Who are we ?
“Classis, classem” (in Latin) means the crew. We chose this name to emphasise we are a cohesive, grounded team. In Africa, canoe crews are often the primary links and generators of economic development within and between societies.
classM is a crew of canoeists navigating towards the same goal, serving its clients needs.
Our vision: industrial projects are sustainable and profitable only if they are based on a thorough understanding of local context. The solutions we develop for our clients are based on this reality: “what is profitable is sustainable”.
Our know-how: inclusive approach (working with locals) and sharing the value created. The solutions that we develop for our clients are embedded into local contexts. We avoid implementing ready-made solutions and aim for co-constructing adapted, and therefore sustainable, solutions.
In all the sectors in which we operate, our work is based on an in-depth analysis of the value chains. This enables us to identify the opportunities for value creation.
We offer support throughout the project cycle: needs assessment, market analysis, feasibility studies, in-the-field implementation, technical support, etc.
Our hands-on approach and in-depth knowledge of Africa allow us to better understand the challenges facing our clients. Our team promotes an entrepreneurial approach, where African populations’ needs and international groups’ objectives meet.
Experts in the field
Our team
François-Xavier d’ORNELLAS
FounderFrançois-Xavier is an entrepreneur with in-depth experience of business development in Africa. In 2011, he created classM. François-Xavier also manages two local subsidiaries in Gabon and Cameroon.
He has started his career in the catering sector and has rapidly developed in-depth proficiency in decentralized management of multicultural teams in France, Brazil, and Africa in major companies like Sodexo or CIS.
François-Xavier is a graduate from ESCP EUROPE (Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris).
Jérémie MALBRANCKE
Founder
Vincent ABEILLE
Project ManagerVincent is a consultant, with a strong experience in structuring, advising and implementing projects in developing countries. He has built a strong track-record in market sizing, value chain analysis, financial modelling and due diligence.
The focus of his recent work has been on agricultural value chains (cocoa, rubber, subsistence farming, cash and food crops), energy (on-grid and decentralized generation, BtoB energy services, mini-grids, solar home systems) and other large infrastructure projects (water and sanitation, health, transport), primarily in Africa.
He has conducted numerous consultancy assignments for energy sector companies (Engie, EDF, Total, etc.), international development banks (AFD, EIB, GIZ, Proparco, EBRD, etc.), and industrial companies (Endeavour Mining, Sudcam, etc.).
After an internship at Proparco (Development Finance Institution), Vincent Abeille worked for BearingPoint (Consultant, Energy and Utilities Team), Agence Française de Développement in Mayotte (Financial analyst) and Groupe SOS (Advisor to the CEO).
Vincent holds a MA in Corporate Finance and Strategy from Sciences Po Paris and a MA in International Affairs and Governance from the University of Sankt Gallen.
Clara REVEL
AGRONOMISTClara worked for 5 years for CIRAD (French agricultural research and international cooperation organization) and one of its local subsidiaries. She was first a project manager for the European Commission and then in charge of a portfolio of agricultural and biotechnological innovations(Technology Transfer Unit).
She has succesfully carried out assignements in Colombia, India, Malaysia, Lebanon and several African countries.
Over the past 4 years at classM, she has conducted studies related to the agribusiness sector and is the head agronomist on numerous agricultural projects (Angola, Madagascar, Gabon, Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Ivory Coast).
Clara graduated from AgroParisTech (Management of innovation in life sciences) and from ISTOM (Tropical Agriculture in developing countries).
Théophile DURIEZ
Working at classM since January 2021 as a consultant, Théophile DURIEZ conducts market analysis, feasibility and financial studies on several sectors (energy, agriculture, CSR).
Théophile graduated from Sciences Po Bordeaux in 2017 and started his career as Junior Economist in the economic institute Xerfi. He then joined the French Embassy in Yaoundé as an economist and advised French companies on their development in Central Africa such as identifying opportunities, information about markets, financial solutions. He continued to advise French companies on their international development in the Chamber of Commerce of Paris until he joined classM.
Arthur PORTE
Chief Financial OfficerArthur holds an International Management master’s degree from EMD – Business School (Marseille, France).
He started working for classM as an apprentice and is now working as a financial controller. He oversees administrative and accounting operations and implements new procedures and tools.
Arthur has a strong experience of the African continent, where he lived for 18 years (14 years in Congo, 4 in the Ivory Coast).
Bobby JJUUKO
Bobby Jjuuko Kimbuggwe is the Chief Executive Officer of Pure Grow Africa Ltd, classM’s fruits and vegetables subsidiary in Uganda. He founded the company in 2015 with a goal of finding lasting solutions for farmer’s major problems and lifting standards of foods.
A graduate from Aarhus University in Danemark, he is very passionate about Agri-business and is in charge of product line development for local and international clients of Pure Grow Africa Ltd.
Before starting Pure Grow Africa Ltd, Bobby had gained a lot of international experience with local and international companies in the agribusiness sector especially in cross border trade of dry rations like Grains, Beans, Maize Floor Rice and Sugar while managing Kisumi Trading Company for 7 years.
In the formative years of Pure Grow Africa, he was a big advocate for organic farming in Uganda and was among the success stories that contributed to the current awareness that farmers have on organic inputs, which he achieved through regular farmer trainings under the Farmers Pride Initiative that was a brainchild of Pure Grow Africa Team.
He after embarked on a journey to provide safe, quality foods to Hotels, catering Services, Supermarkets, Schools and other large consumers of fresh Foods, Fruits and Vegetables as a way to solve the problem of lack of markets to the farmers.
Fabrice BORDES
Chief Financial Officer in UgandaWorking at classM since 2016 as a consultant, Fabrice has been carrying out market surveys and conducting studies in numerous sectors (energy, agribusiness, CSR) for greenfield and brownfield projects in Africa.
He has been advising several companies (Endeavour Mining, Bolloré Logistics, SPIE, Perenco etc.) for the concrete implementation and the organisational development of new activities, particularly in the structure of « local content » strategies.
At the end of 2020, his career path led him to join Pure Grow Africa (www.puregrowafrica.com), the Ugandan classM’s fresh food subsidiary in Uganda. As Chief Financial Officer, he manages the development and the profitability of all operations, promoting quality innovations and new markets expansion.
Fabrice graduated from Ecole Centrale Marseille (Organisation, Management and Data processing for the service sector).
Augustin RHONE
Augustin joined classM in October 2022 as a junior project manager. After spending most of his life in Asia, Augustin pursued his education at Sciences Po Paris, where he specialised in international relations, project management and development economics. His interest in development led him to work in India as a business developer in a CSR consultancy firm, and in Thailand as a project coordinator. More recently, he joined the Kroll office of Paris as a business intelligence and investigation analyst. His work included carrying out corporate investigations in France, Benelux and Africa, and competitive intelligence reports worldwide.
François GARCIA
Senior Project Manager based in Port Gentil, François GARCIA has a long experience in company management. His operational experience in Africa, Europe and French overseas departments and territories enables him to understand all the economic, management, commercial and social issues of a company. He holds an Economics’ degree from the Université Lumière of Lyon 2.
Sophia JEAN-CHARLES
Sophia joined classM in May 2022 as an apprentice management controller. She is preparing a master’s in finance and management control at EMD. She oversees classM’s accounting and management control of the subsidiaries.
