Before taking the helm at Lagardère Travel Retail in Africa, Sountou honed his expertise over seven years at Newrest, serving as General Manager in Senegal, Cameroon, New Caledonia, and Angola. In each role, he transformed operations into engines of growth, leveraging innovation, operational rigor, and a results-driven mindset.

His career began in Saint-Malo, Brittany, as a continuous improvement consultant in the food and distribution industries, advising top-tier retail and manufacturing brands.  He then joined the City of Bourg-la-Reine and later the Versailles Hospital Center as an operations engineer, showcasing his relentless work ethic and strategic focus.  In 2008, Sountou joined Elior, leading foodservice operations in Île-de-France for five years— affirming his commitment to operational excellence.

Trilingual, strategic, and a natural leader, Sountou is known for aligning operational challenges with international growth goals. At every stage of his career, he has left a lasting mark: continuous improvement, multicultural team development, sustainable growth, and a deep commitment to service.