The Saadé family, owners of the shipping company CMA CGM, pull the strings of Marseille as if it were their own ship. Rodolphe Saadé has turned the company into the region's economic engine, financing infrastructure and sponsoring events. However, following criticism over record profits during the pandemic, the shipping giant has decided to sail with the lights off.
Smart logistics: the algorithm that doesn't see the crisis 🚢
CMA CGM has implemented fleet management systems based on artificial intelligence to optimize routes and reduce costs. Its data centers in Marseille process container traffic in real time, adjusting logistics to global demand. The company also invests in alternative fuels such as LNG, although its fleet remains mostly diesel. Digitalization allows Saadé to control every move from his terminal, regardless of the media storm.
How to make a killing and then play dumb 💰
Rodolphe Saadé has mastered the art of discretion: after billing billions during covid, he now funds the opera and local football. The Marseille press no longer asks about excessive profits, but about the new stadium that CMA CGM is paying for. It's as if the ship's captain, after a successful boarding, started handing out candy at the port. Of course, the crew still earns just enough.