The Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux Group announces the foundation of the Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux University in order to support its international development. The aims of the university are to improve the Group's management methods, make it more competitive, and enhance its capacity to adapt to change. The university's mission will be to design, develop and dispense major training programs for the Group's 2,000 present and future top managers, in locations in France, Belgium and several other international centers. The programs will contribute to management of the Group's executive grade personnel and help to develop their skills, working through partnerships with recognized institutions and experts, and by fostering the emergence of internal networks for sharing knowledge and best practice.

The university will be headed by Nadine Lemaître, reporting to the Executive Board, and in liaison with the Group Human Resources Division, starting June 1, 1999.
Nadine Lemaître, 47, is a sales engineer and holds a doctorate in applied economics from the Université Libre de Bruxelles.

She was a lecturer, then Professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles from 1974 to 1989, where she taught, conducted research and advised business on human resources management issues. Her particular areas of interest have included the sociology of organizations, problems of corporate culture, and the management of innovation and change.

She joined the computer maker Bull in 1989 as Vice President Human Resources and as a member of Bull's Management Committee in Belgium. She then went on to hold this post at Bull Benelux, and later Bull Europe.

In 1995, Nadine Lemaître joined the Générale de Banque Group as Senior Vice President for Human Resources and Social Affairs. She became Fortis Group's Vice President Human Resources following the merger of Générale de Banque with the Fortis Group.

Nadine Lemaître is a professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles.