Econocom

Econocom is a European business-to-business technology group serving private companies and public-sector organizations. Its activities span much of the lifecycle of digital equipment and infrastructure: sourcing and distributing hardware, integrating workplace and IT systems, operating and maintaining technology environments, supporting end users, delivering audiovisual installations, and financing or refurbishing technology assets. The group therefore occupies a position between a digital-services provider, a technology integrator, an equipment distributor and a specialist financier. The business was founded in France in 1974 by Jean-Louis Bouchard as Europe Computer Systèmes, commonly known as ECS. Its original focus was connected to the financing and management of computer equipment. In 1986, Bouchard sold his interest in ECS France to Société Générale while reacquiring the company's foreign subsidiaries and combining them with Econocom, an American company he had acquired. The resulting organization and its subsidiaries adopted the Econocom name. Econocom Belgium was listed on the secondary market of the Brussels Stock Exchange in the same year, establishing the group's long-term presence in the Belgian capital markets. During the 1990s and 2000s, Econocom expanded through a mixture of organic development and acquisitions. It added distribution capabilities in the Benelux region, broadened its presence in France, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy, and entered telecommunications and IT leasing. Acquisitions such as Comdisco-Promo data, Signal Service France, Tecnolease and Data bail strengthened its ability to manage, fund and support IT assets. The opening of a remote-services facility in Rabat in 2009 also reflected the group's effort to build scalable support operations. A major turning point came in 2010, when Société Générale sold ECS back to Jean-Louis Bouchard. ECS was merged with Econocom, materially increasing the scale and breadth of the combined group. The following years brought expansion into virtualization, cloud computing, telecom-expense management, Apple-related education and research distribution, network security and systems integration. The 2013 acquisition of Osiatis was particularly significant: it created a much larger digital-services platform with infrastructure-management capabilities and thousands of employees. Econocom subsequently developed digital, cloud, education, workplace and audiovisual offerings. In 2014, it helped establish Digital Dimension, a cloud and digital-services company. It also invested in Educapital and partnered with Microsoft to distribute HoloLens in Europe. In 2018, the group acquired a majority stake in Spanish omnichannel-marketing company Altabox and promoted technology concepts such as e-vigilante, a robotic monitoring solution. From 2020 onward, Econocom began refocusing on its core activities. Its 2023 One Econocom plan sought to improve cooperation among business units and profitability. The group's operating model is now organized around workplace solutions; IT infrastructure and networks; audiovisual solutions; and technology-asset financing. These activities are supported by maintenance, user assistance, lifecycle management, refurbishment and other services designed to help customers acquire, operate and renew digital assets. According to the supplied reference material, Econocom operated in 16 countries, employed approximately 8,680 people and managed around seven million digital assets in 2025. It reported 2025 revenue of approximately €2.9 billion. The group continued expanding its audiovisual footprint in Europe through acquisitions in Spain, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Germany, completed a €225 million Schuldschein private placement in May 2025, and launched an online shop for refurbished IT equipment for professional customers in December 2025.

