More than ever! Structuring it into home countries has given local managers greater latitude. They know their own markets better than anyone. They are best placed to take the right action, keeping the Group’s strategic priorities in mind. At the same time, we have never been so connected: we have successfully implemented an international production approach, connecting our centres of expertise and our teams, and doing away with geography, in a manner of speaking. Mobilising nine of our Business Units and more than 1,000 people worldwide on one given project (the high-speed HS2 line in the United Kingdom) has never been done before in engineering. So today, SYSTRA is capable of drawing on a global strikeforce to provide local solutions. That doesn’t just apply to our technical production teams: it also applies to our support functions – who are also working as part of an integrated network. Our “Connected Teams” value is real and forms the backbone of our company. It also provides our teams with a great deal of motivation throughout the world! Jean-Charles Vollery: Our specialisation is relative. The area in which we work is extremely wide-ranging and represents the biggest global market for engineering companies. Furthermore, growth prospects are very good. Our aim is clear: we want to be the leading provider of transport solutions. The experience that we have acquired over more than sixty-five years enables us to be exactly that in some countries, but not yet in all the countries that we are targeting. We remain focused on this global goal. Nevertheless, every country has its own history, and more specifically, its own needs. So, we may need to stray from our core business in order to support our local growth. Pierre Verzat: SYSTRA 04 1 “SYSTRA designs high-speed trains and metro lines, as well as tunnels, bridges, etc. Can we continue to be that specialised? Shouldn’t we diversify?” Andrea Della Corte, Head of Sales, SYSTRA Italy Our strategy in questions This year, the three members of the Executive Board – Pierre Verzat, CEO, Jean-Charles Vollery, Chief Operating Officer, and Arnaud Jeudy, Chief Finance and Administration Officer – engaged in an unprecedented exercise for this activity report: they answered the most frequently asked questions posed by SYSTRA employees directly.