Next in our interview series, we talk to Christophe Guerbois, the Supply Chain & Safety Director at Lubmarine, a role he was promoted to in July 2024.
With more than two decades of experience in the industry, Christophe has built a fascinating career that spans multiple sectors, regions, and roles. Today he shares insights into his career journey, the challenges of managing a complex global supply chain, and his commitment to sustainability in a rapidly changing industry.
Q: Christophe, could you start by telling us a bit about your background and how you got into the lubricants industry?
"I’ve been with TotalEnergies for 22 years, and it all started in West France. I was a sales representative, selling lubricants to industries including transportation, haulage, and companies manufacturing and operating off-road machinery, which included equipment for civil engineering used in road construction, land infrastructure developments and quarrying. This experience included a mix of direct customer interaction and understanding the technical aspects of the lubricants we sold into those markets.
Looking back on my education I followed the business studies pathway, where I pursued an MBA with a focus on sales and marketing. Although I always had a childhood dream to one day become a pilot, choosing the business degree led me to a different and rewarding career path. After my graduation, I then gained three years of experience in the lubricants business at the Company’s head office, where I managed the supply and demand of base oils, which ignited my passion for supply chain management."
Q: It seems like supply chain management became a real turning point for you. Can you elaborate on why you find it so fascinating?
"Supply chain management, especially on a global scale, is like solving a complex puzzle every day. Every decision you make is influenced by global factors – geopolitical tensions, the climate crisis, and economic shifts. It's a constant balancing act, and I love how it brings you into contact with people from all over the world.
For example, I spent four years in the supply side of things, handling base oil production, managing supply of our blending plants and addressing challenges like over production. This role was a good introduction to supply chain dynamics and taught me how to balance supply with demand and how market forces directly influence decisions on a global scale."
Q: Your career has involved a variety of roles. You’ve worked in the Corporate Audit, in Refining & Chemicals, Aviation, and now Supply Chain and Safety at Lubmarine. What insights have you gained from these different experiences?
"Each role has given me a different perspective on how the Company operates. When I worked in the Corporate Audit at TotalEnergies, I had a ‘helicopter view’ of the entire Company. Through worldwide missions, I evaluated TotalEnergies' entities to assess internal controls and management of their risk exposure. It provided significant insights into the operations of large global companies within regulated environments. The rapport built up by working in teams during that time of my career developed strong connections and friendships that remain.
Moving to Refining & Chemicals, I was responsible for balancing production and outlets across our refineries, and coordinating sales to major fuel distributors. That taught me how to respond quickly to market needs, ensuring that the highest-value products were sold at the right time.
In Aviation, I moved back into an international role where I managed jet fuel supply across multiple regions – Asia, Europe, Africa and across the U.S. Here I learned about price risk management and how regulatory changes, like the introduction of sustainable aviation fuel, impacts the supply chain."
Q: Now, at Lubmarine, your role involves managing a very specialized supply chain. Can you walk us through what that looks like on a day-to-day basis?
"At Lubmarine, we focus on both upstream and downstream supply chains for lubricants, particularly in the marine sector. On the upstream side, we manage everything from ensuring raw materials are delivered to 55 blending plants worldwide and lubricants are produced at the highest standards. On the downstream side our focus is in the transportation of final products to over 800 ports around the world. My responsibility extends to maintaining the high service standards for quality, accurate demand forecasting for additives, and ensuring that we can supply at least 1,000 vessels annually with the right product at the right time – and at the right place – port side and at sea.
A big part of my job is also managing and monitoring risks, such as reducing the risk of potential spillages when connecting hoses to vessels at ports, lift and hoist work from port-side to vessels, and ensuring compliance with HSE (Health, Safety, and Environmental) regulations.
What sets us apart from our competitors is the level of our in-house technical expertise. The production process is more complex to that of gasoline for example. It requires a deep understanding of molecular chemistry, particularly when formulating new lubricants or adjusting current product formulas to improve their performance with different engines and powertrains."
Q: Lubmarine operates in a highly international environment. How does this global reach influence your team and operations?
"We have a very diverse team spread across different continents, with people in Hong Kong, Singapore, Paris, Copenhagen, and the U.S. The cultural differences are a strength because they bring fresh perspectives and solutions to the table. However, managing such a global team also comes with challenges. Time zone differences, for instance, require excellent organization skills – working with teams across different continents often means exceptionally long days.
I prioritize regular visits to colleagues, as face-to-face meetings are essential for building trust and fostering strong relationships. It’s all about finding a balance between virtual collaboration and in-person connection."
Q: Sustainability is an increasingly important focus in every industry. How is Lubmarine addressing environmental challenges, particularly in your supply chain operations?
"Sustainability is central to our supply chain strategy. We’re continually focusing on reducing CO2 emissions across all our operations. We do this in a number of ways such as optimizing the chemistry composition of our products as well as improving the efficiency of the way our products are transported and delivered worldwide. For instance, we always aim to minimize air freight, as it significantly impacts our carbon footprint. We also work hard to avoid last-minute supply decisions, which can result in inefficient logistics, added complexities and contribute to unnecessary emissions."
Q: Outside of work, you have a few hobbies and interests. How do you unwind from the pressures of managing a global supply chain?
"I find cooking to be a great way to unwind. I love preparing simple French dishes that are all about generating feelings of warmth, comfort and enjoyment – especially ‘slow cooking’ recipes that remind me of home. It’s a great way for me to relax and disconnect from work. I also enjoy skiing and hiking, especially in the Mont Blanc region, which I visit regularly in January and March. There’s something very peaceful about being in the mountains. Traveling is another passion of mine – I’ve had the chance to explore various parts of Europe and Asia and even visited Argentina recently. These experiences allow me to recharge and gain new perspectives on life, which ultimately helps me in my work as well."