The government is proposing Jonathan Sebbane, boss of Sogaris, to take over as director of CSTB from May 29, replacing Étienne Crépon after more than ten years at the head of the institution.
Publi-Information 
THE CSTB (Scientific and Technical Building Center) is preparing to change the face of its general management. On the proposal of the Minister of the City and Housing Vincent Jeanbrun, Jonathan Sebbane must take the reins of the public establishment from May 29. He will succeed Étienne Crépon, established figure of the institutionafter more than a decade at its head.
End of a long cycle for Étienne Crépon
Étienne Crépon will leave his position after having held central responsibilities in public housing and construction policies for more than thirty years. Having worked at the Ministry of Housing in the early 1990s, he then held strategic positions in the state administration, both in ministerial offices and in public establishments. To the management of the DHUP, then to the presidency of the CSTB since 2014it will have accompanied a rise in power of the organization, becoming a recognized player in scientific and technical expertise in the building sector.
Under his presidency, the establishment consolidated its role in innovation, expanded its network of partners and strengthened its international positioning, particularly on the issues of construction quality and environmental transition. In this regard, the minister welcomes a journey marked by “commitment to serving the general interest“.
A profile from logistics to manage the transformation of the building
To succeed him, the government is banking on an atypical profile for a scientific institution: Jonathan Sebbane, currently head of the Sogaris group since 2015. A graduate of École Polytechnique and Ponts et Chaussées, he began his career in administration, at the Ministry of Ecology, before joining the Île-de-France Region where he held strategic positions in transport and development.
As head of Sogaris, a public-private real estate company specializing in urban logistics, he is leading a profound transformation of the group, marked by massive investments, significant recapitalization and the delivery of major infrastructure such as the Chapelle International logistics hotel in Paris.
Its action is part of a logic of reorganizing the flow of goods in urban areas and reducing the carbon footprint of the sector, with a claimed approach of economic sovereignty and general interest.
A strategic shift for the CSTB
For Vincent Jeanbrun, this choice is explained by the convergence between the urban, environmental and industrial issues supported by Jonathan Sebbane. The minister believes that his experience in logistics and development constitutes an asset in supporting the profound changes in the construction sector.
The future president of the CSTB, here in the photo, will be expected on several simultaneous fronts: acceleration of the ecological transition, innovation in construction, strengthening of applied research and support for public housing policies in a context of strong tensions on the real estate market. © Sophie Palmier
