Claude Guillemot, Co-Founder of Ubisoft, Dies in Plane Crash
Claude Guillemot, one of the five Guillemot brothers who co-founded French publisher Ubisoft, has died in a plane crash. The tragic incident occurred on Friday afternoon in the French commune of La Baule-Escoublac, located in the Northwestern department of Loire-Atlantique.
According to reports from Loire-Atlantique's SDIS 44 fire and rescue service, Guillemot was one of two people killed after the aircraft crashed near the La-Baule aerodrome. The other fatality was the aircraft's owner and operator. The mayor of La Baule, Franck Louvrier, issued a statement about the crash, stating, "It was a Cessna 421, a twin-engine propeller, with eight seats. The plane was on approach for the landing phase, when, according to witnesses, it made a turn and crashed."
A Founding Pillar of Ubisoft
Claude Guillemot co-founded Ubisoft in 1986 along with his brothers, Michel, Christian, Gerard, and the publisher's current chairman and CEO, Yves Guillemot. From its origins as a software distribution business, Ubisoft grew into one of the biggest video game publishers, developing numerous world-renowned series including Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.
Claude Guillemot held several key roles within the company, including sitting on Ubisoft's board and serving as Executive Vice President in charge of operations. Since 1997, he was also Chairman and CEO of the Guillemot Corporation, which owns the Hercules digital audio brand and the Thrustmaster accessories label. Through this company, the Guillemot brothers maintain their stake in Ubisoft.
Ubisoft confirmed Guillemot's death in a press release, stating that it had learned "with deep sadness of the death of Claude Guillemot, co-founder of the Group and President of Guillemot Corporation, in an accident. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. No further statements will be made at this time."
Claude Guillemot was 69 years old. The cause of the crash is not currently known, but French aviation authorities are expected to open a formal investigation. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the gaming industry, as the Guillemot brothers played a crucial role in shaping Ubisoft into the global powerhouse it is today.
