History - MAÏA GROUP : Infrastructure and energy -

Independence is our energy

Date d’impression : Lundi 06 Février 2012

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The story of the MAIA Group is one of a small family enterprise that grew to become a major, innovative group.


Amable MAJA 1908/1926		Jean MAÏA 1926/1965		Bernard SONNIER 1965/1997		Christophe GRUY 1997 to today

The MAÏA GROUP is born when Mr. Amable Maja – phonetically transformed into Maïa – creates a company in Lyon specializing in paving work. In 1926, the company is taken over by his son Jean, who progressively expands the business to include public works, civil engineering and construction.

Mr. Bernard Sonnier merges SONNIER et CIE, created in 1927 by his father, with the company of his uncle, Jean Maïa. The new company thrives for over 30 years, delivering several prestigious projects, including :

-The Maurice Ravel Auditorium built in 1974 in Lyon
-The administrative headquarters for the Grand Lyon conurbation
-The "Double Mixte", project under concession on La Doua university campus (Villeurbanne)
-The renovation of the Cusset dam on the Rhone (Villeurbanne)
-The Gerland stadium (Lyon)

The MAÏA SONNIER company must face a downturn and is purchased by a group of which Christophe Gruy is the General Manager and minority shareholder.

Christophe Gruy and his colleagues purchase all of the shares of the group from the Général Routière company.

Thanks to the motivation and skills of its entire staff, the company gains impetus to reach the growth rate and turnover that it enjoys today. This success is illustrated by the completion of major projects such as :

-The new JeanMacé railway station in Lyon
-The revitalization of 5 km along the banks of the River Rhone in Lyon
-The tramway in Nice
-The construction of a cut-and-cover tunnel for the LGV EST high-speed railway line
-The Euratechnologie basin in Lille
-A railway bridge over the Rhone in Culoz
-Sound-proof covering for the A86 motorway in Colombes (Paris area)