Team          

Alain-Paul LECLERC

He is a well known figure in the business of submarine cable projects, and has designed and built some of the largest submarine cable systems ever deployed. With an initial experience as a scientist and research engineer, followed by 20 years in telecommunication projects promotion and management, Mr. Leclerc brings a combination of experience in technical matters, diplomacy and negotiating skills. Main features of Mr. Leclerc’s career to date include:

• Research Engineer in CNET (FT research department), in charge of technical management in submarine cable design, manufacturing and installation;
• Long-haul projects director in France Cables and Radio (FCR is a subsidiary of FT responsible for cable ships marketing and sales and large international networks promotion and construction). In addition, Mr. Leclerc also held the position of deputy director of the cable ship department, thereby developing knowledge of surveying, marine installation and maintenance of submarine cables.

Whilst at France Cables and Radio, Mr. Leclerc promoted and built several global submarine cable infrastructures, including: Eurafrica, SAT2, SEA-ME-WE 2, Aden – Djibouti, Ariane 2, Tagide 2, SEA-ME-WE 3, Atlantis 2, SAFE and MAYA. SEA-ME-WE 3 is currently the largest telecommunication network deployed in the world and Mr. Leclerc was instrumental in its development and promotion.
Among various projects and tasks within Axiom, Mr Leclerc has participated to the following:

• ALBA-1: initial study and construction
• SEA-ME-WE 3 numerous upgrades
• EASSy (initial feasibility study, updated feasibility and business plan, construction)
• Atlas-Offshore
• UJ consortium management
• Tobrouk-Emasaed cable project
• WACS initial stage

Mr. Leclerc received his joint graduate degree from the Ecole Polytechnique and the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications in Paris.

Jean Baptiste
THOMINE

He has been involved in the technical and project management aspects of submarine cable systems for more than 22 years. Between 1988 and 1998, Jean-Baptiste was a member of the FT-CNET applied research department dedicated to submarine systems, where he participated in the design of the latest generations of optical submarine systems, specialising in modelisation and simulation of long-haul WDM optical transmission using optical amplifiers, including soliton technology. In the same period, Mr. Thomine also provided technical follow-up and quality assurance management of several cable projects. Mr. Thomine is the author or co-author of six patents.
Jean-Baptiste was heavily involved in the SEA-ME-WE 3 project, where he participated in the technical design of the cable network and subsequently chaired both the Technical Working Group and the Commissioning Working Group, while managing the Project QA team.

• SEA-ME-WE 3 numerous upgrades
• SEA-ME-WE 3 maintenance support
• Atlas-Offshore (RFQ to RFPA)
• AKORN (RFQ to RFPA)
• Sidney-Hawaii (QA)
• Silphium (RFQ to start of implementation)
• Americas-2 Upgrade#1 (QA and PM of the project)

Mr. Thomine received his joint graduate degree in Engineering from the EcolePolytechnique (x83) and the EcoleNationaleSupérieure des Télécommunications in Paris, France.

Loïc LE FUR

He has over 15 years of experience in the submarine cable business, on both the carrier and manufacturer sides. Loïc spent the first three years of his career as a member of the FT/FCR team in charge of submarine projects and cable ships, where he was heavily involved in the design, negotiation and project management of the SEA-ME-WE 3, Atlantis 2 and SAFE projects. In 1998, Mr. Le Fur moved to the Paris marketing office of TSSL (Tyco), where he obtained a solid experience in marketing and sales matters.
Mr. Le Fur brings to AXIOM a broad experience in all submarine cable business, from technical and marine matters to marketing and financing. Mr. Le Fur received his joint graduate degree in Engineering from the EcolePolytechnique and the EcoleNationaleSupérieure des Télécommunications in Paris, France.
Among various projects within Axiom, Mr Le Fur has participated to the following:

• Atlas Offshore cable System (RFQ to RFPA),
• AKORN (initial study, RFQ to RFPA),
• EASSy: initial feasibility study, updated feasibility studies, business models, info memo,
• SEAS: feasibility study including business model
• Tripoli-Mazara Upgrade (RFQ)
• West African Cable: feasibility study including business model
• BIOS (RFQ to RFPA)
• Macau SEA-ME-WE 3 landing rerouting

Jacky MELRO

He has joined AXIOM in June 2006.

In 1999, he started working with Alcatel TSD where he was involved in TSD support team and acted as a network commissioning manager for various French national customers (Telecom Development, Bouygues Telecom) and international customers as well (Sita-Equant, Southern Cross, Etisalat).

In 2003 Mr Melro created is own structure (e-land Services), and continued working with Alcatel OND as a contractor, for engineering and executing Optical products & Network Management Systems upgrades (terrestrial networks; Namibia Telecom, Swazi Telecom (Swaziland), Globacom (Nigéria), Orange Romania, Etisalat (UAE), sub-marine networks; SMW3), he was also involved in managing Networks Commissioning (Orange Romania, Etisalat, Globacom, SMW3). He joined Axiom in 2006.

