Alexandre BOUET embodies this new generation of Alpine leaders, who are clear-headed, deeply rooted and open to the world. Originally from Normandy, he traded the plains of Calvados for the snow-capped peaks of the Alps, guided by a childhood passion that became his lifeline. From intern in Val d’Isère to managing director of Méribel Alpina, he climbed the mountain ladder one rung at a time, never losing the sense of wonder of someone who loves his job as much as he loves his region.
What strikes you about him is his combination of humility and determination, rigour and kindness. Alexandre talks about the mountains as if they were living beings: proud, beautiful and demanding, but also fragile, which must be understood and anticipated. In a rapidly changing sector, he advocates a deeply human approach to management and a peaceful vision of transition: “the mountains must remain proud of what they are, while preparing for the future”.
In this interview, he opens up about his career, his daily motivations, and his unwavering love for the mountains. It is a sincere, inspiring and resolutely forward-looking account from a man for whom every sunrise over the peaks remains a source of wonder and a call to action.
Alexandre Bouet, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your career path?
My name is Alexandre Bouet, and I am originally from Lower Normandy, specifically Caen, where I spent my entire youth. After spending some time in Paris for my studies, I quickly felt the need to return to the Alps, a region that had always attracted me. It was there that I had the opportunity to start my career, in Val d’Isère, in the ski lift industry.
I completed my end-of-studies internship there, then gradually climbed the ranks within the same company, Société des Téléphériques de Val d’Isère (STVI), until I became its operations director. I stayed there for eighteen years, which allowed me to acquire in-depth knowledge of how a large ski area operates and all the professions associated with it.
In 2019, a new opportunity arose: I joined the Société d’Aménagement de la Plagne (SAP) as Deputy Managing Director. This step marked an important turning point in my career, opening my eyes to a more global vision of mountain area management and the challenges associated with diversifying tourism. I stayed there for just over four years before being offered the position of managing director of Méribel Alpina, the company that operates part of the Méribel ski area, in the heart of the world’s largest ski area, Les Trois Vallées.
I am currently the managing director of Méribel Alpina, an exciting role that allows me to combine my human values, my deep attachment to the mountains and my vision of responsible ski area management.
I am 48 years old, married and the father of three daughters who grew up in the mountains and each share, in their own way, this strong connection with nature and snow. This journey, which began modestly in Val d’Isère and continued to the general management of an iconic resort, is proof to me that with passion, hard work and perseverance, you can evolve in this demanding environment without ever losing the pleasure of learning and marvelling at the mountains every day.
Alexandre BOUET, what are your passions?
What fascinates me most of all is being outdoors. I have always needed nature, fresh air and movement, and that is undoubtedly what led me to the mountains and the job I do today. Working in this environment allows me to live in tune with the seasons, to experience nature at its most authentic, and to be in constant contact with the terrain.
I naturally practise downhill skiing, but also ski touring and hiking. I love the diversity of these activities: the pleasure of carving a beautiful descent, the serenity of a climb with climbing skins, or simply walking in the mountains, which allows you to recharge your batteries and observe. I am curious about everything related to new snow sports (snowboarding, new types of skis or equipment). I love to test, discover and understand.
When I am travelling, I also enjoy running, because it is a simple activity that can be done anywhere, allowing me to stay in good physical condition and clear my mind.
Outside of sport, I have a keen interest in general culture and reading, but not necessarily fiction. I am more interested in books on history, politics and social analysis. I like to understand the world we live in, the mechanisms that drive it, and the trajectories of people and ideas.
These passions, whether sporting or intellectual, all have one thing in common: they feed my curiosity, my need to understand, to feel and to observe, whether on a snow-covered mountain peak or through a book.
What motivates you? Why do you get up in the morning?
I wake up in the morning with pleasure, simply because I deeply love what I do. And every day, I appreciate how incredibly lucky I am: to have a job that I am passionate about, in an environment that I love, surrounded by committed and dynamic teams.
Many people wake up in the morning with only one thing on their mind: for the day to end. I enjoy going to work, I enjoy human contact, collective thinking, the energy that emanates from a mountain resort when everything comes to life. Of course, some days are more difficult than others, but overall, I see each day as a new opportunity to learn, to solve problems, to move forward.
What motivates me is also the human and collective dimension of my job. I enjoy leading my teams, sharing a vision, finding solutions together and devising new projects. Being at the head of a delegated company also means constantly questioning yourself, persuading, explaining and arbitrating. This intellectual and interpersonal challenge is hugely stimulating for me.
I also love the unpredictability of our days: you never really know what to expect. Between the weather, technical issues, seasonality, and customer expectations, every day is different. And this variety, this constant intensity, suits me perfectly: I get bored very quickly when things become too linear.
