
The Team
Top-tier professionals sharing their industry experience and a strong drive for results
Leadership team
Antoine Gurtler
Manager
Manager
Antoine holds an engineering degree from Arts et Métiers and has five years of experience in strategy consulting.
Antoine Gurtler
He supports companies in improving their performance and defining their strategic direction.
He works across the entire value chain, with a primary focus on the aerospace and defense, automotive, and complex manufacturing industries.
In the aerospace sector, he has worked with an aircraft manufacturer on various product development initiatives and on designing new processes for the “aircraft of the future.” He has also supported Tier 1 suppliers in improving operational performance in procurement and inventory management, and has defined and implemented the target operating model for aircraft carrier program management.
In the automotive sector, he has assisted manufacturers by conducting due diligence on rare metal sourcing to secure the battery supply chain for electric vehicles. He has also worked with a Tier 1 supplier to develop and implement a major digital transformation program.
Antoine has also been involved in defining decarbonization strategies. He led an international market study on green power purchase agreements (PPAs) for a major player in the agri-food industry, and contributed to projects on energy hedging management and governance for a leading chemical company.
He also has solid experience in designing and implementing global supply chains as part of a post-acquisition integration for a leading pharmaceutical company.
Frédéric Le Corre
Partner
Founding Partner
Founding Partner of STEP Consulting. Frédéric is a SUPAERO-trained engineer with over 25 years of consulting experience.
Frédéric Le Corre
Throughout his career, Frédéric has defined and led numerous major transformation and value-creation programs primarily in the aerospace sector including:
- Creation and development of activities and partnerships
- Business development and profitability improvement
- Cost reduction programs
- Organizational diagnostics and redesign
- Engineering department’s performance improvements
- Supply chain optimization and inventory reduction
He has developed deep expertise in aerospace aftermarket and maintenance, covering:
- Service Strategy: flight-hour contracts, etc.
- Performance improvement of maintenance and aircraft conversion workshops (cycles, costs)
- Optimization of technical support
- Enhancement of spare parts supply chain
- Redesign of technical documentation (maintenance manuals, spare parts, service bulletins, etc.)
The projects he has led have delivered significant and sustainable improvements for clients: higher profitability, revenue growth, reduced cycles, consistent delivery on commitments… These performance gains are tangible and measurable, down to client financial statements.
To support strategic shifts, Frédéric implements rigorous approaches combining industry expertise, analytical techniques, change management, client team coaching, and economic oversight of improvement initiatives.
He places particular emphasis on avoiding one-size-fits-all methods, taking the time to understand the organizational and cultural specificities of each client.
Alain Deshayes
Director
Director
Alain graduated from CENTRALE Paris. He has over 20 years of experience.
Alain Deshayes
He has worked with several major European players in aerospace and defense, developing expertise in Production and Supply Chain, Finance, and After-Sales (Maintenance, Customer Service Development). Alain has built strong expertise in international strategic projects for aerospace and defense clients, particularly in production optimization, supply chain optimization, supplier competitiveness and after-sales services (growth through services).
He has supported several leading aerospace companies in global supply chain improvement projects, using a rapid diagnostic methodology. Results have consistently been visible quickly, both in performance gains and cost reductions.
In parallel, he has contributed to major client service development projects for both aircraft and helicopters, in civil and military sectors, covering strategy definition, business modeling, financial structuring, and process management. Results have consistently been recognized and validated by clients.
Les résultats ont toujours été rapidement visibles et validés par les clients.
These recent experiences have given him expertise in the following areas:
- Supply chain improvement: digitalization, inventory reduction, raw material optimization, procurement competitiveness for both airframe manufacturers and suppliers
- Financial optimization: cash management during crisis periods
- Procurement function optimization: digital costing, support for negotiations
- New service development: FHS/PBH, financial structuring
- Post-M&A integration for OEMs and MRO centers
Key clients: Airbus, Airbus Defence, Airbus Helicopters, Zodiac, ATR, Safran Landing Systems, Engie (EDF)
Christophe Barth
Partner
Partner
Christophe graduated from École Polytechnique and SUPAERO.
