NEOMA Alumni Mag - N°37 - Décembre 2023 - 39

A pioneer turned local
Emmanuel Lesueur (CESEM 94),
Self-entrepreneur in insurance
Emmanuel Lesueur moved to Lisbon in 1995,
following his wife, also a NEOMA Alumni, who
had an opportunity in logistics: " I found a French
International Volunteers in Business (IVB)
working for Axa, at the time Union des Assurances
de Paris (UAP). In these days, people with
a background and training like us were quite rare,
so I quickly progressed in terms of responsibilities
and became a board member at the age of
32 " he recalls. Over the years, the couple
considered moving out of Portugal, and even had
an opportunity in Libya in 2010, but had to return
because of the war. In the end, they settled in the
country, but also bought a small hotel in Brazil
that they run between September and March.
The rest of the year they live in Abrantes, a small
town in the middle of Portugal: " Abrantes was our
country house and after our children went to
study abroad, we decided to follow the sun
all year long " says the Alumni. Now a selfentrepreneur,
Emmanuel Lesueur works for a
mortgage broker to help them expand their
insurance activities. Now a true local, leaving
Portugal is no longer an option for the Alumni.
Among the 30th best
places in the world for
start-ups
Jean-Pierre Godbillon (PGE 92),
Nordkapp Consulting leader
Jean-Pierre Godbillon first came to Portugal in 1992 for
the wedding of a NEOMA Alumni friend. He fell in love
with the country at that time and since then he has been
coming regularly for family vacations. In 2012, he was
working for the multinational chemical company Rhodia.
Acquired by Solvay, the company established its service
centre in Portugal: " I was in charge of migrating all
accounting activities to the country, so I was coming here
for one week every month for five years " he recalls. What
decided him to take a step forward and move to Lisbon.
" We have two young kids and wanted to offer them an
international experience. In addition, I work in finance and
administrative processes where digitalization is key, and
Lisbon is among the 30th best places in the world for
start-ups, with a very dynamic and creative environment "
he adds. In addition, the Alumni also has an expertise in
profitability management for manufacturing companies:
" Many international firms, for example in aeronautics, are
nearshoring in Portugal, which has one of the cheapest
costs of labour in Europe, as well as well-trained engineers
who speak several foreign languages and a high
level of dedication " he reveals. Some manufacturing
activities which he says are mostly taking place around
Lisbon and Setúbal in the south and Porto, Braga, and
Aveiro in the north.
A great place for outdoor activities
Marion Thouvignon (PGE 15),
Digital Marketing Strategist & Integrated Marketing Lead at NMQ Digital
After 10 years in Amsterdam, Marion Thouvignon moved to Lisbon last year with her husband:
" We enjoy outdoor activities and wanted to move south. In addition, Lisbon is a very
international city, and it is really booming job wise with dynamic start-ups. It reminds me of
Amsterdam 7 years ago " says the digital marketing specialist, who found part time work in the
Portuguese branch of a Dutch company NMQ Digital. In addition, the Alumni joined Lisbon
wellness, a group of wellness professionals, where she practices as an energy healer and
holistic therapist, a continuation of the practice she had in Amsterdam. She settled in Ajuda,
next to Belem, a place which she says has kept its local atmosphere and reasonable prices:
" we pay 1250 euros for 100 square meters against over in the city centre " .
NEOMA ALUMNI mag DÉCEMBRE 2023 - 39 -

NEOMA Alumni Mag - N°37 - Décembre 2023

Table des matières de la publication NEOMA Alumni Mag - N°37 - Décembre 2023