Dear colleagues, dear friends, dear partners,
The image that I used to have of Romania before the year 2000 and before coming here for the first time was represented by a few images from 1989, Brancusi and Ionesco. A few years later I found out that Cioran, whom I had studied in high school, was actually “Cioran”, a Romanian-born author. As regards the Republic of Moldova, I used to have in mind a few images from the war in Transnistria and vague ideas about the German-Soviet pact.
The beginning of Pentalog in Romania brings us back to a cold winter, when three musketeers landed in Brasov: Eric, Aymeric and myself. The first images showed me a bleak and sad country, where restaurants (which are a primary reference for a Frenchman) were almost empty and had almost nothing available from the menu… Today, everything has changed and, whenever I talk about Romania, I never miss the opportunity of mentioning the extent to which cities have changed for the better and have become pleasant… and of saying that in Romania I feel like home. Actually, for me this is like a second home. And, despite all the countries that I have visited, this feeling cannot change.
Pentalog started out with a team made up of a few people at the heart of the Carpathians. Today, we are the leading consulting, computer engineering and outsourcing company in Romania and Moldova. We set off on this adventure as a 100% French-speaking organization and today we have become an international company; however, France and the French language have always remained an important reference.

As far as the company is concerned, we can say that today Pentalog has paved the road for new business models, both in the East and in the West, for the companies in this field of activity. We have internationalized production and sales. We have obtained important projects, both in terms of volume and technology. The projects of Pentalog Romania and Moldova are possibly some of the most important projects in these countries and they represent in Romania, for instance, 5% of the IT services GDP. Thanks to their size and complexity, these projects are also assets for your personal development. Today, Pentalog is gaining projects in France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Romania, Moldova… and soon in Vietnam and Israel.
What we are seeking every day is to be at the forefront of software production methods and innovation. This vision is conveyed through the launching of PENTALOG LABS, which will implement breakthrough strategies. Maybe Eric, as the PENTALOG LABS manager and recruitment officer, will talk with some of you today in order to create his team.
Since we have mentioned the field of innovation, we have to say a few words about People Centric. XPC is the clear proof of Pentalog’s will to be innovating both as regards the methods and the social organization model, because 49% of the capital is owned by the employees of the Pentalog group. Things have changed. Raluca and her associates: Andra, as well as Eric, Virginie, Monica and myself, own and manage a start-up based on a true Californian model, in which associates show a great deal of commitment and enthusiasm, while Pentalog offers them a financial support necessary for fulfilling a great destiny. The organizational structure is reversed: the mother company is based in Romania, the first subsidiary is in France and the next
will probably be in Vietnam or in Israel.
The employees’ participation in the company’s capital is a guiding principle that the management has applied right from the moment the company was founded, in 1993. Even though it is difficult to put this system into practice from a legal, managerial and property point of view, the system has never been interrupted. Currently, 5% of the Pentalog group’s capital is owned by our Romanian and Moldovan colleagues – approximately 10 people. In a few months, this level will reach 10%, i.e. between 1 and 2 million euros.

I would like to make an announcement to our colleagues from Chisinau, which I hope is good news. Last year we were affected by the political and social conditions in Moldova. Pentalog suffered because of this, as many colleagues chose to flee the country in search of a better life… in some cases at more than 10,000 km away from their families and friends. If you remember, we talked about these matters both in the media and in the different political spheres in Moldova and France and with other companies. But, in the meantime, we searched for and found solutions to some of these problems. Thus, we signed a partnership with the Mobias Bank which will enable all the Pentalog employees to have access to mortgage loans with preferential interest rates. Of course, this is just a first step, which will be followed by others. But we had to have a starting point.

In conclusion, I would like to say a few words on the Romanian and Moldovan IT industry in the context of the global crisis. For the last 10 years, I have been travelling the entire world in order to find the best markets for the Pentalog offer. Generally, I can say that the Romanian IT industry is not particularly threatened at present and that it still has potential for progress. In fact, I didn’t join in the collective hysteria of the Romanian IT sector after the different announcements related to the elimination of the tax exemption. Although it is justified from a civic point of view, this measure comes at an inappropriate time as far as the economy is concerned. I think that this measure will be applied one day, because no democratic state can sustainably support an already strong industry through corporatist agreements. However, if we want to believe in a better future for Romania, both companies and employees need to understand that they must pay taxes. By paying taxes you gain rights.
Today, it is essential to be part of a company which has a firm order list for at least 2 years, a company which has a strategic development plan and genuine European principles, which has the best productivity improvement strategies and a fantastic international team, which is inspired by the best that your culture and our culture have to offer.
Thank you for showing up in such a large number and for your daily contribution to the success of Pentalog.
And now: let’s party!
………………..

I am Romanian, so I am going to begin in Romanian:

Dragi colegi, dragi prieteni, dragi parteneri,
Imaginea Romaniei pe care o aveam, inainte de 2000 si inainte de a veni pentru prima data aici era reprezentata de cateva imagini din 1989, Brancusi si Ionesco. Cativa ani mai tarziu am aflat ca Cioran, pe care l-am studiat in liceu, era de fapt « Cioran » si de origine romana. In ceea ce priveste Republica Moldova, aveam in minte cateva imagini de razboi din Transnistria si idei vagi ale pactului germano-sovietic.
Inceputurile Pentalog in Romania ne duc catre o iarna friguroasa, in care 3 muschetari au debarcat la Brasov : Eric, Aymeric si eu. Primele imagini mi-au adus in fata o tara sumbra, trista, unde restaurantele (ceea ce pentru un francez este un reper primordial) erau aproape goale, cu meniuri din care nu era aproape nimic disponibil….Astazi, totul este schimbat, si nu ratez nici o ocazie cand vorbesc despre Romania, de a mentiona masura in care orasele s-au schimbat, in bine, si au devenit agreabile …De a spune ca in Romania ma simt ca acasa. De fapt, ca este o a doua casa pentru mine. Si in ciuda tuturor tarilor pe care le-am vizitat, acest lucru nu are nici o sansa de a se schimba.