Christophe Barth
He has over 20 years of experience in the aerospace and defense sectors, both as an operational professional and as a consultant. His core areas of expertise include :
- R&D performance management, R&T strategy, and innovation
- Cost and development cycle reduction
- Design-to-Cost methodologies
- Digitalization of operations (manufacturing, procurement)
- Business development and growth planning
He bases his work on practical, on-the-ground experience, gained notably during five years as a Systems Engineer in the defense industry.
Alexandre Le Menn
Director
Director
Alexandre is a specialist in advanced modeling, planning methods, and projections.
Alexandre Le Menn
Alexandre leads a track record of successful projects across the aerospace, metallurgical, semiconductor, and electrification industries. He began his career in the engineering department of Thales Alenia Space, working in the Thermal Service. He then spent two years in the United States, supporting the deployment of a satellite constellation. In this high-stakes business context, he validated the operation of several subsystems and assisted the client in resolving anomalies.
He later joined the Digital Transformation department, contributing to disruptive projects on strategic products, including multiple bids involving Digital Twin concepts and a Cloud platform for satellite data exploitation.
Alexandre joined STEP in 2019, where he has led several key projects in Cost Management, Supply Chain, and Planning, including:
- Co-development of a Big Data solution to enhance production cost management – tracking actuals, analyzing overruns, and forecasting RC
- Complete overhaul of Supply Chain processes and tools – developing and deploying factory planning tools, defining and implementing performance indicators, establishing inter-factory coordination rituals
- Implementation of cross-functional coordination tools and processes to project the 5-year Manufacturing & Procurement Business Plan and present it to the Executive Committee, in a high-growth, high-risk environment
- Review of all planning standards, processes, and tools for an EPC organization, covering both project management (Critical Path, On-Time Delivery KPIs & dashboards, Resource Management) and industrial operations (strategic, tactical, and operational planning for factories, test labs, and maritime installations)
- Crisis cells for identifying and evaluating scheduling scenarios to mitigate the impact of major production issues on upcoming projects
Brice Lefebvre
Manager
Manager
Brice has 10 years of experience in systems engineering, helicopter aviation operations, and strategic consulting.
Brice Lefebvre
He is a specialist in the aerospace and defense sector.
Brice works on supply chain securitization, crisis management, and organizational transformation, providing decision-makers with visibility and responsiveness on complex challenges.
Passionné par les défis industriels du monde de la défense, il préside l’association European Defence Network.
Florent Denis
Partner
Partner
He is an engineer from École Centrale de Lyon and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from IAE Paris-Sorbonne.
Florent Denis
Florent has 18 years of experience in management consulting for the industrial sector. He has developed and implemented supply chain optimization methodologies for numerous industrial clients, focusing on:
- Costs: operational excellence, redesign-to-cost, organizational structure
- Cycle times: Sales & Operations Planning, Order-to-Cash cycles, product launch timelines (R&D)
- Invested capital: inventory levels, investment requirements
He has also contributed to the turnaround of industrial clients, notably through core business refocusing strategies combining finance, marketing, and supply chain.
These experiences have led him to support clients in M&A operations, particularly during integration phases: scoping and managing integration, exiting transitional services, and implementing target structures.
Domains: Operations (Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Commercial), R&D
Sectors: Luxury, Food & Beverage, Pharma, Cosmetics
Benjamin Godard
Director
Director
Benjamin is a specialist in commercial practices, portfolio management, and marketing positioning.
Benjamin Godard
Benjamin leads with a track record of successfully leading several turnaround programs in the electrification sector. He began his career in 2015 with a PhD at Safran Aircraft Engines, during which he deployed digital tools for the design of next-generation propulsion assemblies. He then worked at ONERA as a research engineer, providing technical expertise to various French and European aerospace companies and institutions, including Airbus, Safran, Thales, DGA, and DGAC.
Benjamin joined STEP in 2020, where he contributed to several projects for a major player in electrification, including:
- Automated analysis and evaluation of commercial practices across the group’s units using digital solutions
- Strategic repositioning through transformation of commercial practices and marketing innovations
- Turnaround planning: optimizing operational performance (production, supply chain, and working capital management)
- Complexity reduction
- Economic resilience improvement programs
- Review of strategy and offer selectivity processes for an automotive supplier
- Five-year value creation plan and preparatory work for a partial divestment
Clément Lignac
Manager
Manager
Clément has over 10 years of experience, including 4 years in the aerospace sector and 6 years in consulting.
