Director General · CEM Saint-Barthélemy
Thierry Gréaux
More than 25 years of experience between Saint-Barthélemy and Canada, at the crossroads of economics, finance, business management, economic development and strategy.
- Economics & economic development
- Finance & business management
- Island economies & French overseas territories
- Strategy
At a glance
- Role
- Director General of the CEM Saint-Barthélemy, since 2021
- Scope
- Team of 12, budget of about €3 million
- Education
- BBA (UQAM), financial planning (IQPF), CIM, CIWM
- Languages
- French and English
- Citizenship
- French and Canadian
What I bring
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Leading a public institution
Director General of the CEM since 2021: strategy with the elected board, a budget of about €3 million, a team of 12, organisation of departments and change management.
See my career -
Growing revenue and activity
Direct CFAE receipts up 30% between 2021 and 2024; a training centre that reached 139 sessions in 2024, up 96% on 2021.
See the results -
Informing economic decisions
An economic observatory for Saint-Barthélemy; a counterpart for the French National Assembly (2023) and Senate (2026) on the cost of living in the overseas territories and on LODEOM.
See press and hearings -
Combining finance and strategy
Wealth management at Desjardins Group in Québec from 2017 to 2021; ranked first in Québec on the IQPF financial planning exam; CIM and CIWM designations.
See my education
At the CEM, since 2021
Results
Results of the CEM to which I contributed. The CFAE is Saint-Barthélemy’s flat-rate annual business contribution. Each figure links to its source.
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Direct CFAE receipts
+30%
between 2021 and 20241
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Training centre
139
sessions in 2024, up 96% on 20211
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CEM revenue
€569k
in 2024 (+12.4%)1
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Economic observatory
more than9,000
active business establishments recorded in Saint-Barthélemy, and 936 business start-ups in 20252
- CEM, 2024 activity report (opens in a new tab) (in French).
- Journal de Saint-Barth, “Le foisonnant rapport d’activité de la Cem” (opens in a new tab), June 2026 (in French).
About
Since 2021, I have been Director General of the Chambre Économique Multiprofessionnelle (CEM) of Saint-Barthélemy, the territorial public body that serves as the island’s chamber of commerce, chamber of trades and chamber of agriculture. I manage a budget of about €3 million and a team of 12: strategy, finance, HR, economic development, business services, vocational training, economic intelligence and institutional relations.
My career brings together three complementary worlds:
- Public service, at the Saint-Barthélemy Town Hall and then at the CEM.
- Regional aviation, for more than fifteen years in Saint-Barthélemy: business development, compliance, quality and risk management.
- Finance in Canada: wealth management at Desjardins Group for high-net-worth clients.
I hold a Bachelor of Business Administration from UQAM and a diploma in financial planning. In 2019, I ranked first in Québec on the exam of the Institut québécois de planification financière (92%, 341 candidates).


Career
- Saint-Barthélemy
- Québec (Canada)
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Aug 2021 – present
Director General
Chambre Économique Multiprofessionnelle (CEM) · Saint-Barthélemy
General management of a territorial public body that serves as the island’s chamber of commerce, trades and agriculture. Budget of about €3 million; team of 12.
- Strategy: setting and delivering it with the president and the elected board.
- Finance: budget and financial management, revenue monitoring, CFAE collection office, public procurement, cost accounting.
- Human resources: organisation of departments, team management, change management.
- Economics: Saint-Barthélemy economic observatory, analyses of businesses and local economic trends.
- Business services: registration formalities, vocational training, business support, economic information, legal services.
- Industries: retail, restaurants, agriculture, fishing, taxis, transport and construction.
- Partnerships and representation: State services, the Collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy, Parliament, ministries, chamber networks, national business organisations.
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May 2017 – Aug 2021
Wealth management, Desjardins Group
Three successive positions · Québec
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Nov 2020 – Aug 2021
Senior Wealth Management Advisor
Desjardins Securities · Montréal
Investment advice and wealth management for high-net-worth clients: individuals, executives and entrepreneurs. Portfolio analysis, financial and estate strategies. Investment dealer representative, registered at the time with IIROC.