What gives you the greatest satisfaction?
Without hesitation, my greatest satisfaction is first and foremost my family, and in particular my three daughters. It may sound a bit clichéd, but it’s genuinely what I’m most proud of. Seeing them flourish in the mountains, growing up in this environment and each finding their own path, is a source of immense pride. At a time when everything seems increasingly connected and virtual, I find it wonderful that they have managed to maintain a strong connection with nature and real life, the kind that is lived outdoors, in contact with the terrain, the cold, the wind and the snow.
Professionally speaking, my greatest satisfaction comes from how far I’ve come. I started as an intern in Val d’Isère, working on the ski lifts, and I was lucky enough, and no doubt also persistent enough, to gradually climb the ladder. I was an engineer, area manager, operations manager, then operations director, before joining the senior management team in La Plagne, then in Méribel Alpina.
I see this journey as proof that anything is possible, provided you give yourself the means to achieve it and remain curious, open-minded and hard-working. There is no such thing as fate or a glass ceiling: in our sector, as elsewhere, you can evolve and progress if you maintain your passion for your work and respect for the people you work with.
Alexandre BOUET, do you have any regrets?
Like everyone else, there have been times when I’ve thought I could have done things differently. But, quite honestly, I don’t like looking back. We always have regrets, but I prefer to see them as experiences rather than burdens.
Throughout my career, I have had to make many decisions, sometimes urgently, sometimes with incomplete information. This is the lot of all those who hold positions of responsibility. And inevitably, there are mistakes, choices that we would make differently with hindsight. But these mistakes are what make us grow, shape our judgement and enable us to progress.
Having regrets would mean getting stuck in the past. I prefer to take responsibility for my decisions, even those that did not have the desired effect, and move forward. It is a philosophy of life as much as a way of working: not letting yourself be paralysed by what has been, but learning from each situation so you can do better next time.
If you had a list of three wishes for the mountains, what would they be?
Firstly, I would like the mountains to remain proud. Proud of what they are, what they represent, and what we, as stakeholders in this environment, do on a daily basis. We often hear about ski bashing, criticism, sometimes excessive, of our activity. But that’s not what I feel when I talk to customers. I mainly see people who are happy, grateful and enthusiastic about coming to the mountains. They appreciate the experiences we offer them, the landscapes, the friendliness and the unique feeling that this setting provides. We should therefore be proud of our mission: to enable families, enthusiasts and curious visitors to enjoy exceptional moments in a preserved environment.
My second wish would be for beauty. It is a word that is dear to me because it encompasses everything: the beauty of the landscape, architectural quality, respect for the environment, and the simplicity of developments. I would like every decision made in the mountains (whether it concerns an infrastructure project, a building or a trail) to be guided by this quest for beauty, in the noble sense of the word. May what we create be harmonious, sustainable and worthy of the natural environment that surrounds us. Being proud of what we do also means being able to look at it and say, it’s beautiful, and it’s right.
Finally, the third wish would be anticipation. In our professions, we sometimes tend to be satisfied with a model that works. But the mountains are changing, the climate is changing, and so are the expectations of the public. We must therefore be prepared for the future before necessity forces us to do so. As the saying goes, “it’s when the weather is fine that you should repair the roof.” Today, the mountains are still enjoying good times, but now is precisely the moment to imagine the necessary adaptations: reviewing our economic models, diversifying our activities, thinking about more resilient ski areas that can operate with less snow or shorter seasons.
Anticipating also means preserving what is essential: life in the valleys, local employment, cultural identity, while ensuring that future generations can also enjoy the mountains in all their diversity.
Alexandre BOUET, how do you see the future?
I still see my future in the mountains. This is where I feel at home, and I am convinced that I have not yet explored all it has to offer. Every day teaches me something new, and every season brings its own set of challenges and discoveries. I continue to marvel at this living and working environment, and as long as this curiosity, this desire to learn and this admiration remain intact, I will have no desire to go anywhere else.
I come from the sea, and I love to return there whenever I can. But the mountains have become my balance, my horizon. They give me the raw yet soothing energy I need to move forward. As long as I can contribute to it, I want to remain in this world and continue working for its development, while respecting its identity.
What I like is moving forward step by step, seizing opportunities when they arise, and remaining open to natural developments in the profession. The mountains, like our roles, are constantly changing: even when the title remains the same, the content of the job changes, the challenges are renewed, and the prospects broaden. It is this constant movement that makes our profession so exciting.
Of course, I am not opposed to change. On the contrary, it is necessary to reinvent oneself regularly, to shake up one’s habits, to discover new territories or new projects. The advantage of being part of a large group such as Compagnie des Alpes is precisely that it allows us to envisage these transitions without calling everything into question, while continuing to serve the same collective objective.