Main features of Mr.Melro’s career to date include:

• 2006 to now: Axiom SARL, working as project manager
• 2003-2006: e-land Services, working as a contractor for Alcatel Optical Network Division.
• 1999-2002: Marine Consulting, Telecom Engineer working as a contractor for Alcatel Technical Support Division.

Among various projects and tasks within Axiom, Mr Melro has participated to the following:

• Atlas Offshore (RFQ to PA)
• ALBA-1: initial study, construction
• EASSy (follow-up of commissioning)
• Americas-2 Upgrade#1 (assistant to PM)
• Numerous FAT and assembly tests on all constituents of submarine cables (SLTE, PFE, SDH, repeaters, BU, cable)

Mr Melro is fluent in English, Spanish and in Portuguese

Yves RAVIER

He has over 20 years of experience in the submarine cable business, working for about 18 years for Alcatel Submarine Networks.
Mr. Ravier has been successfully involved in major submarine cable projects where he has gained a large experience on all marketing aspects including product definition, bidding, contract negotiations and project financing.
Recognized as a leading expert, Mr. Ravier has been invited to speak at major submarine cable conferences, such as:

• SubOptic 2004, Monaco; "Life Cycle of a Project"
• SubOptic 1993, Versailles, France: "Purchasers, Contractors & Marine Installers: A Need For A New Relationship"
• SubOptic 1986, Versailles, France: "Future of Repeaterless Systems".

Yves Ravier joined AXIOM in 2002 as Senior Business Analyst.

Mr.Ravier received his Engineering degree from Polytech’Lille in Villeneuve d’Ascq, France in 1979, and his Master of Business Administration from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA in 1981.

Pascal GOURNAY

He has more than 25 years of experience in the submarine cable business, where he has been successively involved in both Telecom and Oil & Gas projects. Pascal has a solid understanding of industrialisation and manufacturing issues and a deep insight in matters related to costs and marketing of submarine cables. Main features of Mr.Gournay’s career to date include:

• Submarine cable project: Project Manager for Alcatel Submarine Networks (1990-2003)
• Oil and Gas Offshore projects: Project Manager for Stolt Offshore (Engineering, Supply and Installation of Offshore Oil and Gas equipment in Nigeria / 2003-2004);
• Marketing Engineer for Russia-CIS atDuons (2005-2010)
• Axiom: from 2010 to now

Among various projects and tasks within Axiom, Mr Gournay has participated to the following:

• DDSCN (RFQ to implementation)
• Silphium (RFQ to start of implementation)
• Macau SEA-ME-WE 3 cable rerouting

Mr.Gournay received his Engineering degree from the Hautes Etudes d'Ingénieur School (HEI) in Lille, France.

François DEROUBAIX

He has a 10 year experience in the submarine cable business. François was initially in charge of the bids within Alcatel Submarine Network (ASN) for all aspects regarding cable and marine operations. He then moved to project management, managing all wet plant and marine installation project phases for both telecommunications and power cables.

He was involved in the implementation of Pan European Crossing, of 360 americas, of Circe, of the Aruba Curacao project, and of the Haenam-Cheju power cable project.
He also has a five year experience in industrial project management.

He brings to Axiom a significant experience inwet plant and marine technical aspect and in the management of international projects.
François Deroubaix joined Axiom in 2011.

He is a graduate of EcoleNationale de la Marine Marchande in Le Havre, France.

Jonathan YAPOUDJIAN

He joined AXIOM in February 2006.
In 2006, he started working with Axiom where he was involved in Technical & Marine support team. He has designed many cable routes and produced the related RPL for different projects and is regularly on-board representative on survey vessels. As an QA inspector, he also monitors Factory Acceptance Test and on site acceptance test on behalf of the Purchasers.

• Med Nautilus “Greece-Turkey” : Customer Rep on survey
• Honotua: Cable loading
• Americas II upgrade #1: SLTE FAT
• Alba 1: SLTE and PFE FAT
• Americas II CV#7, 8, 15 and 16: SLTE FAT
• BIOS: Customer Rep on survey, SLTE and PFE FAT, on site acceptence test

Mr Yapoudjian is fluent in English

Alexandre CHARPENTIER

Current AXIOM’s “midship”, he joined Axiom in September 2010.
Alexandre is in charge of most administrative and financial tasks of the company, including financial follow-up of projects, including invoicing and sub-contractors management.

Alexandre is also in charge of welcoming guests and making local and travel arrangements. He will probably be your first contact should you come and visit us.

Mr Charpentier is fluent in English

Jean DEVOS

Jean Devos is a key figure in the submarine cable industry. He is one of the 4 Axiom shareholders together with Alain Leclerc, Jean-Baptiste Thomine and Loïc Le Fur