Econocom began in France in 1974, when Jean-Louis Bouchard founded Europe Computer Systèmes, or ECS. The early business was associated with computer-equipment financing and management. In 1986, Bouchard sold his interest in ECS France to Société Générale but reacquired the foreign subsidiaries and combined them with Econocom, an American company he had recently acquired. The subsidiaries and group were subsequently brought together under the Econocom name. Econocom Belgium was listed on the secondary market of the Brussels Stock Exchange that year. The group continued to build a European platform during the 1990s. Econocom Distribution acquired Asystel Belgium in 1993, strengthening IT distribution in the Benelux region. Econocom moved to the primary market of the Brussels Stock Exchange in 1996 and was later listed on the secondary market of the Paris Stock Exchange. It developed telecommunications activities and made an offer for InfoPoint. By 2001, the group employed about 2,000 people. Expansion accelerated in the 2000s. Econocom acquired Comdisco-Promo data in France in 2002, adding administrative and financial IT-asset-management expertise, and purchased Signal Service France in 2004. By 2005, operations covered Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy. The company later disposed of its Swiss subsidiary and closed its US financing operations. It entered telecommunications more directly in 2006 through the acquisition of an Avenir Telecom business division, expanded that activity through a Carphone Warehouse France transaction in 2007, and bought the Italian IT-leasing company Tecnolease. In 2008 it acquired Data bail, a French IT-infrastructure financing company. In 2009, it opened a nearshore remote-services center in Rabat, Morocco, employing approximately 300 people. In October 2010, Société Générale sold ECS to Jean-Louis Bouchard. ECS was merged with Econocom, reunifying the founder's earlier businesses and increasing the group's scale. Econocom also introduced 7 Remote Services, an offering for migrating IT infrastructure to Microsoft operating systems. In 2011, Véronique di Benedetto, formerly Deputy Managing Director of ECS, became Deputy Managing Director of the group and Managing Director of Econocom France. The following period saw diversification into cloud, virtualization, systems integration, security and digital services. In 2012, Econocom acquired Spanish virtualization and cloud specialist Ermestel, took a stake in Belgian company Centix, acquired telecom-expense-management provider Tactem, purchased France Systèmes, an Apple reseller serving education and research, and bought Cap Synergy, a French network and IT-security integrator. In 2013, it acquired Exaprobe and announced the Mutation 2013–2017 plan. The same year, it acquired a majority stake in Osiatis, an infrastructure-services company; the transaction produced a digital-services organization with roughly 8,000 employees and approximately €2 billion in revenue at the time. Econocom completed the purchase of Osiatis's entire share capital in November 2013. On 6 January 2014, Econocom and Georges Croix founded Digital Dimension, a cloud and digital-services provider. The group invested in venture-capital firm Educapital in 2017 and partnered with Microsoft to distribute HoloLens in Europe. Robert Bouchard became group chief executive officer in 2018, while Louise Beveridge took responsibility for the brand. Econocom also acquired a majority stake in Spanish omnichannel-marketing company Altabox and introduced e-vigilante, a robotic industrial-site monitoring concept. From 2020, Econocom began refocusing on its core businesses. The One Econocom plan, launched in 2023, emphasized synergies and profitability. The group organized its activities into workplace solutions, IT infrastructure and networks, audiovisual solutions, and technology-asset financing. In 2025 it expanded audiovisual operations through several European acquisitions, raised €225 million through a Schuldschein private placement, and opened an online channel for refurbished professional IT equipment. The supplied reference material describes Econocom in 2025 as operating in 16 countries, employing approximately 8,680 people and managing around seven million digital assets.

1. 2025Audiovisual expansion and refurbishment channel

   Econocom expands audiovisual operations through European acquisitions and launches an online refurbished-equipment channel for professional customers.

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2. 2023One Econocom plan launched

   The group introduces a strategic plan centered on operating-unit synergies and profitability.

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3. 2018Robert Bouchard becomes group CEO

   Robert Bouchard takes the chief executive role at group level.

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4. 2014Digital Dimension founded

   Econocom and Georges Croix establish Digital Dimension, focused on cloud and digital services.

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5. 2013Osiatis acquisition

   Econocom acquires Osiatis, substantially expanding its infrastructure-services and digital-services capabilities.

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6. 2010ECS returns to Jean-Louis Bouchard

   Société Générale sells ECS to its founder, and ECS is merged with Econocom.

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7. 2009Rabat remote-services center opens

   The group opens a nearshore remote-services facility in Rabat, Morocco.

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8. 1996Brussels primary-market listing

   Econocom moves to the primary market of the Brussels Stock Exchange.

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9. 1993Asystel Belgium acquisition

   Econocom Distribution acquires Asystel Belgium, strengthening Benelux distribution.

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10. 1986Econocom name adopted

    Bouchard combines foreign ECS subsidiaries with Econocom and reorganizes them under the Econocom name; Econocom Belgium is listed in Brussels.

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11. 1974Europe Computer Systèmes is founded

    Jean-Louis Bouchard establishes the French company that would become Econocom.

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A pan-European B2B technology partner combining digital transformation consulting, systems integration, managed services, equipment distribution, audiovisual expertise and financing across the technology lifecycle.

• Workplace solutionsDigital workplace and managed services

  Econocom supplies and manages workplace technology for organizations, including equipment procurement, deployment, user support, maintenance and lifecycle management. The offering is designed to help customers standardize employee devices and services while controlling renewal, financing and operational-support requirements.