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Jan 2019 – Nov 2020
Account Manager – Wealth Management
Service Signature · Boucherville
Relationships with high-net-worth clients, comprehensive analysis of financial needs, coordination of investment, retirement, tax, estate and asset protection strategies. Mutual fund representative, registered at the time with Québec’s AMF.
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May 2017 – Jan 2019
Wealth Management and Personal Finance Advisor
Caisse Desjardins des Patriotes · Varennes
Financial planning; financing, investment and savings solutions; support for individuals and entrepreneurs.
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Sep 2002 – Dec 2017
Director of Administration, Business Development, Compliance and Risk Management
St Barth Commuter · Saint-Barthélemy
Cross-functional responsibilities in a regional airline: administration, sales, business development, compliance, quality and risk management.
- Developed the sales function and international markets, including the high-end North American clientele.
- New distribution and loyalty strategies; took part in building the airline’s first website and computerised booking system.
- Contributed to a fivefold increase in revenue over ten years; in 2015, nearly 45,000 passengers and 9,100 flights.
- Developed and ran a quality management system; risk management and regulatory compliance.
- Annual analyses for management: seasonality, trends, competition, performance.
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Jul 2001 – Aug 2002
Administrative Officer – Accounting and Administration
Saint-Barthélemy Town Hall · Saint-Barthélemy
- Administrative and accounting management.
- Reorganisation of several municipal departments.
- Management of schools, school catering and school transport.
Press and hearings
French Parliament, trade press and local press. Articles are in French.
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“Le foisonnant rapport d’activité de la Cem” (opens in a new tab)
The CEM activity report: more than 9,000 active business establishments and 936 business start-ups in 2025.
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Senate fact-finding mission on LODEOM, visit to Saint-Barthélemy (opens in a new tab)
Working lunch with the mission, alongside the CEM president. Information report no. 662 of 27 May 2026 on employer-contribution exemptions in the overseas territories.
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“Le langage corporel : l’autre voix du leadership” (opens in a new tab)
Quoted on body language in leadership: to lead, he says, you have to “listen with your eyes”.
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Record no. 7, 6 April 2023.
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“La Cem veut structurer la filière agricole” (opens in a new tab)
Structuring the island’s farming sector: the CEM supports projects until they launch.
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“Marchés publics : la Cem ‘a un rôle à jouer’” (opens in a new tab)
Helping local businesses compete for public contracts.
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“La Cem pense son plan d’action avec son nouveau directeur” (opens in a new tab)
First weeks as Director General of the CEM.
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Ranked first in Québec in financial planning (opens in a new tab)
First place on the IQPF exam: 92%, 341 candidates.
Education and designations
Degrees
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) · 1996 – 2001
Certificate in Financial Planning
ESG UQAM
Financial Planner Diploma
Institut québécois de planification financière (IQPF) · 2018
Award
Ranked first in Québec out of 341 candidates on the IQPF exam, with 92% (2019). Charles-Pelletier Scholarship – RBC Royal Bank.
Designations · Canadian Securities Institute
CIM – Chartered Investment Manager
2020
CIWM – Certified International Wealth Manager
2021
Other CSI courses
Portfolio management, retirement, estate and trust planning, high-net-worth clients, mutual funds · 2016 – 2021
Approach
What I believe
“The best economic decisions combine reliable data, knowledge of the ground, financial analysis, an understanding of businesses and the ability to turn a strategy into concrete results.”
Areas of expertise
- Business economics
- Island economies
- Public finance
- Financial analysis
- Performance management
- Organisational transformation
- Risk management and compliance
- Public policy
Languages
- French native
- English fluent
Recruiters and partners
Contact
Open to conversations about executive roles, in France and internationally.
The easiest way to reach me is a message on LinkedIn. Detailed CV available on request.
My LinkedIn profile (opens in a new tab)