News
Meridiam Celebrates 20 Years with “What If”: A Journey Through Impact and Innovation
20.10.2025
As Meridiam marks its 20th anniversary, we are proud to unveil our anniversary book, “What If”—a publication that goes beyond a simple retrospective to offer a dynamic exploration of our journey, our values, and the positive change we strive to create.
Inspired by Corneille’s words, “For souls nobly born, true value needs not the test of time,” the opening pages set the tone for a narrative that celebrates value in all its forms: financial, human, ethical, environmental, and social. Every story in “What If” reflects Meridiam’s commitment to reconciling robust financial performance with tangible social and environmental benefits, demonstrating that these ambitions are not only compatible but mutually reinforcing.
Our CEO, Thierry Déau, encapsulates this vision:
“Financial performance and sustainability are not contradictory: that is the intuition which lay behind the creation of Meridiam twenty years ago. We are proof that sustainability makes investments more resilient, more stable, more relevant—in a nutshell, more profitable in the long term.
Our model is inspired by a humanist vision of investment. A vision that values relationships, gives priority to local communities, incorporates the users’ point of view and insists on measurable impacts.
Now, twenty years after its inception, Meridiam has over 400 employees, hundreds of projects all over the world and robust results. I regard it not as a personal success but as confirmation that our approach works. That we can be regarded as idealists or even utopians and yet demonstrate our model’s relevance and effectiveness every day. That we can do our job without ever forgetting who for. And that finance is not an end but a means.”
“What If” is structured around a series of bold questions, each representing a chapter that highlights the impact and ambition behind our projects:
What if... resilience was a pathway to building healthy cities, both today and tomorrow?
Discover how the Port of Miami Tunnel has transformed urban life, reducing pollution and empowering local communities.
What if…building a major transport link made all journeys smoother?
Explore how high-speed rail and innovative infrastructure connect regions, open opportunities, and protect biodiversity.
What if… electricity brought more than just light?
See how solar plants in Senegal and hydropower in Gabon do more than power homes—they spark education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship.
What if…building strong foundations could empower young people for life?
Learn how schools in Finland and Wales, and daycare centers in France, are designed for generations to thrive.
What if... electric mobility was a soft democratic revolution?
Follow the stories of women drivers and new jobs created by Dakar’s electric bus system, and the ripple effects of clean transport across continents.
What if… transport led the way to a low-carbon world?
Discover how Meridiam’s investments in sustainable airports, high-speed rail, and clean mobility infrastructure—from LaGuardia Terminal B in New York to Sofia Airport and the Tours-Bordeaux rail line—are reducing emissions, promoting innovation, and setting new standards for greener, more connected communities.
What if… smart investing in SMEs was a way to support the energy transition?
Discover how supporting innovative SMEs—like Okamac in IT refurbishment or Exoès in electric mobility—accelerates the ecological transition, creates local jobs, and drives circular economy solutions with measurable impact.
What if… circular ecology was economically viable?
Explore how projects in biomethane (Agrimaine), waste-to-energy (Evergaz, Olsztyn), and water management (SUEZ) prove that circular economy models can deliver both environmental benefits and sustainable economic value for communities and industries.
What if… investing in healthcare gave everyone the chance of a better life?
From Turkey to Chile, discover how Meridiam’s hospitals and health centers deliver care, resilience, and hope.
What if… a public building transformed the life of a local community?
Learn how schools in Finland and Wales, and daycare centers in France, are designed for generations to thrive.
What if…the magnitude of a project was measured by its impacts?
Whether it’s renewable energy in Tanzania or circular economy initiatives in France, we measure success by the lives improved and futures secured.
What if…energy sovereignty could create new rapprochements?
See how projects like NeuConnect—linking the UK and Germany—are building bridges for a more resilient, sustainable Europe.
Through its pages, the “What If” anniversary book highlights the people at the heart of some of Meridiam’s landmark projects since its inception – engineers, teachers, entrepreneurs – and illustrates how these transformative projects continue to have a concrete impact in the lives of the communities they serve for the long term across the world.
Their stories embody Meridiam’s vision and commitment.
Meridiam's 20-year anniversary publication
“For souls nobly born, true value needs not the test of time.” *Free translation from Le Cid, Corneille, 1637: “Aux âmes bien nées, la valeur n'attend point le nombre des années.”
