Leading a digital consulting services company – Sylvain Fievet’s Alliancy Interview

I have known Éric Perrier for a long time. Yet each time I meet him again, I am struck by the consistency of his message and the coherence of his career. He does not try to impress with grand gestures: he moves forward calmly but steadily, holding a clear line for 25 years. It is this endurance, this preserved independence, that made me want to highlight him in this column. For in our sector, how many can claim such a journey, without giving in to the pressure of investment funds, relying only on their performance and the collective they have built? 

A collective project that changes everything 

Listening to him, I better understand what makes VISEO unique. More than 1,000 employee shareholders, around 50 managers involved in governance, a turnover of over €400 million achieved without spectacular fundraising. “VISEO is a collective project,” he insists. 
I share this conviction: when you truly involve employees in ownership, you change the company’s dynamics. It is no longer just an individual adventure; it becomes a shared responsibility. Éric has transformed a company into a community of entrepreneurs. And in the long run, that makes all the difference. 

Thirty acquisitions, but one single spirit 

When he speaks about his nearly 30 acquisitions, he does not use the usual vocabulary of business leaders. No “synergies”, no “consolidations”… He speaks of encounters. “M&A at VISEO is not about buying companies, it is about sharing a project.” 
I find this approach refreshing and courageous. In a world where absorption is fast and uniformity too common, Éric has chosen another path: preserving the energy of the entrepreneurs who join his group, maintaining their commitment, giving them a place in the collective. This is what allows VISEO to be present today in 20 countries while remaining coherent, clear, and faithful to its DNA. 

Choosing the right partners 

We spoke at length about his technology partnerships. Once again, he avoids conventional rhetoric. “We cannot move forward without software vendors. But we must work with those who truly invest, who stand by an industrial vision, and who give their partners a genuine role.” 
This clarity impressed me. SAP, Microsoft, Salesforce are at the heart of his model, but he does not scatter. VISEO does not accumulate logos. It chooses with rigour. And this is also the value of this leader: he does not seek to be everywhere, but to create depth where it truly matters. 

AI and data: where everything is at stake 

When we touched on generative AI, his eyes lit up. “It’s a revolution,” he said without hesitation. A revolution that disrupts both his software partners and his own teams, forcing a rethink of how projects are delivered and clients supported. 
But while others get lost in buzzwords, Éric goes straight to the point: “There is no good AI without good data. The real battle today is over data resources.” 
I share this belief: the battle of tomorrow is not only about who will have the best interface, but who will have the means to exploit, structure, and secure their data. And in this, VISEO aims to be a trusted player. 

A call to unlock our potential 

At one point in our exchange, Éric told me a sentence that still resonates: “If VISEO had been created in the United States, we would probably be ten times bigger.” Not to compare pointlessly, but to challenge our own ecosystem. 
How is it that with so much talent, so many entrepreneurs, and such demanding clients, it remains so difficult to grow in France and Europe? Why do we tolerate this cultural and administrative complexity that hinders more than it supports? 
His message is clear: “We must be proud of our companies, proud of our entrepreneurs, proud of our technological expertise. Let’s stop feeling sorry for ourselves.” 

My perspective 

Walking away from this conversation, I realise Éric Perrier’s journey is more than an individual success. It is a collective demonstration. Yes, it is possible to build an independent IT services company, grow at double digits, bring entrepreneurs together and remain agile after 25 years. 
It is also an invitation to review our own reflexes. Too often, we doubt. Too often, we complicate and forget to be proud of what we have built. 

Éric reminds us that our potential is immense. Now, it is up to us to unleash it.