Emmanuel Imberton Hands Over Reins at Cotonnière Lyonnaise to Yohann Frénéat
Lyon, July 21, 2026 – Emmanuel Imberton, who took over Cotonnière Lyonnaise in early 1998, has officially passed the torch of general management to Yohann Frénéat, the company’s long-standing commercial director. This leadership change marks a significant moment for the Lyon-based company, signaling a new phase of continuity and development.
Imberton’s entrepreneurial journey began in 1998, following a career spanning approximately fifteen years in human resources at companies such as Valéo and Ciapem. He was 40 years old when he acquired Cotonnière Lyonnaise, a company founded in 1958 specializing in visual communication supports. The company’s core businesses include signage, banner manufacturing, sublimation printing, and cutting and digital films, serving clients in events, interior decoration, hospitality, and industrial zones.
From HR to Entrepreneurial Leadership
Before his entrepreneurial venture, Imberton held key HR positions. In 1983, he joined the Paris-Rhône plant (Valéo group) in Lyon’s 8th arrondissement, overseeing its relocation to a new Valéo factory in Isle d’Abeau in 1989. In the early 1990s, he moved to Ciapem in Gerland, then Lyon’s largest industrial site, which later became Fagor-Brandt. In 1997, a brief stint at Cofradel, a subsidiary of Docks de France, was cut short by its acquisition by Auchan, prompting Imberton to pursue entrepreneurship after attending emlyon business school’s Centre des entrepreneurs.
A Pivotal Figure in Lyon’s Business Landscape
Beyond Cotonnière Lyonnaise, Emmanuel Imberton played a crucial role in Lyon’s business community. A prominent member of the CGPME (now ‘Les Entrepreneurs’), he was instrumental in the 2010 consular elections, where the CGPME triumphed over the Medef for control of the CCI Lyon-Métropole. He subsequently became the 1st Vice-President of the CCI Lyon and took the helm of the Lyon CCI in 2013 after François Turcas ended Philippe Grillot’s mandate.
During his tenure as president of the consular chamber, Imberton spearheaded several strategic projects, including the merger of the CCIs of Lyon, Saint-Etienne, and Roanne, the sale of Lyon airport to a consortium led by Vinci Airports, and the privatization of emlyon business school (with the CCI retaining a 51% stake), which saw its return to Lyon with a new campus inaugurated in the 7th arrondissement in late 2024.
In September 2019, Imberton resigned from the CCI presidency due to health issues, focusing on his recovery and his company. In early summer 2023, it was revealed that he was interested in the 2026 municipal and metropolitan elections in Lyon. He became a close political advisor to Jean-Michel Aulas during his campaign in September 2025, negotiating agreements with political parties and securing positions on electoral lists in Lyon and the Métropole de Lyon. Following the elections, he updated his LinkedIn profile, identifying himself as an “ex-entrepreneur, Vice-President of the Métropole de Lyon in charge of economy, employment, and professional integration, Municipal Councillor of Lyon, former President of the CCI Lyon.”
Yohann Frénéat: 25 Years of Dedication
The transition at Cotonnière Lyonnaise was confirmed yesterday evening via a LinkedIn announcement. After an unsuccessful attempt to sell the company in recent months, “the shareholders have appointed Yohann Frénéat as General Manager,” the statement read. It further emphasized that “this transition marks a new stage in the history of our company. It is part of a desire for continuity, stability, and development.”
Yohann Frénéat, who has been with Cotonnière Lyonnaise for nearly 25 years, previously served as commercial director. He is expected to “continue, with all the teams, the development of the company in a spirit of responsibility and continuity.” The company expressed its “sincere thanks to Emmanuel Imberton for his commitment, his investment, and the contribution he has made to its development. It wishes him every success in his future endeavors.”
Imberton’s current projects have been complicated by the “Abreu affair,” which led Véronique Sarselli to temporarily suspend the delegations of Jean-Michel Aulas, Emmanuel Imberton, and Laure Cédat on June 12. While tensions appeared to ease last weekend after a month of intense conflict, the ultimate resolution between the Sarselli and Aulas factions remains uncertain beyond the summer truce.
Source: Le Mensuel des Pouvoirs Lyonnais
