Early Life and Education
Eric Hémar was born in Paris, France, and his family originates from Brittany. He attended France's National School of Administration (ENA), a prestigious post-graduate institution for training civil servants. Hémar's early career was in the French government, where he served in the supreme audit court and later in the transport ministry.
Rise to Success
After leaving the government, Hémar joined the Geodis Group. In 2001, he founded ID Logistics with Christophe Satin, initially focusing on retailers and selling large-size goods. The company quickly expanded, opening its first foreign branch in Taiwan in 2002. ID Logistics went public in 2012 on the NYSE Euronext in Paris. Today, ID Logistics operates in 19 countries and has a revenue of $3.6 billion in 2024.
Key Business Strategies
ID Logistics focuses on contract logistics and has expanded through acquisitions, including CEPL, Kane Logistics, and Spedimex. Hémar emphasizes innovation, with the company experimenting with AI to create "digital twins" of warehouses. He maintains a hands-on approach, visiting clients weekly and traveling extensively to the countries where ID Logistics operates. Hémar has also served as president of the TLF Union since 2019.
Philanthropy
While specific amounts are not readily available, ID Logistics has a strong focus on sustainable logistics, setting ambitious social, environmental, and societal goals to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals.