gérante

Gérante is a feminine noun in French that designates a woman who manages or operates a business or organization. It is the feminine form of gérant, the common noun for a person who holds managerial or administrative authority. In everyday use, gérante and gérant describe the person in charge of a company, shop, or association.

Etymology and usage: the word comes from the verb gérer, meaning to manage or administer. The agentive suffix -ant forms gérant (masculine) and gérante (feminine). In many contexts, especially in small businesses, gérante is used to emphasize the gender of the manager, while in formal legal texts gérant may be used as a gender-neutral term or with the male form by convention.

Legal and professional context: in French corporate law, a gérante may be the manager of a société à responsabilité limitée (SARL) or other entities. The gérante generally has the authority to represent the company in civil acts, sign contracts, and oversee day-to-day operations. The appointment is typically made by shareholders or partners, and the scope of power can vary according to the statutes, shareholder agreement, or applicable law. The role often includes financial oversight, hiring, compliance, and strategic decisions, with responsibilities proportional to the entity’s size.

See also: gérant, gérance, SARL, directrice, administratrice. The term is commonly used across Francophone business contexts and may reflect gender in contemporary usage.