Louis Schweitzer (CEO)
Encyclopedia
Louis Schweitzer was the previous Chairman
of Renault
, first taking that post on 27 May 1992 in succession to Raymond Lévy, and he was also CEO
from 1992 to 2005. He is in addition Chairman of AstraZeneca
where he was appointed as a Director 11 March 2004. He is a non-executive director of BNP Paribas
, Electricité de France
, Veolia Environnement, Volvo
AB and L'Oréal
, and Vice-Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Philips Electronics NV
Louis Schweitzer is the son of Pierre-Paul Schweitzer
, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) from 1963 to 1973. He is the grandnephew of Albert Schweitzer
, and so related to Jean-Paul Sartre
.
Born in Geneva
, Switzerland, in July 1942, Louis Schweitzer has a degree in law and is a graduate of France's elite Institut d'études politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) and École nationale d'administration
.
He was appointed Inspector of Finance at the French Treasury
in 1970. In 1981 he became Chief of Staff to Laurent Fabius
in his various government posts (Budget Minister, Minister for Industry and Research and Prime Minister).
He joined Renault
in 1986 and became Chief Financial Officer and Head of Strategic Planning in 1988.
He was appointed Executive Vice President and COO
in 1989, and President and COO in 1990. He was Renault's Chairman and CEO from May 1992 to April 2005, and president of the Renault-Nissan Alliance Board from 2001 to 2005. On 29 April 2005 he became Chairman of the Renault Board of Directors.
Louis is a Commander of the French Légion d'honneur
and National Order of Merit
, and director of several French and foreign companies. He is also member of governing boards of various general organisations, particularly in the cultural field.
I
Since 6 March 2005, Louis Schweitzer has been President of the Haute Authorité de Lutte Contre les Discriminations et Pour l'Egalité. This role was entrusted to him by the French President.
For having closely surveilled Jean-Edern Hallier
by a special cell in the Elysée Palace
, he was ultimately condemned in 2008 by Court of Cassation
.
Schweitzer is a Protestant.
Chairman of the Board
The Chairman of the Board is a seat of office in an organization, especially of corporations.Chairman of the Board may also refer to:*Chairman of the Board , a 1998 film*Chairmen of the Board , a 1970s American soul music group...
of Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
, first taking that post on 27 May 1992 in succession to Raymond Lévy, and he was also CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
from 1992 to 2005. He is in addition Chairman of AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca plc is a global pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's seventh-largest pharmaceutical company measured by revenues and has operations in over 100 countries...
where he was appointed as a Director 11 March 2004. He is a non-executive director of BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas S.A. is a global banking group, headquartered in Paris, with its second global headquarters in London. In October 2010 BNP Paribas was ranked by Bloomberg and Forbes as the largest bank and largest company in the world by assets with over $3.1 trillion. It was formed through the merger...
, Electricité de France
Électricité de France
Électricité de France S.A. is the second largest French utility company. Headquartered in Paris, France, with €65.2 billion in revenues in 2010, EDF operates a diverse portfolio of 120,000+ megawatts of generation capacity in Europe, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.EDF is one of...
, Veolia Environnement, Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
AB and L'Oréal
L'Oréal
The L'Oréal Group is the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company. With its registered office in Paris and head office in the Paris suburb of Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, it has developed activities in the field of cosmetics...
, and Vice-Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Philips Electronics NV
Louis Schweitzer is the son of Pierre-Paul Schweitzer
Pierre-Paul Schweitzer
Pierre-Paul Schweitzer was the International Monetary Fund 's fourth Managing Director and Chairman of the Executive Board, serving from 1963 to 1973.-Early life and education:...
, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
(IMF) from 1963 to 1973. He is the grandnephew of Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer OM was a German theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary. He was born in Kaysersberg in the province of Alsace-Lorraine, at that time part of the German Empire...
, and so related to Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre was a French existentialist philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary critic. He was one of the leading figures in 20th century French philosophy, particularly Marxism, and was one of the key figures in literary...
.
Born in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland, in July 1942, Louis Schweitzer has a degree in law and is a graduate of France's elite Institut d'études politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) and École nationale d'administration
École nationale d'administration
The École Nationale d'Administration , one of the most prestigious of French graduate schools , was created in 1945 by Charles de Gaulle to democratise access to the senior civil service. It is now entrusted with the selection and initial training of senior French officials...
.
He was appointed Inspector of Finance at the French Treasury
Treasury
A treasury is either*A government department related to finance and taxation.*A place where currency or precious items is/are kept....
in 1970. In 1981 he became Chief of Staff to Laurent Fabius
Laurent Fabius
Laurent Fabius is a French Socialist politician. He served as Prime Minister from 17 July 1984 to 20 March 1986. He was 37 years old when he was appointed and is, so far, the youngest Prime Minister of the Fifth Republic.-Early life:...
in his various government posts (Budget Minister, Minister for Industry and Research and Prime Minister).
He joined Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
in 1986 and became Chief Financial Officer and Head of Strategic Planning in 1988.
