About us : Hubert Duez, Expedition Manager
16 July 2025
Hubert Duez has been with Lagache for 27 years and is as committed as ever!
Business is second nature to Hubert! His first job was in the company where his father worked. He was already on the purchasing team, with a certain @Guy Lagache as his neighbour!
Spotted for his commercial talents, Guy Lagache asked Hubert’s father for permission to hire him. His adventure with Lagache began. Guy and Hubert developed a strong professional and personal relationship. “The world collapsed when Guy sold the company to retire, but I kept my friend”.
Hubert is a pure self-taught man with business in his blood. Buying, selling, satisfying upstream, downstream and the company, that’s his thing. His method is well established: “What’s essential is to always bear in mind that to be a good seller, you have to be a good buyer”. His hobby is to be the best buyer, to be the most competitive, that’s his adrenalin.
Hubert is passionate, wholehearted in what he does, and there’s no question of losing. “On the clock, I want to be the best, I have to be ahead of the game, I have to reach my target at least 1.5 months ahead of time. I manage everything as if it were my own business.
With the arrival of @Xavier Martin, the ambitions for shipping have become clearer and more structured. The shipping department has risen from 15% of turnover to 50%. “Before I was on my own, but now we’re a team of 3 with Victor and Marie, and things are going well. Xavier and I make the right decisions. We’ve chosen to produce few products but to be really professional. That’s the right approach. I’m no longer alone. When you’re alone, you don’t question yourself”.
Thanks to the impetus provided by Xavier and the team, Hubert has learned to take a step back. “Xavier has put his trust in me, given me responsibilities and supported me, while letting me manage my business. We don’t always agree, but the discussions are always constructive and I take everything I do to heart. Being a member of the Executive Committee is a source of pride and additional fulfilment: “We take the time to think things through, we take important decisions together, we are kept in the loop on strategic issues, we are trusted, it’s an honour, it’s gratifying, it’s a pleasure, it reinforces our desire to work, it’s precious”.
The 3 reasons why he is proud to work for Lagache?
1/ Great team spirit, 2/ Pride in the job, 3/ Real professional fulfilment with exciting prospects.
And his little secret for managing it all and keeping a good balance: hunting!