Pentalog a plecat la drum cu o echipa de cateva persoane in inima Carpatilor. Astazi suntem prima companie de consultanta, inginerie informatica si outsourcing din Romania si Moldova. Am plecat in aceasta aventura ca o organizatie 100% francophona, pentru ca astazi sa devenim o companie internationala; insa francophonia si Franta raman in continuare un important reper.

Din punct de vedere al companiei, putem sa spunem ca astazi Pentalog a aratat calea catre noile business model-uri, atat la Est cat si la Vest, firmelor din acest sector de activitate. Am internationalizat productia, vanzarile. Am castigat proiecte de anvergura atat in volum cat si din punct de vedere tehnologic. Proiectele din Pentalog Romania si Moldova sunt posibil printre cele mai mari din aceste tari si reprezinta in Romania, spre exemplu , 5% din PIB-ul IT services. Aceste proiecte , prin dimensiunea si complexitatea lor, reprezinta si atuuri pentru dezvoltarea voastra personala. Astazi Pentalog castiga proiecte in Franta, Elvetia, Austria, Germania, Romania, Moldova…si in curand in Vietnam si Israel.

Ceea ce cautam in fiecare zi este de a fi in avangarda metodologiilor de productie software si a inovatiei. Aceasta viziune se traduce prin inaugurarea PENTALOG LABS, care va pune in practica strategii de breakthrough. Poate ca Eric, din pozitia de responsabil al PENTALOG LABS si sergent recrutror, va discuta astazi cu cativa dintre voi, pentru a-si crea commado-ul de lupta.
Pentru ca suntem in aceasta zona a inovatiei, se impun cateva cuvinte despre People Centric. XPC este o dovada clara a vointei Pentalog de a fi o firma inovatoare atat in ceea ce priveste metodele cat si modelul de organizare sociala, pentru ca 49% din capital este detinut de catre angajati ai grupului Pentalog. Lucrurile s-au schimbat. Raluca si asociatii sai : Andra, dar si Eric, Virginie, Monica si eu, detinem si dirijam un strat-up care functioneaza dupa un adevarat model californian, in care asociatii furnizeaza nu doar un volum de munca suplimentar, dar mai ales un extraordinar entuziasm. Iar Pentalog le aduce un suport financiar necesar pentru indeplinirea unui destin extraordinar. Schema organizatorica este inversa , in sensul ca firma mama este in Romania , prima filiala e in Franta, iar urmatoarea posibil in Vietnam sau Israel.

Implicarea salariatilor in capitalul companiei este o regula de conduita pe care conducerea a aplicat-o inca de la crearea firmei in 1993. Chiar daca in practica este dificil de a aplica acest sistem, atat din punct de vedere juridic, managerial si patrimonial, sistemul nu a fost niciodata oprit. In prezent 5% din capitalul grupului Pentalog este detinut de catre colegii romani si moldoveni – vreo 10 persoane. Iar in cateva luni va ajunge la 10%, adica intre 1 – 2 mil €.

As vrea sa le dau colegilor nostri de la Chisinau o veste, sper buna. Anul trecut am fost impactati de conditiile politice si sociale existente in Moldova. Pentalog a avut de suferit din aceasta cauza, multi colegi alegand sa paraseasca tara pentru a gasi o viata mai buna…cateodata la peste 10 000 km distanta de familiile si prietenii lor. Daca va aduceti aminte, am vorbit despre aceste subiecte atat in media, cat si in diverse sfere politice din Moldova si Franta si cu alte companii. Insa in acelasi timp am cautat si gasit solutii pentru o parte din aceste probleme. In acest sens am semnat un parteneriat cu Mobias Banca, care va permite tuturor angajatilor Pentalog un acces la credite ipotecare la dobanzi preferentiale. Desigur, nu este decat un prim pas, care va fi ulterior completat. Dar trebuia sa existe un punct de plecare.

As vrea ca incheiere sa va spun cateva cuvinte asupra situatiei IT-ului romano- moldav, in cadrul crizei globale. In acesti 10 ani am parcurs intreaga lume pentru a pozitiona cat mai bine oferta Pentalog. Pot sa va spun din punct de vedere general ca IT-ul romanesc nu este in mod particular amenintat astazi si ca dispune inca de o marja de progres. De altfel nu am fost partas la isteria colectiva a sectorului IT romanesc, in urma diferitelor anunturi legate de eliminarea scutirii de impozit. Aceasta masura, chiar daca este justa din punct de vedere civic, vine intr-un moment economic nepotrivit. Cred ca intr-o zi aceasta masura va fi aplicata, pentru ca nici un stat democratic nu poate sustine durabil o industrie deja puternica, prin acorduri corporatiste. Insa daca vrem sa credem intr-un viitor mai bun in Romania, atat companiile cat si angajatii trebuie sa inteleaga ca trebuie sa plateasca impozite. A plati da drepturi.

Ceea ce este esential astazi este de a fi intr-o companie care dispune de un registru de comenzi ferme pe cel putin 2 ani, intr-o companie care dispune de un plan strategic de dezvoltare si de o adevarata coloana vertebrala europeana, care dispune de cele mai bune strategii de ameliorare a productivitatii si de o fantastica echipa internationala, inspirate de catre ce este mai bun din cultura voastra si din cultura noastra.
Va multumesc pentru prezenta numeroasa, pentru participarea zi de zi la reusita Pentalog.
Si acum : let’s Party !!!