The Governing Board of Fusion for Energy (F4E), the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy, appointed Marc Lachaise as Director.
Carlos Alejaldre, Chair of the F4E Governing Board, thanked all delegates for their cooperation and congratulated Marc Lachaise on their behalf. “We look forward to working with you in order to lead Europe’s contribution to ITER, and its participation in various fusion projects aiming to demonstrate the full potential of this energy source.”
In the wake of the announcement, Marc Lachaise responded: “It is an honour to be appointed Director of F4E and I promise to lead this organisation and its staff with commitment, integrity and a truly collaborative spirit. During my career, I have worked in the field of energy building experience on management, supply chain, and big nuclear projects. I’m ready to offer my expertise to the fusion community because I’m truly convinced of its potential. The responsibility bestowed on me is also an opportunity to honour Europe’s contribution to ITER, empower teams, and collaborate with our partners to deliver ITER.”
Marc Lachaise holds a double degree in Engineering from Ecole Centrale de Lyon in partnership with the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (ETSEIB), and an MBA from ESADE. He spent 27 years of his career working in the EDF Group (Électricité de France) where he held different leadership positions, equipping him with a broad set of skills. He started in 1996 in the Maintenance Network Department of EDF until he moved in 2000 to the International Project Division as Project Manager. Three years later, he took the duties of Executive Assistant to the Senior Vice-President in the Corporate Finance Department. In 2008, he became Group Procurement Co-ordinator and Global Sourcing, enhancing collaboration between the main EDF subsidiaries in procurement. After four years performing these duties, he became Head of Procurement at Hinkley Point C, leading the team placing the contracts. In 2015, he was named Deputy Head of Department for Nuclear Procurement. Later, in 2018, he took duties as Contract Manager Director of the EDF Group, developing and instilling a culture of contract management and delivery in the organisation. Since 2021, he holds the position of Supply Chain Control Director in the newly formed assurance function for the EDF New Build nuclear projects under the Excell Performance Plan.
Background
The Director is appointed by Fusion for Energy’s Governing Board for a period of five years, once renewable up to five years. The appointment is made based on a list of candidates, proposed by the European Commission, after the publication of an open competition in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
Fusion for Energy
Fusion for Energy (F4E) is the European Union’s organisation for Europe’s contribution to ITER. One of the main tasks of F4E is to work together with European industry, SMEs and research organisations to develop and provide a wide range of high technology components together with engineering, maintenance and support services for the ITER project. F4E supports fusion R&D initiatives through the Broader Approach Agreement signed with Japan and prepares for the construction of demonstration fusion reactors (DEMO). F4E was created by a decision of the Council of the European Union as an independent legal entity and was established in April 2007 for a period of 35 years. Its offices are in Barcelona, Spain.
www.fusionforenergy.europa.eu
ITER
ITER is a first-of-a-kind global collaboration. It will be the world’s largest experimental fusion facility and is designed to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power. Fusion is the process which powers the sun and the stars. When light atomic nuclei fuse together to form heavier ones, a large amount of energy is released. Fusion research is aimed at developing a safe, limitless and environmentally responsible energy source. Europe will contribute almost half of the costs of its construction, while the other six Members to this joint international venture (China, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the USA), will contribute equally to the rest. The site of the ITER project is in Cadarache, in the South of France.
www.iter.org
Contact
F4E media enquiries:
Aris Apollonatos
E-mail: aris.apollonatos@f4e.europa.eu
Tel: + 34 649 179 429
