'Resistance Is How People Are.'

Bouygues-Thai managing director patrice bard is leading one of thailand’s top construction firms while navigating a different culture, the importance of age and the speed of life.

- Anastasia Prikhodko

“When I am talking to clients, I say to them, ‘I’m your mason. I’m just a simple man, building for you,’” says Patrice Bard. For the Managing Director of one of Thailand’s leading construction firms, Bouygues-Thai, the ethos is to deliver high-quality projects on time while serving the needs of clients.

“This is the key motive for us,” Patrice says. “Serving our clients, improving and growing higher in our safety standards in Thailand. I am always saying to my team, ‘Don’t forget, the people paying us are our clients.’ Without our clients, we have no job, no project or any other job in the company.”

Over the past few years, Patrice has noticed a shift in client relations. “Our clients have evolved a lot,” he explains. “They are going much faster. They want their buildings to be built quicker, be more modern and to have particular features for the staff.” He adds, “It is important to listen to our clients, to spend time with them, always to show that we are present, and to find solutions within all the different situations.”

Patrice has spent much of his professional career learning the ropes of construction at Bouygues-Thai. But he came very close to taking a different career route. Before graduating from engineering school in France in 1996 specializing in construction, Patrice was focusing on manufacturing cars and aeroplanes.

Then one summer holiday, following his parent’s request, Patrice found a job as a trainee at a construction company. “I was inspired to be in a job where I could see what I was designing and building,” he says. “You can leave something behind you, sometimes even forever. That made me change my path.”