25 years of Evolis: anniversary interview with its 2 new leaders
To mark the 25th anniversary of the leader in instant card issuance solutions, Christophe Peraudeau and Jérôme Miermont, the two new Evolis managers, take part in a special anniversary interview. They look back on 25 years of history and the takeover by HID/ASSA ABLOY, share their vision, unveil novelties for 2025, and have fun revealing themselves through their Chinese portrait.
2025 marks the 25th anniversary of Evolis, an opportunity to take a look in the rear-view mirror. How do you look back on this quarter-century of history?
Christophe Peraudeau : I joined Evolis in 2007. I was immediately attracted by the project, the ambition, the management team, the values and the energy. I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved. Evolis has defined a clear strategy, implemented it and seized opportunities, all the while showing determination. We have succeeded in becoming a leading, global brand, thanks to constant adaptation and in a context of very strong internal growth.
Jérôme Miermont : For me, who arrived at Evolis more recently, in 2022, I felt exactly the same state of mind! The most significant event was obviously the sale of Evolis to the HID group. But what really stays with me from my first steps at Evolis is the omnipresent team spirit.
Joining the HID/ASSA ABLOY group was indeed a major turning point in the Evolis success story. How is this joint story shaping up?
C. Peraudeau : Well, the integration of Evolis into the HID/ASSA ABLOY group is going very well. The first year has enabled us to coordinate our activities, learn from each other, share our vision of the market, and of course adjust processes and modes of communication where necessary. Of course, we also had to clarify the terms of this integration for our partners and employees. We are a business unit, with our own product strategy, positioning and identity, our own brands, and we remain masters of our own destiny. Our new group expects us to continue to grow and develop as we have done for 25 years.
J. Miermont : Absolutely. Now we’re moving on to the next stage, which will enable us to study possible synergies between our entities, while preserving the unique Evolis DNA. How can we capitalize on our membership of this group to turn it into a growth factor. How to implement synergies that will bring value to our customers.
Let’s look to the future: what are your strategic priorities for Evolis’ continued development?
C. Peraudeau : That’s the challenge we’re facing: to continue to grow and do even better than we’ve done in the last 25 years! Growth remains the watchword, of course, and to achieve this, we need to think through each and every one of our actions and decisions with a view to satisfying our customers. There are still many opportunities to be seized internationally, and new uses to be developed, and we need to seek them out by continuing to adapt to the specific features and needs of each region. That’s what’s at stake in our 5-year strategic plan, which we’ll be drawing up this year.
J. Miermont : Our development also lies in our ability to innovate, and to do so with the environment in mind. It’s a process that began a long time ago at Evolis and will continue on a daily basis. We have a unique industrial strength in our market, and we intend to continue developing it to maintain our competitive edge.
More concretely, what can we expect from Evolis in 2025?
C. Peraudeau : Every year we unveil new products, and 2025 will be no exception: we’ll be continuing to renew our core range, pushing Agilia to take its rightful place in the retransfer market, and beyond our printer offering, we’ll also be launching strategic products in terms of consumables and software.
J. Miermont : There’s no doubt about it, 2025 is an ambitious year! And we’re confident because we know we can count on the commitment of all the Evolis teams. We’ll be working even closer to our customers, by improving our quality approach in the broadest sense of the term. We will also be driving forward new initiatives and pursuing those already launched to accelerate our digitalization. These transformations are essential and represent real business levers for Evolis.
The “fun” value of Evolis is well known. Any clues about how you’re planning to celebrate this anniversary?
C. Peraudeau : It goes without saying that we weren’t going to miss this golden opportunity to celebrate our history and this anniversary! With our employees, with our partners, with all those who contribute to our success every day.
J. Miermont : Yes, we’ve planned a number of events and surprises throughout the year to mark this 25th anniversary. And we’ll have to be patient to find out more…
To finish on a lighter note and get to know the two new Evolis managers, we offer you a Chinese portrait.
If I were an animal, I’d be…
- C. Peraudeau : a bird that’s always on the move and knows how to soar.
- J. Miermont : a bear who knows how to be both strong and fast, but also calmer.
If I were a city, I’d be…
- C. Peraudeau : Mumbai, India, for its balance between modernity and tradition and the energy it exudes.
- J. Miermont : Avignon, my hometown in southeastern France, for its serenity and rejuvenation.
If I were a song, I’d be…
- C. Peraudeau : “Celebration” by Kool & The Gang, that’s my festive side!
- J. Miermont : “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, for his infectious good humor.
If I were an object, I’d be…
- C. Peraudeau : a notebook packed with ideas and possibilities for the future.
- J. Miermont : a smartphone, connected and with which communication is direct and efficient.
If I were a dish, I’d be…
- C. Peraudeau / J. Miermont : a pizza, of course, in honor of the Evolis Pizza Parties, for sharing and conviviality!