Grégoire Ponchon takes the helm at Framatome

Amid a broader leadership renewal within France’s key nuclear players, Grégoire Ponchon has been appointed CEO of Framatome, succeeding Bernard Fontana. A long-time insider, Ponchon brings a deeply rooted background in the nuclear industry.

On June 6, 2025, Framatome’s Supervisory Board officially named Grégoire Ponchon as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer, following the departure of Bernard Fontana, who was tapped in early May to take over as CEO of EDF.

Grégoire Ponchon has built a strong career within the nuclear sector. After starting at Renault SAS in 1999, he joined the Areva Group where he held key roles—initially in internal audit, and later as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the La Hague site and the Recycling Business Unit. He went on to become CFO of both the Installed Base and Instrumentation & Control (I&C) Business Units. In 2017, he became CFO of Framatome, before assuming dual responsibilities as Deputy CEO and CFO in 2020.

A board member of the French Nuclear Energy Society (Sfen), Grégoire Ponchon will oversee major strategic projects, including the Forge+ program, which aims to double the production capacity of forged components—particularly for the primary circuits of EPR and EPR2 reactors. In a message posted on LinkedIn, he acknowledged his predecessor’s work and stated: “I will stand with you to continue implementing Framatome’s strategy. Our priorities remain safety, health and security, quality, and lead time.”

Leadership Changes Across France’s Nuclear Ecosystem

This appointment is part of a broader wave of leadership transitions within the French nuclear landscape.

In addition to Bernard Fontana’s move to EDF, the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) announced on June 6 the interim appointment of Marie-Astrid Ravon-Berenguer as its new Administrator General. Previously serving as the organization’s Secretary General since February 2024, she succeeds François Jacq, now appointed CEO of the French Space Agency (CNES).

At EDF, Nathalie Pivet will serve as interim CFO following the departure of Xavier Girre, who has taken over as CEO of the Suez Group.

Finally, Catherine Cornand is set to lead Arabelle Solutions. Since 2018, she has served as Vice President of Framatome’s Installed Base Business Unit. ■