Meet Xavier NASS, Kedger and CEO of a renewable energy company

1️⃣ To begin, tell us about your educational background. What did you study, both before and at KEDGE?

I've always had a pretty clear idea where I was headed. I became interested in economics very early on, and the decision to go to business school after doing HEC prep courses was a rational one. Therefore, I enrolled in KEDGE Bordeaux, with a focus on finance. I also co-chaired the oenological association AOC. I’m originally from Normandy and my move to Bordeaux made me want to discover the wine world, which I knew very little about. That’s why I became a member of the AOC, then vice-president. I was captivated by its wine courses, its visits to different wineries, and its magnificent “Rallye”.

I went to China during my gap year to work on management control at a fast-growing SME that imported and distributed wine. It was a superb international experience that combined my knowledge of wine and corporate finance.

KEDGE BUSINESS SCHOOL

2️⃣ Tell us what you did after your studies were finished. What positions have you held? What did you learn in those positions?

After that gap year experience, I finished my courses in Bordeaux, then returned to Shanghai as a financial manager for the same company. We went from 60 to 500 employees in three years. It was a great experience in managing a growing company, but the desire to find my independence and form my own company won out. So, I returned to France to go work with my father, who had just started a development project in the wind energy sector. I quickly recognised that the renewable energy sector is a strong opportunity for growth and it respects my own principles of sustainable development.

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3️⃣ What are you doing/what is your situation today? What gave you the idea and why do you want to do what you’re doing today? 

I’m currently managing JP Energie Environnement (JPee), a company that develops, finances, builds, and operates both wind and solar farms throughout France. We supply around 230,000 homes with green energy, and in 2019 had consolidated sales of €50 million. Around a hundred employees work for us in Caen, Paris, Nantes, and Montpellier. We are constructing several projects in the Bordeaux region, and we have just opened an office there. So, I’m delighted to be back in this city.

JPEE.FR

4️⃣ What are your development goals for the future?

The green energy sector is increasingly becoming concentrated in France, dominated mainly by groups such as EDF, Engie and Total. My goal is to maintain our independence and continue to grow in a rapidly expanding market. We currently operate around 300 MW of projects and our target is for 1,000 MW in 2025. We are also beginning to operate in other countries, with a few solar projects under development in Spain.

5️⃣ If you were to give advice to any KEDGE graduate who wants to do something similar, what would it be? 

Work hard on your project, surround yourself with the right people, listen to advice, and get started! A CEO is a Swiss Army knife. The education I got at KEDGE gave me the fundamentals, knowledge, and instincts to take the plunge. Experience and learning from your mistakes will follow.

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