Jean-Bernard Lévy

Jean-Bernard Lévy (born 18 March 1955) is a French businessman, and the CEO and chairman of EDF.

Jean-Bernard Lévy
Jean-Bernard Lévy in 2008
Born (1955-03-18) 18 March 1955
Suresnes, France
NationalityFrench
EducationLycée Pasteur
Alma materÉcole Polytechnique
Télécom ParisTech
OccupationCEO EDF

Early life

Born on 18 March 1955, the son of a doctor, Lévy attended the Lycée Pasteur in Neuilly-sur-Seine. His parents sent him to England for a year to learn English, at St Martin's preparatory school in Northwood, Middlesex.[1] He then studied at the École Polytechnique, and from 1973 the École nationale supérieure des télécommunications.

Career

Early career

Lévy started his career as an engineer at France Telecom in 1979, in Angers. In 1982, he joined the Directorate General of Telecommunications within the PTT France, responsible for the management of senior staff and budgets, then promoted to deputy chief of staff.

Career in the public sector

In 1986, Lévy moved to Ministry of Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones under secretary of state Gérard Longuet, acting as technical advisor and consultant for international affairs and industry. After a period at Matra Space as director of communications satellites, after the return to power of the Socialist Party, he returned to the French civil service under government under Longuet as his executive secretary, retaining the position in the Ministry of Industry, Posts and Telecommunications and Foreign Trade under Jose Rossi.

Career in the private sector

Appointed Group Director of Matra-Hachette from 1994, Lévy became president and CEO of Matra Communication from 1995 to 1998. He then became managing partner of Oddo et Cie until 2002, when merged to become Pinatton Corporate he chaired the senior management team.

Appointed CEO of Vivendi in 2002, he became chairman of the executive board in 2005. In this capacity, he has hence chaired the supervisory board of Viroxis since 2007, and Activision Blizzard since 2009. In June 2012 Lévy left Vivendi due to a clash of views with the chairman Jean-Rene Fourtou and a clash over views on the company's future strategy.[2]

In December 2012, Lévy was appointed as the CEO of Thales Group.[3]

In October 2014, he replaced Henri Proglio as the CEO of Électricité de France [4] His period as CEO proved difficult, with declining profits and EDF's market value halving by March 2016, when the chief financial officer resigned over investment decisions.[5][6]

Other activities

Corporate boards
  • Société Générale, independent member of the board of directors (since 2009)[7]
  • Vinci, member of the board of directors (2007–2015)
  • DCNS, member of the supervisory board (2013–2014)
  • Viroxis, chairman of the supervisory board (2007–2014)
  • Maroc Telecom, deputy chairman of the supervisory board (2007–2012)
  • Cegetel, member of the supervisory board (-2008)
  • NBC Universal, member of the board of directors (2004–2012)

Non-profit organizations

Recognition

Lévy was appointed a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, and an Officier of the Ordre national du Mérite.

References
  1. "Vivendi chief executive Lévy says "strategic will has been declared" for Vodafone deal". Telegraph. 12 March 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  2. "Vivendi boss Jean-Bernard Levy to step down after disagreement over strategy". Guardian. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  3. "Lévy poised to take reins at Thales". Financial Times. 19 December 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  4. "EDF : Jean-Bernard Lévy va succéder à Henri Proglio". 15 October 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-15.
  5. Michael Stothard (7 March 2016). "EDF finance chief quits over decision to push on with Hinkley Point". Financial Times. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  6. Terry Macalister (7 March 2016). "Hinkley Point nuclear project in crisis as EDF finance director resigns". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  7. Board of Directors Société Générale.
Business positions
Preceded by
Luc Vigneron		 CEO of Thales Group
2012–2014		 Succeeded by
Patrice Caine
Preceded by
Henri Proglio		 CEO of EDF
2014–present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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