• IT infrastructure and networksIT infrastructure services

  This business covers the integration, operation and support of infrastructure and network environments. Its historical scope includes systems integration, virtualization, cloud services, network security, infrastructure management and related maintenance capabilities developed through acquisitions and internal expansion.

• Audiovisual solutionsAudiovisual integration

  Econocom designs, supplies, integrates and supports audiovisual technology for corporate, public-sector and other professional environments. The group enlarged this activity in 2025 through acquisitions in Spain, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Germany.

• Technology asset financingTechnology financing1974

  Technology-asset financing is a core Econocom capability inherited from the group's ECS origins. It enables organizations to acquire or use IT and audiovisual equipment through financing and leasing structures, combined with lifecycle, support, renewal and disposal services.

• Econocom FactoryRefurbished professional IT equipment2025

  Econocom Factory is the group's refurbished-equipment proposition. In December 2025, Econocom launched an e-commerce channel aimed at professional customers, extending its asset-lifecycle model into online sales of refurbished IT equipment.

• 2023One Econocom

  Europe

  One Econocom was introduced as a group-wide plan to improve cooperation among business units and raise profitability.

  Outcome. The plan underpins the current four-part operating structure.

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• 2013Mutation 2013–2017

  Europe

  The strategic program accompanied Econocom's expansion from equipment financing and distribution toward broader digital and infrastructure services.

  Outcome. The Osiatis transaction became a central step in building the intended digital-services platform.

  Source
• 20107 Remote Services

  Europe

  Econocom launched 7 Remote Services to support the migration of IT infrastructure to Microsoft operating systems.

  Outcome. The initiative illustrated the group's shift toward remote infrastructure and managed services.

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• 2025Expand audiovisual activities in EuropeM&A

  Econocom identified audiovisual solutions as one of its principal growth and service areas.

  What changed. The group acquired AVANZIA in Spain, ISS AV in Ireland, Smartcomm in the United Kingdom and ICT in Germany.

  Aftermath. The transactions broadened Econocom's European audiovisual footprint.

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• 2023Launch One EconocomStrategy

  Following a refocus on core activities from 2020, Econocom sought greater coordination and improved profitability.

  What changed. The group launched the One Econocom strategic plan and organized operations around workplace, infrastructure and networks, audiovisual solutions, and technology financing.

  Aftermath. The four-part structure became the framework for the group's current business model.

  Source
• 2013Acquire OsiatisM&A

  Econocom sought to strengthen its infrastructure and digital-services capabilities.

  What changed. The group acquired a majority stake in Osiatis and later completed the purchase of its entire share capital.

  Aftermath. The transaction created a substantially larger digital-services organization with infrastructure-management expertise.

  Source
• 2010Reacquire and merge ECSM&A

  Société Générale sold ECS to Jean-Louis Bouchard in October 2010.

  What changed. ECS was merged with Econocom.

  Aftermath. The transaction reunited the founder's earlier businesses and increased the scale of the combined technology-services group.

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• 1986Combine ECS foreign subsidiaries with EconocomM&A

  After selling his interest in ECS France to Société Générale, Jean-Louis Bouchard retained and reorganized the foreign subsidiaries alongside Econocom.

  What changed. The businesses were combined and renamed under the Econocom identity.

  Aftermath. This established the corporate platform that developed into the present European group.

  Source

• 2025Econocom expands European audiovisual operations through acquisitions

  The group expanded its audiovisual business through acquisitions including AVANZIA in Spain, ISS AV in Ireland, Smartcomm in the United Kingdom and ICT in Germany.

  M&A
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• 2025Econocom completes €225 million Schuldschein placement

  Econocom completed a €225 million Schuldschein private placement in May 2025, supporting its financing position.

  Other
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• 2025Econocom launches refurbished-equipment e-commerce channel

  The group launched shop.econocomfactory.com in December 2025 to sell refurbished IT equipment to professional customers.

  Product launch
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• 2023Econocom launches the One Econocom strategic plan

  The plan sought to increase coordination among business units and improve the group's profitability.

  Other
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• 2013Econocom acquires a majority stake in Osiatis

  The acquisition created a significantly larger digital-services platform focused on infrastructure services.

  M&A
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1. Econocom