Jean-Luc Lagardère
Jean Lucien Lagardère (10 February 1928 – 14 March 2003) was a French businessman, founder of the Lagardère conglomerate.
Biography
Jean-Luc Lagardère was born in Aubiet. At age 12 his family moved to Paris when his father was appointed financial director of the National Office for Aerospace Studies and Research (ONERA). [1]He attended the Lycée Saint-Louis and completed military service at the Naval Academy. He graduated in engineering from Supélec in 1951 and then worked for ten years in the electronics department of Dassault Aviation.
In 1963 Lagardère became chief executive of the aerospace company Matra, diversifying it into civil telecommunications, transportation, high technology and automotive, and overseeing research and development expansion. He was appointed chief executive in 1977. Although Matra was partially nationalized in 1981, he regained control when it was reprivatized in 1987.[2][3]
Lagardère also built a media empire: in 1974 he acquired a majority stake in the Europe 1 radio network, taking full ownership in 1986. In 1981 he partnered with publisher Daniel Filipacchi to purchase Hachette, publisher of Elle and other magazines. In 1990 he acquired the television channel La Cinq through Hachette, but heavy losses of around 2 billion FRF led to its closure in 1992.[4]
On 5 May 1992 he merged Matra and Hachette to form the Lagardère Group, preserving both brand identities. In 2000 his aerospace subsidiary Aérospatiale-Matra helped found EADS (now Airbus Group), then Europe’s leading aerospace company.
Jean-Luc Lagardère died on 14 March 2003 from a viral infection following hip surgery. His son Arnaud succeeded him as head of the group.[5]
Sports interests
Through Matra Sports, Lagardère sponsored a Formula 1 team from 1965–1974, winning the 1969 drivers’ championship with Jackie Stewart and three consecutive victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Drivers included Henri Pescarolo, Gérard Larrousse and Graham Hill.
He also owned the Haras d’Ouilly stud farm from 1981 until his death, breeding the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Sagamix in 1998. He served as president of France Galop from its founding in 1995 until 2003.
From 1982–1989 he owned the Paris football club Racing Club de France Football but sold it after failing to achieve top-flight success.[6]
References
- ↑ http://www.lesechos.fr/17/03/2003/LesEchos/18867-052-ECH_jean-luc-lagardere--capitaine-d-industrie-et-homme-de-pouvoir.htm
- ↑ http://elpais.com/diario/2003/03/15/economia/1047682817_850215.html
- ↑ http://www.lexpress.fr/informations/les-dernieres-tentations-de-lagardere_631024.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20150302014914/http://www.vivelacinq.fr/Personnalites/fiches/lagardere.php
- ↑ http://blogs.lesechos.fr/echos-d-hier/5-mai-1992-jean-luc-lagardere-a10419.html
- ↑ http://www.ecosdelbalon.com/2013/04/historia-racing-club-de-paris-ambicion/