Philippe Guillemot

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Vallourec

Search every verified Philippe Guillemot interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Philippe Guillemot, Chairman and CEO of Vallourec, has stated that the company reached its net debt zero target one year ahead of schedule, a goal he set upon joining in March 2022. He described this as a "bel exploit" given the company's starting point. As a result, Guillemot said Vallourec will propose a dividend of €1.50 per share at its May 2025 annual general meeting, marking the first return to shareholders in a decade. He attributed the company's performance to a strategy of prioritizing value over volume, including the closure of German plants and a focus on premium products for oil, gas, and new energy applications. Guillemot has emphasized that the energy transition will take decades, comparing it to the 20 years it took France to implement its nuclear plan after the 1973 oil shock. He stated that Vallourec's obligation is to be ready by diversifying its technologies beyond fossil fuels, targeting 10 to 15% of EBITDA from non-fossil applications by 2030, including a hydrogen storage solution called Delfi. He also noted that ArcelorMittal's acquisition of Apollo's stake in Vallourec replaced a financial investor with an industrial partner, which he called proof that the company is a "new Vallourec."