Loïk passed away today. And with him, a certain idea of industrial France falters for a moment, as if struck by the silence he leaves behind.
He had a deep, firm voice, always with a hint of mischief, which could rouse a room full of engineers or shake up a minister. His phrasing was direct, he had a visceral love for industry, and above all, he fiercely refused to give up.
Loïk never gave in to simplistic ideas. He had seen too much, built too much, fought too hard to be satisfied with slogans or posturing. He knew that industrial reality is made up of complexity, sweat, materials (plastic!), and sometimes loneliness.
He had headed the country's largest public companies, Rhône-Poulenc, Elf Aquitaine, Gaz de France, and SNCF, with a single guiding principle: France's strategic interests. But what strikes me most, beyond his professional achievements, is his unwavering commitment to a vision of progress. His defense of the plastics industry is one of the finest examples of this.
When it was fashionable to blame plastic for all evils, Loïk stood up and spoke out. He denounced plastic bashing as intellectual laziness and industrial suicide. For him, it wasn't about defending a material for its own sake, but about reminding people that there can be no ecological transition without high-performance materials, no sovereignty without mastery of petrochemicals, and no industry without political courage.
In December 2022, Loïk agreed to become Vice President of Plastalliance. I still remember the general meeting where he was unanimously elected. It was clear to see in everyone's eyes: we were honored, but also reassured. Having Loïk by our side meant surrounding ourselves with a man of stature and experience, a fighter who knew how to wield technical arguments and patriotic fervor without ever resorting to demagoguery.
Loïk believed deeply in the reindustrialization of the country. He did not dream of going back to the past, but of a rebuilt, realistic, productive future. During our conferences, webinars, and private conversations, he always came back to this idea: we must trust those who do the work. Not ideologues, not unrealistic demands. But the women and men in factories, workshops, and laboratories.
At over 80 years of age, he asked sharp questions, challenged certainties, and reminded us of the essential: Europe will not survive without industry. And this industry must be defended without hesitation, including, and especially if it manufactures plastic.
Loïk wasn't playing a role. He was that voice. And for me, he was much more than a support. He was a guiding light, a mentor.
Today, I have lost a friend and a role model, Plastalliance has lost a Vice President, and France has lost a great public servant. But we will preserve his legacy: the conviction that we must love industry, not out of nostalgia, but because it is the very foundation of our freedom.
Rest in peace, dear Loïk. Your fight continues in us.
Joseph Tayefeh
Secretary General of Plastalliance