Claude Guillemot, co-founder of global video game publisher Ubisoft, died Friday following a plane crash in western France.
“Ubisoft has learned with profound sadness of the death of Claude Guillemot, co-founder of the Group and Chairman of Guillemot Corporation, in an accident,” the company said in a statement provided to Newsweek via email on Saturday. “Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. No further communication will be made at this stage.”
Details of the Incident
According to local French media outlet Ouest-France, the accident occurred shortly before 6 p.m. local time near the La Baule aerodrome in the Loire-Atlantique region. Guillemot, 69, was reportedly traveling to La Baule to attend an upcoming airshow.
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La Baule Mayor Franck Louvrier told news outlet ICI that the eight-seater aircraft—identified as a twin-engine Cessna 421 business plane owned by Guillemot—was on approach for landing when it executed a turn and subsequently crashed. Sources close to the investigation indicate Guillemot was at the aircraft’s controls at the time of the impact.
Emergency response teams deployed dozens of workers to the crash site. Authorities have confirmed that two passengers on board the aircraft died in the incident.
A Legacy in Global Gaming and Technology
Guillemot, co-founded Ubisoft in 1986 alongside four of his brothers. He sat on the company’s board as well and was also its executive vice-president in charge of operations, according to a Ubisoft biography for the businessman.
His brother and co-founder Yves remains CEO of Ubisoft.
Per Kotaku, the Guillemot family has maintained shareholder control of the global gaming publisher since its founding—weathering at least one attempted hostile takeover and a recent corporate restructuring.
Guillemot was also chairman and CEO of the Guillemot Corporation, which focuses on audio solutions sold under the Hercules brand, as well as gaming accessories for PCs, mobile devices, and consoles under the Thrustmaster brand, his Ubisoft biography says.
Guillemot obtained a Master’s degree in economics from the University of Rennes in 1981 followed by a specialization in industrial computing at ICAM in Lille, it added.
Among Ubisoft’s best-known titles is the Assassin’s Creed franchise, an action-adventure series in which players take on the role of assassins navigating historical settings while battling a long-running secret war against rival forces.