Who’s Behind 42? Angelo-Gabriel Mikael, VP Group Learning at CMA CGM & Managing Director of TANGRAM

"As the exclusive sponsor of 42 Marseille, CMA CGM is more than just a partner; they are a driving force for accessible tech education. In this interview, Angelo-Gabriel Mikael (Vice President, Group Learning & MD of TANGRAM) shares how the collaboration first ignited in Beirut before expanding to Marseille. Explore his vision for talent development and discover how a global leader in logistics is helping to shape the next generation of digital pioneers."

As the exclusive sponsor of 42 Marseille, CMA CGM plays a central role in supporting the campus and its mission to open access to tech education and employability. In this interview, Angelo-Gabriel Mikael, Vice President, Group Learning, and Managing Director of TANGRAM, CMA CGM’s center for excellence, shares his vision for education, talent development, and talks to us about how his company’s involvement with 42 first took shape in Beirut and later expanded to Marseille.


Could you please briefly introduce yourself and tell us more about your educational and professional background?

I’m Angelo-Gabriel Mikael. A lawyer by training, my path has been shaped by a strong interest in public affairs, then education, talent development, and innovation. I studied in an international environment, which reinforced a conviction I see in the 42 approach: what matters is the ability to learn, to persevere, and to build with others.
Today, I design learning and education initiatives at scale, connecting employability, business needs, and opportunity for diverse profiles.

Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman & CEO of CMA CGM.

Can you tell us more about the company you work for and what you do there?

CMA CGM is a family-owned global leader in maritime, land, air, and logistics solutions, present in 177 countries with 160,000 employees. The Group serves over 420 ports across five continents and includes CEVA Logistics and CMA Media, one of France’s largest private media groups. Family values are at the heart of CMA CGM, with a strong sense of humility, boldness, imagination, excellence, and exemplarity, as well as a deep commitment to people and to the territories where we operate.
I am Vice President, Group Learning, and Managing Director of TANGRAM, our learning and innovation campus in Marseille. I also lead education initiatives and partnerships for the Group, including our support to 42 Marseille.

How did you first come across 42? What did you find particularly interesting about it?

Our journey with 42 began in Beirut, driven by the vision of our Chairman and CEO, Rodolphe Saadé. He strongly believes that talent is revealed through mindset, values, and determination. 42 stood out immediately as a model built on trust, effort, and merit, with a direct link to real skills and real opportunities.

What were the motivations behind CMA CGM’s decision to set up and sponsor 42 Marseille?

After the launch of 42 Beirut in 2024, supporting 42 Marseille in 2025 was a natural continuation of Rodolphe Saadé’s vision for education and employability. Marseille is a fast-growing city with strong momentum in tech and innovation, and the need for digital talent is rising quickly. It is also our home. For CMA CGM, investing in education in Marseille is a way to create concrete opportunities for local talent and to strengthen the broader tech ecosystem in the South of France.

In your opinion, what sets 42 apart from other coding schools?

42 brings out potential through action. Students learn by doing, supporting each other, and taking responsibility for their progress. When you meet the students at 42 Marseille, you see a remarkable mix of backgrounds and stories coming together around the same energy and the same ambition. This diversity is a powerful strength. It creates resilient, adaptable talent that can deliver in real-world environments.

What are your hopes for the future of 42 in Marseille?

The campus has just opened and the energy is already striking. I have been impressed by the students’ determination, their drive, and their entrepreneurial mindset. When our Chairman and CEO, Rodolphe Saadé, visited 42 Marseille with members of our Executive Committee last December, the discussions with students sparked concrete ideas, potential partnerships, and early project dynamics.
With companies reaching out every day, 42 Marseille is on track to become a major talent engine for the city and the region, and a strong contributor to innovation.

And for the future of education?

I believe the future of education will keep moving closer to the real world, with more autonomy, more practice, and faster learning cycles. The 42 model shows how peer learning and learning by doing can create strong outcomes. When you trust people and invest in their potential, they rise to the challenge. This approach creates talent that companies can rely on to innovate, grow, and build.

A quick word to conclude our interview?

At 42, it is about commitment, curiosity, and action. CMA CGM is proud to support 42 Marseille and 42 Beirut, under the leadership of our Chairman and CEO, Rodolphe Saadé. When you see the drive of these students, you feel it clearly. The future is being built, coded, and shared, every day.