A little bit of a teaser...

Born in Lyon, he followed his parents to the south of France where his father, an engineer for a large French dermo-cosmetics group is transferred. A few years later, thesame causes produce the same effects and it is in Boston that Joseph continues his schooling for three years in a bilingual establishment. In Marseille, his gap year in business school further strengthens his qualities as a chameleon. For one year in Australia, he develops sales of French regional products. "Culturally, it was not easy to talk about cassoulet and foie gras with people who knew everything about their manufacturing processes…", remembers Joseph. Speaking of remembrances, he shares with us a few that tell a lot about the mischievous, teasing and slightly rowdy kid that he was in boarding school. Among the best of, according  to the institutions that have had the pleasure to welcome him, we find, in no particular order, cutting-off hot water for showers in the middle of winter, objects that good taste  prevents from naming spread over the supervisor's pillow, or a duffel battle that ends badly  with a broken tooth.

Welcome to FiveForty°

Joseph learned his skills at Flexmind where he met a certain Alexandre. They connect. "Before and after the recruitment process, we met with the future colleagues at afterworks events or Christmas dinner." After one year in the Up group, specializing in the Chèque Déjeuner [employer-paid lunch vouchers], Joseph feels he has covered all of that subject. The departure of colleagues who were egging him towards higher goals gives him the final push. He joins FiveForty°. "Immediately, it was another rhythm. My assignment for GC Aesthetics offered me the opportunities that I had always wanted with an international dimension, locations and products sold all over the world." Joseph is delighted. The only downside, the Covid pandemic, which is currently blocking travel plans abroad. Day-to-day, the feeling of being well managed predominates. "These are competent people, Listening to you, close but not too much either. And then this context of rapid growth with such diverse clientele suits me perfectly,” adds Joseph.

Guitar heroes

In the office, it's not all about customer issues. "With Maciré and Alexandre, we are really into soccer. Them, more on the ground, me, more on my couch, even though I played a lot as a child." Younger, Joseph devoted himself ten years to the guitar. Classic when he started, more electric today. Now he is the proud owner of a beautiful Gibson which is his pride and joy. In his personal pantheon, the Aranjuez concerto has given  way a long time ago to Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Mark Knopfler, Clapton, Alvin Lee and other guitar heroes. Joseph also enjoys traveling, but in these times of reduced opportunities for travel, he contents himself with visiting a few reminiscences. Like those of a three-month road trip through Australia or an epic trek through West Africa. "When I went to see one of my sisters, a midwife with a humanitarian group, I traveled the roads of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. It is necessary to imagine twelve hour days with ten people in the car, two on the roof, another in the trunk and a few goats for good measure…", smiles Joseph. "Of Sierra Leone, I especially fondly remember its  intense beauty, its countless streams, the contrast of colors between the saturated red of  the earth, the deep green of the jungle and the luminous white of the sand of the beaches, fringed by coconut palms."

Joseph is inexhaustible. He reveals he’s dreaming about a parachute jump. That and a passion for films such as Casino and Goodfellas, where the notions of clans and ties are highlighted. He then confides and evokes his three families.  At the age of 18, he met François, his biological father. They discovered each other after a very long letter from Joseph. "The meeting was a very strong moment. I subsequently got to know my half-sisters, in Boston and in Paris. Then François introduced to his brothers, nephews, nieces and cousins this son whose existence everyone was also discovering."  Now in a couple since just over six years, Joseph still wonders if he will ever get married: "I don't see how am I going to invite everyone! " he worries, laughing out loud. No doubt already banking on his keen sense of adaptation.°