This independent firm (employees hold 100% of shares) has a €1B yearly turnover and employs 14,000 people worldwide.

The group chose France, and more specifically the Paris Region, to act as a bridge between decision-makers in major French groups (Bouygues, Vinci, Véolia, EDF, etc.) whose head office is located in the Paris Region and the rest of the Mott MacDonald Group worldwide. The French-based team is also currently working on PPP projects (Public Private Partnerships), dealing especially with the construction of prisons, sports infrastructures (including the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome), universities (Sorbonne- Clignancourt, UVSQ) and more. In this way, it is making use of the substantial experience it has gained through similar projects in other parts of the world. The team also handles international contract management for leading French Groups and is developing its business in renewable energy.

The Group's presence in the Paris Region will also bring it closer to French financial backers and consolidate its Paris team with a view to developing operations in French-speaking Africa, complementing existing activities it has in English-speaking Africa. Services will involve the transport, water, health and education sectors (for instance, AIDS-prevention initiatives), with Paris acting as the bridgehead into French-speaking African countries.

We chose Paris because its geographic location and the quality of its transport infrastructures facilitates Europe-wide connections, especially with Thalys for travel to Belgium and Eurostar for reaching the head office in London, says Mott MacDonald France Office Manager Philippe Rapin.  In addition, for our business in Africa, we enjoy direct access to the main French-speaking capitals in the continent.

The Agency helped Mott Macdonald in finding its premises, as well as assisting in negotiations and in signing the rental contract. It provided the firm with information about the specific characteristics of the French market (labour costs, taxation, human resources, creating a legal entity, etc.). The help we got was more than valuable in demystifying the French market, which seen from our side of the Channel looked extremely arcane! And what is amazing is that these services are completely free! exclaims the new Paris Office Manager happily, who is already considering expanding his team and moving into larger premises pretty soon.

Contact: Philippe Rapin

Mott MacDonald France
75, avenue Parmentier
75011 Paris
Tél: +33 1 40 21 24 92

paris@mottmac.com