Jean-Louis BEFFA

Biography

Born in August 1941 and a former student of the French Ecole Polytechnique, Jean-Louis BEFFA is also a member of the distinguished French Corps des Mines, and a graduate of both the Ecole Nationale Supérieure du Pétrole and the Paris Institut d'Etudes Politiques.

He began his career as an Engineer in the Fuels Division, then as a Department Head in refining and subsequently Assistant Director. 

He joined Saint-Gobain in 1974 as Vice-President, Corporate Planning. Chief Executive Officer of Pont-à-Mousson SA, then its Chairman and CEO, he was also President of the Saint-Gobain Pipe and Mechanics Division from 1979 to 1982. Jean-Louis BEFFA was President and CEO of Saint-Gobain from January 1986 to June 2007, after having been CEO since March 1982. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors until June 2010 and is currently Honorary Chairman and a Director of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain. 

Jean-Louis BEFFA is also Senior Advisor of Lazard and Chairman Lazard Asia Investment Banking, a Director of GDF-Suez, of Groupe Bruxelles Lambert and of Le Monde S.A, and a member of the Supervisory Board of Siemens AG. He is also co-Chairman of the Centre Cournot pour la Recherche en Économie, Chairman of Arop (Association pour le Rayonnement de l'Opéra national de Paris).

Jean-Louis BEFFA is a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour.