Obsessed with women. Over the years the then new French ownership obliterated its male talent in the USA, the very people that had made the company successful. Long admired Industry leaders and experts and top performers were pushed out to make way for average at best women. To many top performers were demoted or worse to make way for the French goal of 50% women Managment. It was interesting to witness this largely happening in the USA while the French HQ was left in tact and dominated by male Managment. If the USA got a new male manager, he was most likely promoted from France or South America.
Constructive criticism was frowned upon and was a real career killer. Annual pay raises were embarrassing as the company migrated to unobtainable bonus programs which encountered rule changes at review time in an effort to avoid paying.
Mersen made numerous acquisitions while I was employed but HQ in Lyon FR could not understand that they were acquiring talent, people, experience and not buildings and capitol equipment . Most of these acquired businesses would slowly slide in to failure as the French Managment successfully alienated the best people that came with the acquisition. I hope they finally worked that out.
