Paragon Group expands with the acquisition of Groupe Bernard
Paragon Group, the leading provider of customer communications, identification and graphics services, is pleased to announce the acquisition of French Groupe Bernard - specialist in Business Process Operations (BPO), effective 1st of October 2020.
With highly complementary activities and customers, the acquisition of Groupe Bernard will contribute to Paragon Group’s continuing strong growth, especially in Document BPO and Customer Relationship Management.
Groupe Bernard will be integrated into the Paragon Customer Communications (PCC) Division with a focus on Business Process Management and Loyalty Cards / Program Management. Groupe Bernard manages business processes for companies and organisations including paper & digital document management, complete loyalty, membership & retention programs, onboarding customers and providing personalised loyalty or membership cards, survey management for administrating rental fees for real estate organisations, subscription programs for media publications. Other services include management of charity donations on behalf of charities, management of insurance claims & contributions for health insurances, accounts payable & receivables collection for companies, services provided both physically and digitally to simplify business processes for organisations.
PCC will expand on its leading European BPO position by developing activities in its French Inbound Services Centre of Excellence located near Lille, where more than 100 million inbound pieces of mail and 2 million phone calls will be managed yearly.
After almost 30 years of development and growth, Jean-Loup Lemonnier will lead his team in this new chapter, with the full support of the Groupe Bernard shareholders. Both groups have strong common values and skills such as entrepreneurship, resourcefulness, team empowerment, agility and integrity, and are expert in management of complex processes and confidential data.
“Paragon Group intends to continue its acquisitive growth across Europe to help strengthen its customer offering and broaden its range of business processes and customer communications solutions, in line with the Group’s Buy, Build and Grow strategy”
John Rogers, Executive Director of Corporate Development, Paragon Group.
"The acquisition of Groupe Bernard is a continuation of our growth strategy as we build our expertise to deliver increasingly comprehensive and relevant solutions to our clients’ transformation challenges, in both business process and customer experience areas in France and beyond"
Guilhem Boucon, CEO, PCC Western Europe.
“Being part of the Paragon Group is a testimony to the quality and expertise of our teams, but above all, it is a great opportunity for growth and therefore for the long-term sustainability of our jobs. Moreover, this move will allow us to rise from a well-established provider to key player of in the market”
Jean-Loup Lemonnier, General Manager, Groupe Bernard.
About Groupe Bernard
Groupe Bernard creates and develops BPM solutions based on a chain of integrated business process expertise (paper based and digital inbound management – Account Receivable and Account Payable outsourcing, call centres, fidelity & retention programs). Established in the Lille area since 1972, Groupe Bernard now employs more than 250 employees with a turnover of €17 million in 2019.
About Paragon Group
Paragon Group is a leading provider of Customer Communications, Identification, Graphics and Workplace Services. Paragon Group combines generations of experience with the latest innovations in technology and smart data to enable responsive and meaningful interactions between organisations and their customers.
About Paragon Customer Communications
Paragon Customer Communications provides end to end customer communications services to our clients - we go to market through three key service lines: Customer Engagement & Marketing, Business Process and Transaction and Digital Customer Experience. We aim to provide brilliant customer communications to our clients, helping them to connect with their customers and to transform their customer connections.
About Paragon Identification
Paragon ID business goes to market with four key offerings: e-ID is the provision of electronic passport covers, driving licences and ID cards, Smart Cities & Mass Transit includes smart cards, tickets and mobile device connectivity for mass transit applications and Track & Trace tracks high value goods through the supply chain; Payment includes secure payment cards and related technologies.
About Paragon Graphic Services
Paragon Graphic Services provides Print & Design, Display and Workplace Solutions. Producing digital print in small format, for marketing materials such as brochures and flyers and large format for point of sale and interior branding products, and high tech solutions including 3D printing and virtual reality – everything print and design. We supply display graphics creating visual experiences including retail, event technology products and services in the UK. Our OfficeTeam business provides customers with a wide range of workplace and business solutions – including business supplies, office furniture & interiors, facilities supplies & PPE, managed print services and technology services.