional container. I work on loading methods for our cargo ships that can transport such things, for example, very large yachts.  

Tell us about your time at KEDGE? What did you study?

I began at KEDGE after two years of prep classes. I did my first two years there, and specialised in auditing as part of my master's degree.

For my gap year, I went to Bamako, Mali, for six months. I did an internal auditing internship at Tomota, which was the first private company in Mali. I then did a three-month internship at the Intercontinental de Paris where I was a Human Resources Assistant, and finished my gap year doing a road trip in South America for three months.

When I came back to KEDGE, I finished my Master 2 with an International Trade Transport and Logistics MSC. This specialisation gave me double degree.

For my end of studies internship, I had the chance to work for CMA CGM for six months, and because of that, I was able to get my first job abroad in the company.

How did KEDGE help you develop and reach your goals?

When I began at KEDGE, I absolutely wanted to live and work abroad. The MSC in international trade transport and logistics that I did is well-recognised and has a good reputation. The programme’s faculty is made up of stakeholders who work at CMA CGM, and they’re the ones who gave me access to an end-of-studies internship in the company. That's why I'm here today!

How long have you been an expatriate?

After my internship, I got a job in Tanzania with CMA CGM and stayed in East Africa for three years. Over those three years, I took part in developing the company's network in landlocked countries. I was then sent to West Africa for one year, in Cameroon, as a business director for CMA CGM and its African subsidiary. After living all those years in Africa, I was transferred to Sydney, Australia, where I worked as the country manager for four years. I’ve just moved to Melbourne. I’ve been working for CMA CGM for nine years, and been an expatriate for eight-and-a-half years!

Why did you want to move to Melbourne?

Working for CMA CGM, exposed my desire to work abroad. After I was in Africa a few years, I received different offers to work elsewhere, particularly the United States, Australia, Reunion Island, and Paraguay. I chose Australia because I didn’t know it and wanted to discover it. My job, and the fact that the company decided to transfer me here, are the reasons why I am in Melbourne today.

What surprised you the most about this country?

What surprised me when I got here is the fact that Australia looks like a mature market but there are many opportunities. For example, in terms of imports and exports, there are many things that are produced in Europe – such as textiles or food – that aren’t imported here yet. There are still many possibilities to exploit.

Additionally, here in Australia a lot of trust is given within a company. The level of responsibility doesn’t depend upon a person’s age or experience as it does in Europe, but is based on his or her willingness to do well, and his or her motivation.

What are your future plans?

I see myself staying another year and a half in Australia so I can get citizenship. On a professional level, CMA CGM has several regional subsidiaries. I would like to take advantage of my time in Australia with ANL, the group’s subsidiary in Oceania, to try to get an agency position in South-East Asia, which is the CMA CGM brand that has the most volume. I’d like to advance to an upper management position in one of the region’s countries.

Is there another country in which you would like to live and why?

I would really like to go to South America, in particular Brazil. Or go back to East Africa, to Mozambique for example. If I have to go to Asia, I’d choose Burma, which is growing and has many opportunities.

What advice would you give to a student or recent graduate who might consider trying a similar challenge?

My advice is to use your time in business school to do projects such as Pro-Act, that connect students with the school’s partners. You must also try to build your own network quickly, and take jobs or internships in companies that offer opportunities abroad. I think you have to really understand that business school is a toolbox with which you can build your future!

Interview conducted in Melbourne by Emma and Manon, KEDGE Alumni Travel Pro-Act students. 

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