Stéphane Viéban, a forestry engineer by training, began his career in Congo and then at the Regional Forest Property Center in Cantal. His time at the La Rochette Group (forestry operations and paper industry) allowed him to develop an interest in “environmental and quality” approaches and development projects.
In 2000, he entered the world of forestry cooperatives, which he has remained involved with ever since. For more than 20 years, he has worked on the structuring of forestry cooperatives in the southwestern quarter of France, starting with the management and development of the FORESTARN cooperative.   

By diversifying the activities of forestry cooperatives, he strengthened their roles and multiplied the services offered to cooperative members.
Since 2013, he has been the General Director of the Alliance Forêts Bois group, which has become the leading French forestry cooperative, a national leader in the management, silviculture, and harvesting of wood in private French forests. He is also responsible for numerous subsidiaries of the cooperative (nurseries, forest work companies, wood industries, etc.), all contributing to the group’s cooperative objectives: to add value to the production of its forestry members, while adapting their forests to current and future global changes (climatic, societal, health, etc.). 

Convinced of the importance of synergies to be developed with all the actors in the sector, he has also been actively involved in professional bodies throughout his career. He is currently the President of the Board of Directors of the technological institute of the French forest-wood sector: FCBA (Forest/Cellulose/Wood/Furniture).