Patrick Guerrand-Hermès
Patrick Guerrand-Hermès | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 25, 1932 Paris, France |
| Died | August 13, 2024 (aged 91) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, art collector, sports promoter |
| Known for | Contributions to sports and cultural development in Morocco, polo promotion |
Patrick Guerrand-Hermès (25 September 1932 – 13 August 2024) was a French-Moroccan entrepreneur and billionaire known for his contributions to sports and cultural development in Morocco. During the 1980s, he undertook the restoration of the Aïn Kassimou villa in Marrakesh, a property originally constructed for Olga, daughter of Leo Tolstoy. In recognition of his impact, King Mohammed VI granted him Moroccan citizenship on 25 April 2019. Additionally an avid art collector, Forbes ranked him as the 387th wealthiest individual worldwide in 2001, with an estimated fortune of $1.3 billion.
Background
Guerrand-Hermès was born in Paris on 25 September 1932 and later earned a degree from Oxford University. He was a descendant of Thierry Hermès, the founder of the luxury brand Hermès, tracing back to his great-great-grandfather. Raised by a father who was a sailor, he experienced extensive travel throughout his early years.
He passed away at the age of 91 on 13 August 2024.
Career
His initial encounter with Morocco occurred in 1954 when he served as a cavalry officer stationed in Marrakesh. In 1984, he acquired the Aïn Kassimou estate as a present for his wife Martine and their children, Olaf and Mathias.
While serving as a director at Hermès, he played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s silk division. By 2012, having retired from active business duties, he divided his time annually between Morocco—where he engaged in various projects for nine months—and Vineuil-Saint-Firmin, where he devoted efforts to fostering polo through the Chantilly Polo Club. His enthusiasm for polo motivated him to develop the polo facilities at Château de Chantilly during the early 1970s. Originally established by the Rothschild family in 1920, Guerrand-Hermès and his collaborators transformed this venue into a club boasting ten polo fields, including two that are playable throughout the year. The club supports approximately 250 players and maintains close to 3,500 horses under training.
His dedication to polo is also reflected through his team, La Palmeraie. He held the position of president at the Federation of International Polo and was instrumental in organizing the 2004 World Polo Championship at Domaine de Chantilly. In memory of his son Lionel, who died at age 18, Guerrand-Hermès donated the perpetual trophy to La Palmeraie. Furthermore, he created the Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy in collaboration with the United States Equestrian Team Foundation. His other son, Mathias—a former member of the North American polo team—passed away from a heart attack at age 38 in Paris in 2010.
Beyond sports, Guerrand-Hermès nurtured a deep appreciation for Moroccan and oriental arts as well as equestrian culture during more than five decades residing in Morocco. He revitalized his Marrakesh property, Aïn Kassimou, which now serves as part of the Palmeraie Polo Club and hosts events dedicated to supporting Moroccan charitable organizations and foundations.