The appointment of Patrick Augier within PONANT supports the company’s ambition to become the leading player in its high-end expedition cruise activity and one of the world benchmarks for responsible tourism.
Man of the sea, expert and committed…
Patrick Augier will join the Executive Committee. In particular, he will be in charge of strategic subjects such as new constructions, R&D, scientific issues and CSR. Patrick Augier sailed on all the oceans as an atomic engineer then chief engineer of nuclear attack submarines and commander of ships. He was, in particular, the last Commander of the helicopter carrier Jeanne d’Arc.
Vice Admiral…
Subsequently, his experience and expertise enabled him to imagine and bring France’s maritime policy to the Prime Minister from 2013 to 2019. Vice-admiral, he commanded the battalion of marine firefighters from Marseille during the crisis health where he has developed many innovative solutions, all unanimously acclaimed. “Protecting and enhancing the sea as a territory is my lifelong commitment”, he likes to underline. In his new position, he will put his expertise and experience of major maritime issues at the service of the Explore to Inspire strategy defined and supported by Hervé Gastinel, President of PONANT.
Patrick Augier succeeds Charles Gravatte
“PONANT is a unique player in the travel industry. The commitment that defines our values and is at the heart of our strategy is to offer our customers inspiring and meaningful trips. I welcome the arrival of Patrick Augier, whose exceptional understanding of our sector and maritime issues will enable us to combine innovation, excellence and respect for the planet at the service of our passengers,” adds Hervé Gastinel, President of PONANT. Patrick Augier succeeds Charles Gravatte who is leaving the company after 9 years leading strategic projects such as newbuilding and CSR. Four teams will report directly to Patrick Augier, respectively in charge of: • R&D and Science • Corporate Social Responsibility • Strategy and Projects • Institutional Relations PONANT, a subsidiary of Artémis since 2015, has significantly changed scale over the past two years. It now has thirteen ships, including the historic sailboat Le Ponant and Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s first polar exploration vessel, hybrid electric and powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). For thirty-five years, with a certain idea of the sea, PONANT has been taking its passengers in the footsteps of the great explorers, to exceptional destinations, pursuing its strategy of innovation and excellence which has enabled it to make its fleet the symbol of the French way of life. Small ships, eco-design, slow travel, awareness raising and collaboration with local players are the ingredients of the cruise model of tomorrow embodied by the company.
