Sodexo Announces the Loss of its Founder and Chairman Emeritus Pierre Bellon
January 31 2022 - 12:50PM
Sodexo Announces the Loss of its Founder and Chairman Emeritus
Pierre Bellon
Paris - January 31, 2022 - It is with great
sadness and emotion that Sodexo announces the passing of its
founder and Chairman Emeritus, Pierre Bellon, on January 31, 2022
in Paris, at the age of 92. Pierre Bellon was a visionary
entrepreneur who was passionate about management, human
development, and the development of companies. He recognized very
early on the potential of the service sector. Pierre Bellon founded
Sodexo in 1966. Today, the company is a world leader in Quality of
Life services. It has a presence in 56 countries, with 412,000
employees caring for 100 million people every day.
Pierre Bellon was a leader ahead of his time. He
was a captain of industry with a long-term strategic vision, and at
the same time very close to his teams on the ground. He was
obsessed with job creation.
Sodexo shares the grief of his wife Nani, of
their children Sophie, Nathalie, François-Xavier and Astrid, and of
their grandchildren.
Sophie Bellon, Chairwoman of Sodexo’s Board
of Directors and interim CEO, says, “Our father was a builder,
a pioneer, a free spirit who was never afraid of taking risks. He
raised us, my sisters Nathalie and Astrid, my brother
François-Xavier and myself, to believe that nothing is impossible.
He taught us humility, curiosity, respect and courage. He was
obsessed with the long term, but he was also very hands-on. Nothing
made him happier than spending time with our teams on site. The
mission and values of service spirit, team spirit and spirit of
progress which he gave Sodexo are part of our fundamental
principles and will continue to guide the Group.”
Short biography of Pierre Bellon
Pierre Bellon was born in 1930. He graduated
from French business school HEC and began his career in his
father's maritime supply company in Marseilles, his hometown. He
foresaw the sector's decline and decided to take charge of
transforming the family business according to his vision: “to
create a convivial experience around the lunch table that enhances
quality of life.” In 1962, he invented a new business model in
France, corporate catering, and created ’Repas Service’, a small
meal delivery business for the Marseilles area. His perseverance,
audacity and appetite for risk allowed him to overcome the many
obstacles in his path and found Sodexo in 1966.
“I quickly realized that the only way to satisfy the
contradictory expectations of our clients, personnel and
shareholders was growth. That's why, even before I founded my
company, I decided that it would be a growth company."
Pierre Bellon quickly embraced the challenge of
international development to make his vision a reality. Early on,
he also chose to diversify towards high-potential opportunities,
for example by purchasing the French meal coupon companies Ticket
Repas and Chèque Restaurant in the early 1980s. Sodexo's long-term
vision and financial independence, controlled by a family holding
company, are still among the company's guiding principles. Sodexo
experienced rapid, solid growth: the company was listed on the
Paris Stock Exchange in 1983 and joined the CAC40 in 1998. Pierre
Bellon became a key figure in the service sector, foreseeing that
the future of employment and economic development in France lay
primarily in those professions.
Beyond his strategic vision, Pierre Bellon's
humanist perspective also contributed to the company's success. The
human dimension has been at the heart of Sodexo's performance from
the very beginning. The desire to have a positive impact in the
world and to be a responsible contributor, involved with local
communities, has been part of the company's mission from day one.
In 1966, it was truly an innovative business concept. Sodexo's
profound, avant-garde goal of serving humankind came from Pierre
Bellon, and he extended that goal well beyond the borders of his
company. He was National President of the Centre des Jeunes
Dirigeants [Center for Young Business Leaders] from 1968 to 1970,
and Vice President of MEDEF (Movement of the Enterprises of France)
from 1980 to 2005. In 1987, he founded the Association Progrès du
Management (APM), which promotes progress in business by supporting
the development of business leaders. As Pierre Bellon said, “the
APM has become a movement, an “entrepreneurial state of mind” in
its own right”. In 2011, he created The Pierre Bellon Foundation
for Human Development, recognized today for its public service.
In 2005, Pierre Bellon retired as CEO of Sodexo.
He continued in his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors
until January 2016, when he was succeeded by his daughter Sophie.
He then became Chairman Emeritus of Sodexo.
Pierre Bellon was a Commander of the Legion of
Honor, the National Order of Merit and the Order of Rio Branco, and
a Knight of the Order of Agricultural Merit.
He is survived by his wife and four children,
and thirteen grandchildren.
About Sodexo
Founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo is the
global leader in services that improve Quality of Life, an
essential factor in individual and organizational performance.
Operating in 56 countries, Sodexo serves 100 million
consumers each day through its unique combination of On-site
Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home
Services. Sodexo provides clients an integrated offering developed
over more than 50 years of experience: from foodservices,
reception, maintenance and cleaning, to facilities and equipment
management; from services and programs fostering employees’
engagement to solutions that simplify and optimize their mobility
and expenses management, to in-home assistance, child care centers
and concierge services. Sodexo’s success and performance are
founded on its independence, its sustainable business model and its
ability to continuously develop and engage its 412,000 employees
throughout the world.
Sodexo is included in the CAC Next 20, CAC 40 ESG, FTSE 4 Good
and DJSI indices.
Key Figures
- 17.4 billion euro in Fiscal 2021 consolidated revenues
- 412,000 employees as of August 31, 2021
- #1 France-based private employer worldwide
|
- 56 countries
- 100 million consumers served daily
- 12 billion euro in market capitalization (as of January 5,
2022)
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Contacts
Group
Media |
Investors |
|
Mathieu
Scaravetti+33 6 28 62 21 91 Mathieu.scaravetti@sodexo.com |
Virginia
Jeanson+33 1 57 75 80 56Virginia.jeanson@sodexo.com |
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