He was appointed Executive Vice President and COO
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
in 1989, and President and COO in 1990. He was Renault's Chairman and CEO from May 1992 to April 2005, and president of the Renault-Nissan Alliance Board from 2001 to 2005. On 29 April 2005 he became Chairman of the Renault Board of Directors.
Louis is a Commander of the French Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
and National Order of Merit
Ordre National du Mérite
The Ordre national du Mérite is an Order of State awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle...
, and director of several French and foreign companies. He is also member of governing boards of various general organisations, particularly in the cultural field.
I
Since 6 March 2005, Louis Schweitzer has been President of the Haute Authorité de Lutte Contre les Discriminations et Pour l'Egalité. This role was entrusted to him by the French President.
For having closely surveilled Jean-Edern Hallier
Jean-Edern Hallier
Jean-Edern Hallier was a French author.- Overview :Hallier was the son of World War I French General André Hallier. Jean-Edern was born in 1936 and lost an eye during the siege of Budapest, where his father was on diplomatic posting...
by a special cell in the Elysée Palace
Élysée Palace
The Élysée Palace is the official residence of the President of the French Republic, containing his office, and is where the Council of Ministers meets. It is located near the Champs-Élysées in Paris....
, he was ultimately condemned in 2008 by Court of Cassation
Court of cassation
A Court of Cassation is a high instance court that exists in some judicial systems. Courts of cassation are appellate courts of the highest instance. They are roughly equivalent to supreme courts in other countries...
.
Education
- Bachelor of LawsBachelor of LawsThe Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
- Institut d'études politiques de Paris (IEP Paris)
- École nationale d'administrationÉcole nationale d'administrationThe École Nationale d'Administration , one of the most prestigious of French graduate schools , was created in 1945 by Charles de Gaulle to democratise access to the senior civil service. It is now entrusted with the selection and initial training of senior French officials...
Schweitzer is a Protestant.
Renault Highlights in the Schweitzer years (1992-2005)
- 27 May 1992 – Louis Schweitzer takes over from Raymond Lévy as head of Renault
- December 1992 – Renault wins the Formula OneFormula OneFormula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
Constructors' and drivers' championships. - 6 September 1993 – Renault and VolvoVolvoAB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
sign a merger agreement - 2 December 1993 – Volvo pulls out of the merger
- 18 July 1994 – The Renault privatization bill becomes law. The Régie Nationale des Usines Renault is renamed Renault.
- 13 September 1994 – The French government opens Renault to outside capital
- End-1994 – Renault shares are floated at FRF 180,90. Renault joins the CAC40 index
- 1 June 1995 – Renault decides to open a plant in Brazil
- 3 July 1996 – Renault is fully privatized, with the French government reducing its stake from 52% to 46%
- 19 November 1996 – Renault Scénic is named European Car of the Year 1997
- December 1996 – Carlos GhosnCarlos GhosnCarlos Ghosn, KBE , born 9 March 1954, is a Brazilian-Lebanese-French businessman who is currently the Chairman and CEO of Yokohama, Japan-based Nissan and holds the same positions at Paris-based Renault, which together produce more than one in 10 cars worldwide...
is appointed Executive Vice President. - 27 February 1997 – The closure of the Belgian VilvoordeVilvoordeVilvoorde is a Belgian municipality in the Flemish province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the city of Vilvoorde proper with its two outlying quarters of Koningslo and Houtem and the small town of Peutie...
plant is announced. - December 1997 – Williams RenaultWilliamsF1Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited, trading as AT&T Williams, is a British Formula One motor racing team and constructor. It was founded and run by Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head...
wins the Formula One Constructors' Championship for the sixth time. - February 1998 – Renault starts its New Distribution (Nouvelle Distribution) project.
- 28 May 1998 – The Technocentre in GuyancourtGuyancourtGuyancourt is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the south-western suburbs of Paris from the center, in the "new town" of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.-Geography:...
, France is opened. - 2 July 1998 – Renault and the City of Moscow set up OAO Avtoframos.
- November 1998 – Renault starts development work on a car retailing at €5.000,00.
- 4 December 1998 – Inauguration of the Ayrton SennaAyrton SennaAyrton Senna da Silva was a Brazilian racing driver. A three-time Formula One world champion, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time...
Plant in CuritibaCuritibaCuritiba is the capital of the Brazilian state of Paraná. It is the largest city with the biggest economy of both Paraná and southern Brazil. The population of Curitiba numbers approximately 1.75 million people and the latest GDP figures for the city surpass US$61 billion according to...
Brazil. - 27 March 1999 – Renault acquires 36,8% of the Japanese carmaker Nissan. Carlos Ghosn becomes head of Nissan
- 2 July 1999 – Renault takes control of Romanian carmaker DaciaDaciaIn ancient geography, especially in Roman sources, Dacia was the land inhabited by the Dacians or Getae as they were known by the Greeks—the branch of the Thracians north of the Haemus range...
. - 18 October 1999 – Carlos Ghosn announces the Nissan Revival Plan.