Clément Lignac
He has developed expertise in transformation programs and performance improvement for industrial leaders, requiring advanced analytical skills. After earning degrees in Supply Chain Management from ISEL and ESSEC, Clément joined an airline as a Strategic Procurement Project Manager, successfully leading cost improvement initiatives, particularly on equipment investments and maintenance (PBH for rotables).
As a consultant, he has managed analytical topics such as pricing, portfolio complexity reduction, and working capital improvement. He has also conducted strategic diagnostics of multiple business units, contributing to the development of their 3–5 year roadmaps.
He has further deepened his expertise in operations management, including:
- Supply Chain: Development of a global control tower for 4 factories to manage inventory throughout complex manufacturing processes
- Production: Implementation of a cost-reduction plan for a manufacturing site facing competitiveness challenges
- Business Planning: Design and deployment of an integrated planning tool and centralized governance to secure delivery of complex EPC projects
Key clients: Airbus, Nexans, Sonepar, Rexel, Corsair (TUI Group)
Geoffrey Lasserre
Partner
Partner
Geoffrey is a SUPAERO graduate with 16 years of experience, including 10 years in management consulting within the aerospace sector.
Geoffrey Lasserre
He covers core functions such as Engineering, Support & Services, Production, and Program Management. He began his career in the engineering department of an aerospace manufacturer, participating in various design and validation projects. After two years, he led the Organization & Methods department of a mid-sized retail company to implement an ambitious transformation plan aimed at reducing costs and improving productivity.
Building on these two operational experiences, he transitioned into management consulting, delivering high-impact missions, including:
- Reducing development costs of an aircraft program through detailed analysis of stress and systems activities, achieving a 23% reduction validated at the end of development
- Re-design-to-cost of multiple sub-assemblies, achieving 10–30% reductions recognized by stakeholders
- Complete transformation of the Support & Services organization (MRO, spare parts, support engineering, training) for a major manufacturer, with impacts recognized by the CEO
- Scoping, analyzing, and implementing Industry 4.0 solutions: Statistical Process Control, digitalization of instructions, management of remaining work
- Developing workload models based on elementary drivers to support multi-year negotiations for heavily outsourced activities
- Defining and architecting the industrial planning solution for a major manufacturer
- Strategic guidance: partnership opportunities, divestment of subsidiaries, growth planning
Thierry Pierreton
Director
Director
Thierry is a specialist in turning around underperforming plants, using detailed analytical approaches based on operational and financial data.
Thierry Pierreton
He has led numerous projects across the electrification, energy, transport, and aerospace/space industrie. He began his career in aerospace, holding various operational roles for tier-1 manufacturers and subcontractors, with responsibilities spanning international operations in North America and Europe. He implemented pragmatic solutions across Design, Procurement, Supply Chain, Production, and Customer Support. He later managed strategic projects for the Executive Committee of an aerospace supplier before advising industrial companies on transforming key processes and delivering major performance improvements.
A member of STEP Consulting since 2014, Thierry leads turnaround and margin improvement programs for industrial clients, coordinating multidisciplinary teams (Marketing, Sales, R&D, Supply Chain, Procurement, Production, Finance) and implementing new tools and routines. Key focus areas include:
- Refocusing entities on their core business, with product portfolio rationalization combining Finance, Marketing, and Supply Chain
- Defining pricing strategies for tenders, considering factory costs, investments, industrial risks, and impacts on P&L, WCAP & FCF
- Revamping costing systems to identify critical performance improvement points and target market penetration opportunities
- Supply Chain upgrade to achieve OTIF targets and optimize stocks & costs: load/capacity alignment, S&OP, inventory strategies, replenishment rules, stock location & sizing, internal/supplier performance monitoring, backlog management, supply chain cockpit
- Procurement programs : multi-sourcing/cooperation approach, multi-site qualification plans, procurement performance evaluation considering inflation
Clément Renard
Manager
Manager
Clément is a specialist in heavy manufacturing industries.
