About

‘My experience at Cdiscount, and now Cnova, within France and internationally, is certainly one of the richest in my career’, says Marie Even who has been with the company since 2009. In 2012 the legal department at Cnova, an e-commerce company, received an industry award for the best large and medium corporate legal department from Trophées du Droit, an illustration of the team’s performance. Even has 14 lawyers reporting into her, quite an inflation since she joined as there were just two employees. The legal expansion has taken place over a span of six years in mirror image of the growth of the company. The growth of the company saw a transitional period of management, expansion into new fields and a change in skills and working methods. Even and her team were quick to evolve, moving some lawyers to management positions in order increase internal mobility. When asked what her biggest challenge to date has been, Even describes the handling of her very first initial public offering managed in-house without external help. Expert at facing adverse situations, she directs her team to overcome problems that face the business, turning them around to a favorable position. For example, due to the actions of the legal department, the 2015 harmonisation of French regulations with European regulations, regarding the restrictions on announcements of price reduction ran smoothly when it could have been a difficult time for Cnova. Even is proud of her team and their ‘ability to issue the rhythm of the business’.