ARNAUD LAGARDÈRE
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hachette Livre
What were the key highlights of 2024?
“In 2024, we fully leveraged the strength of our international and diversified business model to take advantage of growth opportunities.
Despite a less favourable economic environment than in previous years, our performance was outstanding, with recurring EBIT exceeding €300 million for the fourth consecutive year.
Growth remained strong, driven not only by major publishing successes and a record number of literary awards, but also by the talent and commitment of all our people.
In the United States and the United Kingdom, we have introduced a new publishing management structure to improve collaboration between teams and unlock new development opportunities in these strategic markets.
Lastly, we maintained the right balance between creativity and financial discipline to improve operating performance and support targeted investments, particularly in international markets, as exemplified by the acquisition of Sterling Publishing in the United States.”
Which major CSR initiatives were rolled out in 2024?
“We reached a major milestone in our decarbonisation strategy in 2024. As part of the Lagardère group’s transition plan, we slashed our worldwide carbon emissions by 40% between 2019 and 2023.
This major reduction was achieved through decarbonisation levers implemented across Scopes 1, 2 & 3 emissions, in collaboration with our paper and printing partners, as well as through the eco-design efforts of our editorial teams. Building on this progress, we have raised our 2030 target and are now aiming for a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions between 2019 and 2030, compared with an initial target of 30% set in 2021.
Our subsidiaries have also strengthened their commitment to diversity and inclusion. Mission Handicap trained 170 managers in France on these issues, while Hachette UK was recognised as one of the top employers for gender equality for the fifth year running. Meanwhile, the Hachette Foundation for Reading maintained its initiatives by supporting 13 projects promoting access to culture and education.”
What is the outlook for 2025?
“The new year looks set to share many similarities with 2024, as we navigate a relatively uncertain economic environment.
With this in mind, we plan to continue fine-tuning all our businesses in order to maintain their operating performance, while seizing any growth opportunities that may arise during the year.
Our leadership in Education in France also positions us well to benefit from the forthcoming national curriculum reform in certain subjects and educational cycles. Additionally, we can look forward to the release of the forty-first Asterix album.
We will also continue to lead the way in creativity and innovation – imagining new stories and initiatives, delivering outstanding service to our customers and distribution partners, and proactively addressing the challenges and impacts of generative artificial intelligence in our industry.”