Clément Renard
He contributes to the success of multiple projects through industrial performance improvement, financial modeling, and risk management methods. A CentraleSupélec graduate, Clément began his career with a European startup operating in solar energy in Tanzania, playing a key role in optimizing the logistics chain for solar system installations and improving last-mile distribution in a bottom-of-pyramid market.
Clément joined STEP in 2018, where he has worked on a variety of industrial projects. Notable achievements include :
- Turnaround of industrial subsidiaries: targeted action plans for pricing, marketing, industrial performance, and logistics
- Process maturity audits with action plans based on FMEA methodology for risk prevention and detection
- Cash preservation plans for production and sales units during crisis periods, with phased action plans linked to market indicators
- Strengthening project portfolio monitoring: securing financial profitability, creating and implementing tracking tools for the Executive Committee to monitor completion margins, identify quality, cost, and schedule risks, and implement mitigation plans
- Supply chain standardization for a Made-To-Stock product portfolio: reviewing 3-, 6-, and 12-month targets, deploying planning tools, and calculating management parameters
Nicolas Gaston-Carrere
Partner
Partner
Nicolas has 19 years of experience in the Aerospace and Defense sector.
Nicolas Gaston-Carrere
He has worked both in-house and as a consultant for numerous major aerospace players, including OEMs, MRO providers, and operators. Nicolas began his career as an engineer at Ratier-Figeac and then Airbus, managing successively operational challenges such as production management, supply chain optimization, and continuous improvement projects over four years.
Building on this experience, he joined management consulting and, for the past 15 years, has led high-impact missions recognized by his clients, including:
- Enhancing performance and governance of a support and services organization
- Developing a digital costing solution for the aerospace and automotive sectors
- Negotiating contracts for aerospace components
- Re-engineering maintenance processes for an airline fleet of 50 aircraft
- Defining customer support strategy for a helicopter manufacturer
- Mapping spare parts flows
- Optimizing performance and profitability management of flight-hour and repair contracts
- Designing and implementing customer support and maintenance solutions
- Transforming and optimizing the profitability of helicopter platforms
At STEP, Nicolas has defined and developed a digital costing solution for aerospace and automotive technologies. These solutions support a profound transformation of Purchasing, Finance, and Engineering departments.
Daniel Bernava
Manager
Manager
Daniel is a manager specializing in industrial process cost modeling, with a strong aerospace background in both commercial and engineering domains.
Daniel Bernava
He began his career as a design engineer at Safran Aircraft Engines, within the engine integration team. Over his technical career, he rotated through R&T, engines in development, engines in service, and competitive analysis. Building on this experience, he moved into technical expertise, validating internal studies and drafting engine aero-thermal design practices.
In 2018, he became Commercial Manager at LISI Aerospace Structural Components, serving clients such as Airbus Helicopters, Safran Aircraft Engines, and Safran Transmission Systems. This role gave him hands-on experience in client negotiations, aerospace quality and supply chain constraints, and managing operational contingencies across forging and machining sites.
A member of STEP since late 2022, Daniel now specializes in creating cost models for various aerospace manufacturing processes. He leads competitiveness projects involving multiple client functions, including Procurement, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Finance.
Over his 12-year career, Daniel has developed a flexible profile, gaining expertise in technical, operational, and commercial domains alike.
Sébastien Podetti
Founder of D3S
Founder of D3S
Founder of D3S – Expert in Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation
Sébastien Podetti
A SUPAERO graduate, Sébastien brings 20 years of experience leading projects with strong analytics. He has designed and deployed numerous performance improvement solutions across corporate functions: Finance, Procurement, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Logistics, and more.
From defining data/AI roadmaps to designing and delivering custom software platforms, he supports industrial clients in their analytical transformation by combining strategic vision, technical expertise, and hands-on operational approach.
Farid Abawat
Manager
Manager
Farid has 26 years of consulting experience, primarily in the aerospace, defense, and telecommunications sectors.
Farid Abawat
Passionate about industry, technology, organizational evolution, and practical results, he joined STEP at its inception and has dedicated most of his career to the firm.
He works on complex and high-impact topics using effective approaches that combine upstream scoping, large-scale data analysis, human-centered methods, and decision simplification. He enjoys deep understanding, knowledge sharing, and driving teams forward with pedagogy.
