Maxime embarked on the path of business acquisition immediately after completing his studies by acquiring a struggling SME with 15 employees in the ingredients sector following a failed ownership transfer. Over the course of 5 years, Maxime turned around and expanded the business. He notably acquired a Spanish competitor before selling the entire operation in 2014. Building on this successful experience, Maxime joined the field of operational improvement consulting, initially at Deloitte and later at Alvarez & Marsal, focusing on interim management assignments. Having the goal of acquiring another company in mind, Maxime Rousseau approached the Trajan team to execute his project.
Maxime is a graduate of HEC.
Founded in 1954 in Paris and led by the founder’s children, La Coque de Nacre offers professional clients one of the widest selections of silver and gold-plated jewelry in France and Europe.
The company exclusively distributes pieces designed by its in-house teams in its Parisian creative studio. It serves a diverse clientele of physical and digital jewelry stores looking to offer their customers original pieces in the affordable luxury segment.
La Coque de Nacre has enjoyed sustained and consistent growth over several years, driven in part by its digital channel customers.
After nearly 40 years within the Group, the two managers wanted to ensure their succession at the helm of the company created by their father while preserving its independence.
“The success of La Coque de Nacre has always rested on the quality and stability of its teams; most of the executives have spent their entire careers with the company. It was essential for us that our step back could be taken in a way that respects this DNA and places the team at the heart of the development project,” one of the two managers testified.