Towards a convergence between Placo and Isover?

Saint-Gobain, the world's largest building materials group, has just appointed a single sales director for its two subsidiaries, Isover and Placo. Éric Gottié, aged 50, spent 12 years as sales director for Isover's South-East region, and then as sales director for the company as a whole.

Each company leads its own market, and on site their products are often installed side by side. It is therefore reasonable to expect synergies to emerge, whether in products or in distribution channels. It is worth remembering that Placo does not only sell plasterboard, but also external wall insulation (EWI) systems and floor insulation, products that sit close to Isover's markets.

However, Saint-Gobain's companies will have to speed up their environmental transition, as competitors such as Soprema already have a considerable head start in bio-based building insulation materials!