Throughout his career, Farid has led a variety of missions, including:
- Identifying and realizing business development opportunities, including premiumization, pricing strategy, and acquisitions
- Industrializing high-growth organizations
- Turning around underperforming organizations
- Driving competitiveness and performance across procurement, engineering, production, and services
Louis Rousseau
Manager
Manager
Louis has 7 years of consulting experience, working with companies in the Aerospace, Energy, and Automotive sectors.
Louis Rousseau
He supports clients on industrial performance challenges, from Supply Chain to Quality processes, including Procurement and Costing.
Louis works on operational competitiveness and organizational transformation, leveraging data-driven analysis and optimization of technical levers.
Marian Banuls
Manager
Manager
Marian holds an engineering degree from INSA Lyon, complemented by a dual Master’s from École Polytechnique (X)/ ESSEC.
Marian Banuls
He has 7 years of experience in industry and consulting within the aerospace sector. With a background as a generalist engineer and specialization in international industrial project management, Marian began his professional career as a consultant in aerospace. He joined STEP Consulting in 2019, contributing to various projects, including:
- Industrial strategy: redesign and optimization of the Aerostructure supply chain
- Digitalization of industrial cost control:
- Comprehensive analysis of production costs and recurring cost forecasts
- Identification of deviations and key levers for production cost improvement
- Procurement competitiveness plan:
- Implementation of a centralized database (reference for competitiveness plans, business case simulations, etc.)
- Establishment of a governance system to monitor the plan
- Industrial strategy transformation program:
- Optimization and restructuring of the global network (sales, MRO, spares)
- Strengthening of Support and Services activities
- Regulated chemical process replacement audit (e.g., REACH) and implementation of new governance to de-risk the production chain
- Quality audit and crisis governance setup
Throughout his assignments, Marian has adapted quickly to bridge client business challenges with data analysis, collaborating closely with data science teams.
Key clients: Airbus, Stelia Aerospace, Aubert & Duval, Safran, Engie, Euros
Matthieu Steltzlen
Manager
Manager
Matthieu has 6 years of experience in the aerospace industry and consulting.
Matthieu Steltzlen
He joined STEP in 2022 to support performance and competitiveness challenges for French and European industrial clients.
Drawing on his academic and industrial background, Matthieu embraces the complexity of large-scale industrial programs, including:
- Multi-disciplinary cost-reduction projects for a major aircraft manufacturer
- Calibration of construction cost models for industrial facilities
- Development of a custom costing solution for a leading engine manufacturer
- End-to-end process improvement for the integration of electrical equipment on high-stakes contracts for a European helicopter manufacturer
Passionate about industry, he focuses on costing, procurement, and organizational transformation.
Ouali Taha-Chaouche
Manager
Manager
Ouali holds degrees from ISAE SUPAERO and DESIA.
Ouali Taha-Chaouche
He joined STEP in 2018 after starting his career in cost modeling and industrial strategy. He is a specialist in the aerospace and cable sectors.
Ouali works at the heart of industrial operations, from business diagnostics to on-the-ground implementation: digital costing, raw material procurement, production tool optimization, EBITDA maximization, and more. He leverages analytics and detailed modeling to support growth.
Sami Kourta
Manager
Manager
Sami has 6 years of consulting experience and 2 years as a project manager in a startup.
Sami Kourta
He helps clients tackle Operations strategy challenges across industry, retail, and services, with a focus on Production, Procurement, and Logistics.
Key achievements include:
- Conducting strategic studies and defining technical and marketing value propositions
- Driving performance improvements on industrial sites
- Developing Finance-Operations KPIs
- Auditing strategic suppliers
- Managing transport and logistics outsourcing
Louis Gautier de La Plaine
Data Science & AI Project Manager
Data Science & AI Project Manager
Technical Expert and Full Stack Leader
Louis Gautier de La Plaine
A graduate of Centrale Paris (Centrale Supélec), Louis has 9 years of experience in data science, artificial intelligence, and software engineering.
An expert across a broad spectrum of advanced algorithms (machine learning, deep learning, optimization), he combines scientific rigor with software architecture mastery to design robust, scalable solutions.
As a Full Stack Manager, he leads the development of our AI technologies and oversees the team responsible for our 3D data analysis algorithms.
Victor Pierre
Manager
Manager
Victor Pierre