Primary Job Title CEO Primary Organization 
Air Liquide
Location Paris, Ile-de-France, France Regions European Union (EU), Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Gender Male
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A graduate of the École Centrale de Paris, Benoît POTIER joined the Air Liquide group in 1981 as a Research and Development engineer. He then held positions as Project Manager in the Engineering and Construction Department and Head of Energy Development within
the Large Industry segment. In 1993 he was named Head of Strategy-Organization and in
1994 he was appointed Head of Chemicals, Steel, Refining and Energy Markets. He became Deputy General Manager in 1995, and added to the aforementioned responsibilities that of Head of Construction Engineering and Large Industry for Europe.
Benoît POTIER was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 1997, Director of Air Liquide in 2000 and Chairman of the Management Board in November 2001. In 2006, he was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Liquide SA. In 2004, Air Liquide acquired the assets of Messer
Griesheim in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. In 2007, the group expanded its technology portfolio by acquiring the Lurgi engineering company and in 2008 launched the Alma company project aimed at accelerating its growth. The group is continuing to diversify internationally, notably through its growing presence in developing economies: Asia, Russia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Latin America.
In 2008, Benoît POTIER initiated the creation of Fondation Air Liquide and has served as its Chairman since inception. Fondation Air Liquide supports research projects in the nvironmental and healthcare fields and contributes to local development by encouraging micro-initiatives in those areas of the world where the group is present. Since May 2014, Benoît POTIER has also been Chairman of the European Roundtable of Industrialists.
