Toulouse: the hiring of Jean-Luc Moudenc’s chief of staff at the Cité de l’espace creates renewal
The recruitment of Arnaud Mounier, chief of staff of Jean-Luc Moudenc, as number 2 of the Cité de l’espace has caused some renewals. Administrators of Semeccel, the semi-public company that brings together the Cité de l’Espace and the Flight of the Pioneers, have noted that they have been presented with a fait accompli.
Arnaud Mounier’s broadcast of Jean-Luc Moudenc’s cabinet director at the Capitole did not go unnoticed. The most loyal collaborator of the mayor of Toulouse confirmed on Tuesday that he was leaving his post to take up the post of deputy general manager of Semeccel, the mixed economy company which brings together the Cité de l’espace and the Envol desPioneurs. . A hasty departure since Arnaud Mounier leaves his post on Friday but also a surprise for the elected officials of the city of Toulouse who only learned about it on Tuesday, at the same time as everyone else. However, according to Arnaud Mounier and Jean-Luc Moudenc, the departure was recorded in the summer of 2020, the day after the re-election of the mayor of Toulouse.
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But it is above all within the board of directors of Semeccel, where representatives of Toulouse Métropole, the Occitanie region, CNES, Thalès, Airbus and Caisse des Dépôts sit, that the recruitment of Arnaud Mounier has been variously appreciated. Admittedly, only the representative of the Region, Thierry Cotelle, abstained but behind the scenes, many were the administrators to be surprised at the conditions of employment of the grognard of Jean-Luc Moudenc.
“We had received two weeks before the agenda in which the recruitment of a deputy general manager was mentioned, says one of them. But it was not until the very day of the board of directors that the “We were given a deliberation asking us to examine the appointment of Arnaud Mounier. He entered the room and introduced himself to the administrators. We were presented with a fait accompli.” This same administrator deplores a rather thin CV in the space sector while the remuneration is considerable, 110,000 euros gross per year.
“If it hadn’t been for Arnaud Mounier, no one would have been moved”
The recruitment process was followed to the letter, underlines the chairman of the board of directors, Jean-Claude Dardelet, deputy mayor of Toulouse in charge of tourism. “It was designed simply and carefully,” he explains. If the hiring of Arnaud Mounier took place in the greatest secrecy, it would be “to preserve the staff so that they do not worry unnecessarily. We had also mandated a recruitment firm and some of the applicants does not motivate their candidacy to be known.”
According to Jean-Claude Dardelet, this recruitment was necessary: ”Significant investments have been made in the development of the Cité de l’Espace and the Flight of the Pioneers. These new challenges go beyond the need for a dedicated person to take care of them. “. As for the selection process, it would occur as early as April. Three candidates were selected by a firm of headhunters and auditioned. “At this level it is May the best win and Arnaud’s interview was the most successful.” Finally, according to Mr. Dardelet, there was no need to hire a space specialist for the position: “We chose an expert communities rather than a space expert” explains the chairman of the board of directors. As for the salary, “it corresponds to the market price”.
Conclusion of Jean-Claude Dardelet: “If it had not been about Arnaud Mounier, no one would have been moved”. Jean-Luc Moudenc’s chief of staff for a few more days must take office on December 5th.