- 21 April 2000 – Renault acquires South Korean carmaker Samsung MotorsRenault Samsung MotorsRenault Samsung Motors is a South Korean automobile manufacturer. It was first established as Samsung Motors in 1994 and started selling cars in 1998, just before South Korea was hit by the Asian financial crisis...
. - 25 April 2000 – Renault sells its trucks business to AB VolvoVolvoAB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
in exchange for a 20% stake in the Swedish group. The future of Renault TrucksRenault TrucksRenault Trucks is a French truck manufacturer with its corporate headquarters at Saint-Priest near Lyon. Originally part of Renault, it has been owned by Volvo Group since 2001....
is assured. - 12 March 2001 – Renault and Nissan draw up plans to set up a global joint purchasing unit, called Renault Nissan Purchasing Organisation
- 27 March 2001 – Laguna IIRenault LagunaThe Renault Laguna is a large family car produced by the French manufacturer Renault. The first Laguna was launched in 1993, the second generation was launched in 2000, and the third generation was made available for sale in October 2007....
becomes the first car ever to be awarded five starts in the EuroNCAPEuroNCAPThe European New Car Assessment Programme is a European car safety performance assessment programme based in Brussels and founded in 1997 by the Transport Research Laboratory for the UK Department for Transport and backed by several European governments.-History and activities:Euro NCAP is a...
crash tests - 30 October 2001 – Renault increases its equity stake in Nissan to 44,4%, and Nissan takes a 15% stake in RenaultRenaultRenault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
. The Renault-Nissan Alliance Board is created - 20 December 2001 – Renault and Nissan inaugurate their first joint plant, used to assemble LCVs in CuritibaCuritibaCuritiba is the capital of the Brazilian state of Paraná. It is the largest city with the biggest economy of both Paraná and southern Brazil. The population of Curitiba numbers approximately 1.75 million people and the latest GDP figures for the city surpass US$61 billion according to...
, Brazil. - 28 June 2002 – Renault and Nissan set up Renault Nissan Information Services, the second joint venture under the Alliance
- 22 October 2002 – Production of the TraficRenault TraficThe current Trafic resulted from a joint venture between German Opel, Japanese Nissan and French Renault. It is also sold as an Opel Vivaro, Vauxhall Vivaro and by Nissan as the Primastar....
panel van starts at Nissan's plant in BarcelonaBarcelonaBarcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, making Renault and Nissan's first joint production project in Europe. - 19 November 2002 – Renault MéganeRenault MéganeThe Renault Mégane is a small family car produced by the French automaker Renault since 1995. It is offered in 3- and 5-door hatchback, saloon, coupé, convertible and estate bodystyles...
is named Car of the year 2003. - 23 January 2003 – The Renault Production Way (SPR) is launched with the aim of ensuring that the Group's industrial system performs in line with the best in the world.
- 24 February 2003 – ClaasCLAASClaas is an agricultural machinery manufacturer founded in 1913, now based in Harsewinkel, Germany, in the state of North Rhine Westphalia. Their agricultural products are usually sold under the Claas name, except in North America where combines are distributed under the Lexion brand by Caterpillar...
becomes the majority partner in Renault Agriculture by acquiring a 51% stake - 26 February 2003 – Renault invests €230 million in the production and marketing of its future X90 vehicle in Russia.
- 28 July 2003 – Renault takes control of its SOMACA subsidiary, previously controlled by the Moroccan government, to make the X90 in MoroccoMoroccoMorocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. - 16 March 2004 – Renault lays the foundations for expansion in IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
by setting up Renault Pars. - September 2004 – Dacia LoganDacia LoganThe Dacia Logan is a small family car car produced jointly by the French manufacturer Renault and its subsidiary Dacia of Romania. It is manufactured at Dacia's automobile plant in Mioveni, Romania, and in Colombia, Brazil, Russia, Morocco, Iran, India and South Africa...
- the €5.000,00 car goes on sale. - February 2005 – Renault announces record sales and financial results.
- 22 February 2005 – Renault signs an agreement with Mahindra & MahindraMahindra & Mahindra LimitedMahindra & Mahindra Limited is the flagship company of the Mahindra Group, a multinational conglomerate based in Mumbai, India. The company was set up in 1945 in Ludhiana as Mahindra & Mohammed by brothers K.C. Mahindra and J.C. Mahindra and Malik Ghulam Mohammed...
to produce LoganDacia LoganThe Dacia Logan is a small family car car produced jointly by the French manufacturer Renault and its subsidiary Dacia of Romania. It is manufactured at Dacia's automobile plant in Mioveni, Romania, and in Colombia, Brazil, Russia, Morocco, Iran, India and South Africa...
in India. - 6 April 2005 – The Avtoframos plant in Moscow is inaugurated.
- 29 April 2005 – Carlos GhosnCarlos GhosnCarlos Ghosn, KBE , born 9 March 1954, is a Brazilian-Lebanese-French businessman who is currently the Chairman and CEO of Yokohama, Japan-based Nissan and holds the same positions at Paris-based Renault, which together produce more than one in 10 cars worldwide...
takes over from Louis Schweitzer as president of Renault.