When people talk about leaders who help companies grow faster and stand stronger, the name Francois Sabaté comes up again and again. His story is not just about one job or one company. It is the story of a man who has spent more than 20 years helping businesses move forward, even when things were hard or changing fast. Today, many people in the world of SMEs and ETIs see him as a trusted partner for growth, structure, and transformation.
What makes his journey special is how simple his approach looks from the outside. He listens, he understands the problem, and he builds clear steps. But behind that simple process sits a deep background in international business development, operational excellence, leadership development, and business transformation. This mix of skills is why so many founders and CEOs trust him when they need guidance.
Early Career and the Start of His Global Mindset
The career of Francois Sabaté began inside his family’s company in the cork-closure industry. The business was already important in Europe, but Francois helped it grow into something even bigger. He spent 15 years opening export markets in places like the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and even building partnerships in South Africa.
During this time, he worked on major projects such as launching one of the first high-performance technical corks. This product later became known as Diam, which is now the number one cork brand in the world. It is sold in billions each year. This early chapter explains why Francois understands global markets, supply chains, and industry competition better than most.
He also helped create WineBusiness.com, a B2B online platform that became a trusted source in the wine industry. Even today, it is known for its strong content and professional tools. This work shows how early he understood digital tools, new revenue models, and business staging.
Building Growth Engines Across Different Industries
After leaving the family company, Francois Sabaté continued to build his career across many industries. He joined the luxury packaging group Pochet, where he became President of Pochet of America. He worked on a full business transformation, from supply chain to ERP systems, and helped the group reach record sales. Later, he served as Sales & Marketing General Manager at Pochet du Courval, managing a €200M division focused on perfumes and cosmetics.
These roles helped him sharpen his skills in commercial development, new product development, international expansion, and customer experience.
The Modern Work of Francois Sabaté: Helping Leaders Move Faster and Grow Stronger
As the years went on, Francois Sabaté continued to work with different companies that needed structure, clarity, and growth. One of the most important chapters in his recent journey is his role as President of Heidrich, a high-end renovation and exterior joinery company in Alsace. Here, he helped the business grow with premium windows, doors, shutters, and smart-home (domotics) solutions. He worked on customer value, team structure, and long-term planning. Many people still point to this period as an example of how good leadership can change an entire business.
Later, he joined I&S Adviser, a group of experienced CEOs and entrepreneurs who help companies face big challenges like growth, commercial development, international expansion, and business transformation. As an Operating Partner, and then Directeur Général, he supported many SMEs and ETIs with new business models, business staging, improved cash flow, and stronger teams. His job was to guide leaders during moments when they felt overwhelmed or unsure. And he did this by giving them clear steps and real tools that worked in everyday life.
Leading Eklar and Supporting Leaders Who Want to Move Faster
Today, the main focus of Francois Sabaté is his work as President of Eklar. Eklar is built for leaders of SMEs and ETIs who want to grow faster, feel less alone, and make better decisions. Many CEOs use Eklar when they need help with growth acceleration, restructuring, preparation for a sale, or even a turnaround.
The approach is simple: listen, analyze, and build a plan that feels clear and easy to follow. It is this mix of listening and strategic thinking that makes Francois different. He understands the pressure that leaders feel — the long days, the financial worries, the team issues, the international risks, and the constant need to adapt. His goal is always the same: give leaders peace of mind and a strong path forward.
At Eklar, he also uses everything he learned from his global work — export strategy, ERP projects, leadership development, customer experience, and operational excellence. This is why so many founders trust him when they want to step into a new market or fix a weak part of their business.
A Strong Reputation for Clear Thinking and Real Results
One of the best signs of the impact of Francois Sabaté is the way leaders talk about him. For example, Francois Cantin, the head of FL Métal, shared how Francois stepped in as a transitional president during a difficult moment. In less than a year, Francois reorganized the company, improved the structure, hired key people, and built a clear action plan. When Cantin returned, he found a stronger business, ready for the future.
Stories like this show the power of good leadership. They also show why companies in many sectors — from luxury packaging to housing renovation, metallurgy, wine industry technology, and even B2B digital platforms — come to him when they need help. His mix of simple communication and deep knowledge makes him stand out.
Why His Work Matters Today
The world is moving fast. Markets change. Teams shift between office and remote work. International supply chains face pressure. New digital tools appear every day. Leaders feel more alone than ever. This is exactly why the work of Francois Sabaté matters right now.
He gives leaders something rare: clarity. He helps them see what is possible and what steps to take next. His experience in export markets, ERP transformations, commercial development, and operational excellence gives him a view that many others do not have. And because he has worked in so many industries, he can guide any kind of company — from a startup to a large family business.
His story teaches a simple lesson: when you have the right support, you can face big challenges without fear.
