Fountaine Pajot a french shipyard, a worldwide brand

From its humble origins of just four staff, Fountaine Pajot is now powered by a dedicated team of 600 highly skilled employees who operate from our two production sites. Our mid-range sailing and power catamarans are constructed in Aigrefeuille, a short distance from La Rochelle. At the Port Neuf factory in La Rochelle, our Flagship range and large sail and power catamarans are constructed to allow convenient direct launching without the need for road transportation.

We were four, we are 600 now…

Aigrefeuille-d'Aunis site
Aigrefeuille-d'Aunis site
La Rochelle site
La Rochelle site

Fountaine Pajot governance

Members of Fountaine Pajot Board of Directors

Claire Fountaine, President
Claire Fountaine, President
Morgane Motteau,  Board Member
Morgane Motteau, Board Member
Martin Fountaine, Board Member
Martin Fountaine, Board Member
Thomas Trideau, Board Member
Thomas Trideau, Board Member
Laurent Castaing, Board Member - Independent Member
Laurent Castaing, Board Member - Independent Member
Jennifer Szersnovicz, Board Member - Independent Member
Jennifer Szersnovicz, Board Member - Independent Member
Henry Huyghues Despointes, Board Member - Independent Member
Henry Huyghues Despointes, Board Member - Independent Member
  • Claire Fountaine, President
    Born on 26/05/1953 in Saint Ouen, Claire Fountaine has taught sailing for years, has introduced hundreds of young people to regattas and managed France's sailing teams for the Athens and Beijing Olympic Games.

    These days, as Chair of the Fountaine Pajot Board of Directors, she has put her enthusiasm and experience into the company's service.
  • Morgane Motteau, Board Member
    Born on 06/07/1985 at La Rochelle, Morgane is the daughter of Claire and Jean-François Fountaine.

    After studying at the Sports School and Business School in La Rochelle, Morgane Motteau joined the Francofolies Festival in 2009 as manager of partnerships, then commercial director. Since 2015, she has been the festival’s executive director. A high-level sportsperson and sailing enthusiast, she won several titles, was runner-up in the 2003/04 European Youth 470 Championship and was French 470 Champion in 2006.
  • Martin Fountaine, Board Member
    Born on 19/07/1992 and son of Claire and Jean-François Fountaine, Martin Fountaine is a regular at high-level sailing competitions and regularly supports the organisation of ocean races (Figaro / Route du Rhum) as part of the race management teams.

    After graduating from his merchant navy course, he joined the GazOcean company as an Officer in 2016. Since 2018 he has been a General Officer and safety trainer for crews at Brittany Ferries.
  • Thomas Trideau, Board Member
    Born on 7th March 1976 in Nantes, France, Thomas Trideau is the representative of Arkéa Capital, a minority private equity firm specialising in development capital and buyout capital investment operations ranging from €1M to €50M.

    After graduating from the Paris-Dauphine University, Thomas Trideau joined Siparex, a private equity fund based in Nantes in 1999. He moved to Arkéa Capital in 2011, opening the Rennes office and then taking over the management of the Nantes base in 2018. A member of Arkéa Capital's executive, he is also a board member of several small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) in the west of France.
  • Laurent Castaing, Board Member - Independent Member
    Born 14/03-1960, Laurent Castaing graduated from the École Polytechnique in 1981, then from the École Nationale Supérieure des Techniques Avancés, Marine Engineering Section in 1985.

    He began his career in 1985 at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire as a workshop manager in the sheet-metal assembly shop, then in vessel fitting. From 1998, he became Industrial Director, then Deputy Director-General of the Chantiers de l’Atlantique.

    Since 2012, Laurent Castaing has been Director-General of the Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
  • Jennifer Szersnovicz, Board Member - Independent Member
    Born on 27/09/1956 in London, Ontario (Canada), Jennifer Szersnovicz is the holder of an MBA from INSEAD in Fontainebleau.

    She has worked at Courvoisier SAS (Jarnac, Charente) since 1981, initially in management control. In 1987 she was then appointed as head of sales administration and marketing control, then marketing strategy until 1995, when she took over as head of publicity and market relations. She was a member of the Board of Directors until her retirement in October 2018.
  • Henry Huyghues Despointes, Board Member - Independent Member
    Born on 28/1953 in Paris, Henry Huyghues Despointes was responsible for the consolidation operations of the Alstom group until 1987, then co-founder and member of the Directorate of Société 21 Centrale Partners until March 2011 where he then acted as a Senior Advisor until 30 June 2018.

    A member of the Société Française des Analystes Financiers, he now holds a number of board positions in various organisations.

Fountaine Pajot Group Executive team - Management Team

Nicolas Gardies, Chief Executive Officer
Nicolas Gardies, Chief Executive Officer
Romain Motteau, Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Romain Motteau, Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Mathieu Fountaine, Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Mathieu Fountaine, Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Johan Le Saux, Group Industrial Director
Johan Le Saux, Group Industrial Director
Steven Guedeu, Group Sales Director
Steven Guedeu, Group Sales Director

Fountaine Pajot Management Team

Jean-Marc Bri, Purchasing Director
Jean-Marc Bri, Purchasing Director
Hélène de Fontainieu, Group Communication Director
Hélène de Fontainieu, Group Communication Director
Yves de Kerangat, Flagships Sales Director
Yves de Kerangat, Flagships Sales Director
Vincent Laigo, Technical and Design Office Director for core range sailing catamarans
Vincent Laigo, Technical and Design Office Director for core range sailing catamarans
Yannick Naudin, Technical and Design Office Director for Flagships and Motor Yachts units
Yannick Naudin, Technical and Design Office Director for Flagships and Motor Yachts units
Vincent Pallard, Quality, Safety and Environment Director
Vincent Pallard, Quality, Safety and Environment Director
Mélanie Pouplier, Human Resources Director
Mélanie Pouplier, Human Resources Director
Vladimir Popov, Supply Chain Director
Vladimir Popov, Supply Chain Director