Thomas Berger - CTO at Groupe La Centrale
Professional Background and Achievements
Thomas Berger serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Groupe La Centrale, a leading automotive marketplace headquartered in Paris, Île-de-France, France. In his role, Berger oversees the end-to-end IT strategy, including software development, product validation, and cybersecurity. His prior experience includes senior roles at Le Parisien, PhotoBox, and Alter Way, bringing a wealth of expertise in technology and software solutions.
Key Responsibilities and Focus Areas:
- Software Development and Cybersecurity: Berger, along with Deputy CTO Nicolas Poulain, is responsible for the company’s software development and cybersecurity measures. As noted by Berger, their primary goal is to "improve resilience and ensure up-to-date backups for all critical systems and data".
- Strategic Vision: His vision aligns with Groupe La Centrale's strategy of simplifying and securing the car buying and selling experience. Emphasizing transparency and ease of search, Berger aims to enhance user trust and streamline the process through innovative technological solutions.
Groupe La Centrale Overview
Groupe La Centrale specializes in the automotive marketplace and is a subsidiary of Providence Equity Partners. The company manages several prominent brands:
- La Centrale: Specializes in the buying and selling of used vehicles.
- Promoneuve: Focuses on the sale of new vehicles.
- MaVoitureCash: Deals with the purchase of vehicles from professional partners.
- Caradisiac: Provides comprehensive automotive news, including reviews, guides, and comparatives.
The group receives over 48 million monthly visits and generates an annual revenue of €80 million. Their mission is to make vehicle transactions as simple and stress-free as possible. To achieve this, they focus on facilitating searches, providing relevant information, and enhancing transparency.
Technological Initiatives and Partnerships
Under Berger's leadership, the company adopted Rewind to manage backups for critical SaaS applications like Jira, Confluence, and GitHub. The move was driven by a need to reduce data loss risks and improve operational resilience. This decision also aligns with Groupe La Centrale's regulatory compliance objectives and their focus on maintaining rigorous data security standards.
Recruitment and Leadership
Thomas Berger is actively involved in talent acquisition, aiming to bolster the company's development capabilities. His team includes several key figures:
- Nicolas Poulain: Deputy CTO
- Christophe Peureux: Deputy CTO
- Tara Lynen: Recruiter
- Dalila Lannabi: Recruiter
- Frédéric Kuch: Recruiter
Insightful Media Appearances and Publications
- CTO’z #75: Berger featured in an extended interview where he discussed the challenges and adaptations required in technology leadership.
- LinkedIn Posts: Actively shares updates about the company's innovations, including the launch of AI-powered personal assistants for vehicle search.
Personal and Professional Interests
Thomas Berger shows a consistent interest in leveraging technology to facilitate and enhance user experiences in the automotive marketplace. His expertise lies in implementing robust software solutions and maintaining high standards of cybersecurity.
In summary, Thomas Berger's role as CTO at Groupe La Centrale highlights his significant contributions to advancing the company’s technological framework and reinforcing its market leadership in the automotive industry. His strategic vision and technological initiatives are critical to the company's mission of simplifying and securing the vehicle buying and selling process.
