Henri Lafond
Henri Lafond | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Thaumiers, Cher, France |
| Died | March 6, 1963 (aged 68) Neuilly-sur-Seine, France |
| Occupation(s) | Mining engineer, industrialist |
| Known for | Leadership roles in major French corporations; senior official in Vichy Ministry of Industrial Production; co-founder of Conseil national du patronat français |
Henri Lafond (20 August 1894 – 6 March 1963) was a prominent French mining engineer and industrialist who held leadership roles and board memberships in several major corporations, actively engaging in influential industrial organizations before and after World War II. During the conflict, he occupied a high-ranking position within the Vichy Ministry of Industrial Production from 1940 to 1942. His opposition to the OAS’s anti-Algerian independence agenda led to his assassination in 1963 by an OAS operative.
Early years (1894–1939)
Born in Thaumiers, Cher, Lafond was the son of Joseph Lafond, who worked as a tobacconist. After completing his early education locally, he entered the elite École Polytechnique in 1914. A decorated veteran of World War I, he graduated second in his class from the École des Mines de Paris in 1920 and subsequently joined the prestigious Corps des mines. He married Mlle. Thivet, and their daughters later wed medical professionals.
In 1929, Lafond transitioned from the Corps des Mines to Banque Mirabaud, focusing on financing within the mining sector. By 1930, he was appointed head of its subsidiary, Association minière, and held directorships at various mining companies such as Compagnie des Mines du Huaron and Litcho Gold Mines. By 1939, he acted as Banque Mirabaud’s representative on the board of Compagnie marocaine.
World War II (1939–45)
During the Second World War, Lafond was connected to individuals linked with the Synarchy. In July 1940, Minister René Belin appointed him alongside Jean Bichelonne to senior positions within the Ministry of Industrial Production under Marshal Philippe Pétain. Lafond suggested merging iron and steel committees into a unified metallurgy organization under Jules Aubrun, but this restructuring did not come to fruition.
In April 1942, during Pierre Laval’s administration, Lafond took on the role of general secretary for energy in the Ministry of Industry, overseeing sectors including mining, steel, gas and electricity, and fuels. His tenure ended in November 1942, reportedly due to Laval’s personal dislike.
Following his dismissal, Lafond became president and CEO of Association minière and joined the Mirabaud Group—partners with Banque de l'Union Parisienne (BUP). From 1943 onward, he led Mines du Huaron and served on the board of Tréfileries et Laminoirs du Havre. In January 1944, he joined BUP’s executive committee.
Post World War II (1945–63)
After the war concluded, Lafond preserved close connections with his wartime associates by establishing the "Lafond Group," a monthly gathering of senior engineers from fields such as oil, power generation, mining, steel production, and industrial chemistry. He co-founded the Conseil national du patronat français (CNPF) alongside Pierre Ricard and Henri Davezac, emerging as a prominent leader despite his prior involvement with the Vichy regime. Known as a progressive industrialist, Lafond advocated for regulated employee rights and represented private industry interests on the CNPF Economic and Social Council between 1947 and 1954.
His extensive network encompassed French government officials and top corporate executives alike, affording him considerable influence with General Charles de Gaulle. He participated in the Comité Franc-Dollar and contributed to the École Polytechnique’s development council. In 1951, he received a brief appointment to the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique, but opposition from Francis Perrin—rooted in Lafond’s Vichy associations and business involvements—curtailed his role.
From 1945 until 1962, Lafond served as chairman and CEO of Société du Djebel-Djérissa. His directorships included major enterprises such as Banque de l'Union Parisienne (BUP), Société des Phosphates de Gafsa, Société de l'Ouenza, Société française des pétroles, Chantiers et Ateliers de Saint-Nazaire, Pechiney, and Électricité de France. He advanced to BUP vice-president in 1948 and assumed its CEO position in 1951. In 1953, he orchestrated a discreet merger between BUP and Mirabaud Bank—entities with significant stakes in mining and petroleum—and controlled Société Mokta El Hadid, where he remained president until his death. Additionally, he led Société Anonyme Chérifienne d'Etudes Minières (SACEM) and joined Tréfimétaux’s board in 1962 following its formation through a major metals industry consolidation.
Lafond progressed through ranks within the Legion of Honour: knighted in 1939, promoted to officer in 1949, and elevated to commander in 1959. On 6 March 1963, outside his residence in Neuilly-sur-Seine, he was assassinated by OAS member Jean de Brem—who escaped initially but was later killed by police. The killing was motivated by Lafond’s refusal to testify at the Petit-Clamart trial. At that time, he held a 0.26% ownership stake in BUP’s capital.
Sources
- Bonin, Hubert. La Banque de l'Union parisienne (1874/1904 – 1974), Editions Plage, Paris, 2001
- Brunet, Luc-André. Forging Europe: Industrial Organisation in France, 1940–1952, Springer, 2017
- Compagnie des Minerais de Fer Magnétique De Mokta-el-Hadid, Entreprises Coloniales, 2015
- Ehrmann, Henry Walter. Organized Business in France, Princeton University Press, 2015
- Fischesser, Raymond. Groupe LAFOND, Annales des Mines
- Garric, Alain. Henri LAFOND "le pape du Corps des Mines", geneanet
- Lafond, Henri, Légion d'Honneur
- Mahl, R. Henri LAFOND (1894–1963), Annales des Mines
- Nord, Philip. France's New Deal: From the Thirties to the Postwar Era, Princeton University Press, 2012
- Scheinman, Lawrence. Atomic Energy Policy in France Under the Fourth Republic, Princeton University Press, 2015
- Timkkit, Boutazoult Imini. ASSASSINAT D'UN PDG DE LA SACEM : MARS 1963, 2008
- Zølner, Mette. Young Business Leaders: Between Utility and Utopia, Peter Lang, 2009