• Frederic Marcerou spearheads eco-minded innovations like the solarization of the green hub in Singapore.
• Rooftop panels will cut 11,500 tons of CO2 emissions.
• ESSEC Executive MBA has prepared him for challenges to come.

Pioneer Turn is far from the Stade de France, in the far west of Singapore. But Frederic Marcerou, sports fanatic and managing director of Bolloré Logistics Singapore and Brunei, could be forgiven for harking back to the citadel of French rugby as he helped unveil the newly installed rooftop solar panels at his firm’s Green Hub in Pioneer Turn.

Planet, People, Profits & the Paris Agreement

In rugby, individual components of a team work together to ensure the greater good of the whole. And a similar philosophy informs the solarization of Bollore’s Green Hub.

The carbon footprint elimination initiative will help the company cover multiple cargo verticals, including aerospace, car and auto parts, consumer goods, retail and fashion, and luxury goods, to avoid over 11,500 tons of CO2 emissions over the lifetime of the solar panels.

A rugby fan, Frederic credits the ESSEC & Mannheim Executive MBA for honing his leadership skills. He relishes the opportunity to marshal his troops—thousands of staff across 11 sites in his current role—for the long-term benefit of the planet.

Adhering to the Paris Agreement, Bolloré is committed to reducing 43 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2027.

“Global warming is altering how businesses run their operations,” he says. “Singapore has over 200,000 square meters of warehouse space and 1,600 employees.

We need to tap into sustainable energy to support our electricity consumption in the fight against climate change. We will continue our journey towards a greener future with this milestone.”

Seizing the Day with an EMBA from ESSEC

Competitive yet passionate about his ideals, Frederic has shown determination to succeed and initiate positive change from an early age. An avid rugby player in his youth, he has applied the same leadership talent as shown on the field to his career in logistics.

After graduating from Toulouse University, he spent seven years in the United States with French logistics firm Fatton. However, it has been in Asia with Bolloré that he has made his mark.

When he first arrived in the region, he was a sales manager in South China. Subsequent positions in Thailand and the Philippines saw his influence across operations grow before he was appointed President Director of Indonesia in 2013.

In a fascinating but diverse archipelago encompassing 17,508 islands, overseeing an entire spectrum logistics operation would have been a demanding enough task for most individuals. Therefore, it is a testament to Frederic’s quest for self-betterment that he chose to embark on his Executive MBA while posted in Jakarta.

“I have to say I often wondered if I was going to survive,” he jokes, recalling the grueling process of juggling work, study, and family life. “It was hard initially because I was so hands-on at Bolloré.

The process taught me [among many other things] that I could delegate to other highly-skilled team members and that the work would get done just as smoothly.”

Looking back today, Frederic is thankful for all the blood, sweat, and tears he expended while obtaining his Executive MBA. Indeed, he is a vocal proponent of seizing the day, even if it means adding to an already heavy workload.

“We live in challenging, complex times, and I think that it’s a time that demands bold decisions from people who see themselves as leaders,” he adds. “I saw an MBA as an investment in myself, and I can say that I’ve felt the benefits of that momentum since.”

Green Leadership

Indeed, Frederic finds himself at the helm of Bolloré at a critical juncture for the logistics sector that demands creative and forward-thinking leadership.

Singapore may be little more than 721 square kilometers in area, but its geographical location at the crossroads of important trade lines has made the country one of the world’s pre-eminent global hub ports.

It makes sense then that big logistics firms like Bolloré use the country as a testing ground for bold innovations.

In addition to the solar-powered panels at its Green Hub in Singapore, Bolloré has been proactive in various initiatives such as electric vehicle car-sharing and automated solutions designed to improve productivity, accuracy, and space efficiency.

“This is a time when it is necessary to reinvent your company for the next cycle,” says Frederic. “For example, look at the climate crisis. Capitalism, without a conscience, has had a terrible effect on biodiversity and the environment. We must change for the planet’s good: the younger generation demands it of us.”