He is a figure in the Rennes economic world who has just passed away. Daniel Lafranche, general manager of Talendi (formerly Brittany workshops), a company on the outskirts of Rennes adapted which employs the vast majority of disabled people, died Monday June 24 at the age of 65. Suffering from cancer, this affable and caring man had been fighting the disease for a year and a half. “His incredible strength, his positive attitude and his unfailing commitment allowed him to remain present within our great association until the spring of this year,” writes Talendi in a press release released this Tuesday, June 25. His death was announced to employees the day before. “Everyone is very sad,” confides one of his colleagues.
An engineer graduated from the National School of Arts and Crafts, Daniel Lafranche worked during his career for the snowmaking systems manufacturer TechnoAlpin in Nantes, before joining Talendi in 1998. First as director of development then as deputy general director in 2002 and general director in 2004. He leaves behind the image of an open, humble leader convinced of the importance of the integration through employment of disabled people and collaborative management, for which Talendi will be labeled “Industry Showcase of the Future” in 2018. “Listening, sharing, the right to make mistakes, recognition, support were deeply anchored in him,” underlines the company, specialized in industrial subcontracting for the automobile, railway and aeronautics industries.
A successor already designated
Created in 1975, Talendi, which employs 550 employees including 420 with disabilities, is the result of a collaboration with the Stellantis factory in Rennes-La Janais, which remains one of its main clients. “It is with deep sadness that we learned of the death of Daniel Lafranche, Managing Director of Talendi, a historic partner of our company. His dedication to the inclusion of people with disabilities marked an era and left a lasting legacy. We salute his memory and his exceptional commitment,” comments the plant director, Étienne Martin Commandeur.
At Talendi, the succession of Daniel Lafranche is already organized. He was due to retire in January and announced that Damien Quillet, commercial director since 2020 and now deputy general manager, would succeed him. The two men were to work together for a year to ensure the transition. “Things will therefore go faster than expected”, we indicate internally.
The funeral of Daniel Lafranche is planned for Friday June 28, at 10:30 a.m., at Saint-Pierre Cathedral in Rennes. They will be followed by burial in the cemetery of Saint-Cast-le-Guildo (22).
