Robert L. Genillard
Robert L. Genillard | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Died | September 18, 2016 (aged 87) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, financier |
| Known for | Eurobond market development, leadership at Credit Suisse White Weld, CEO of TBG Holdings N.V. |
Robert L. Genillard (15 June 1929 – 18 September 2016) was a prominent Swiss entrepreneur with extensive involvement in finance and industrial sectors. Following advanced studies in economics and finance, he launched his professional journey in New York City by joining White Weld & Co. in 1954, a leading American investment bank that was later absorbed by Merrill Lynch in 1977. He attained the position of general partner in 1958 and became a member of the management committee by 1964. During the early 1960s, Genillard moved to Europe to establish and head Credit Suisse White Weld as chairman and CEO, an entity that subsequently developed into Credit Suisse First Boston.
Originating from Lausanne, Genillard played a pivotal role in shaping the Eurocapital market (Eurobond), with his firm holding a dominant position within this sphere. He foresaw the Eurobond market evolving into a supranational capital platform, a vision illustrated in 2016 when an international syndicate issued bonds amounting to $42 billion for Anheuser-Busch InBev, drawing subscriptions totaling $112 billion—exceeding the capacity of any individual capital market.
Within the industrial domain, Genillard maintained strong ties to the Thyssen-Bornemisza Group, a multinational industrial employer with approximately 20,000 employees worldwide. He served as CEO of its parent company, TBG Holdings N.V., from 1977 until 1983 and held the role of deputy chairman on its supervisory board between 1971 and 1994.
Beginning in 1983, Genillard dedicated his efforts to independent corporate governance and investment activities. His board memberships and advisory positions included significant international corporations such as Alusuisse (vice-chairman), American Express, Cabot Corporation, Clariden Bank (founder-chairman; which later became Clariden Leu), Compagnie des Machines Bull, Credit Suisse Group (vice-chairman), Credit Suisse First Boston (vice-chairman), Corning Inc. (director emeritus), Honeywell International, Novartis, and Société des bains de mer de Monaco (SBM).
Genillard died on 18 September 2016 at the age of 87.