Louis Schweitzer (businessman)

Louis Schweitzer (born 1942) has been Chairman of Renault since May 27, 1992 and CEO from 1992 to 2005.

Louis Schweitzer is the son of Pierre-Paul Schweitzer, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 1963 to 1973. And yes indead, he is family of Albert Schweitzer.

Born in Geneva, Switzerland, in july 1942, Louis Schweitzer has a degree in law and is a graduate of France's elite Istitut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris and Ecole Nationale d'Administration.

He was appointed Inspector of Finance at the French Treasury in 1970. In 1981 he became Chief of Staff to Laurent Fabius in his various government posts (Budget Minister, Minister for Industry and Research and Prime Minister).

He joined Renault in 1986 and became Chief Financial Officer and Head of Strategic Planning in 1988.

He was appointed Executive Vice President an COO in 1989, and President an COO in 1990. He was Renault's Chairman and CEO from May 1992 to April 2005, and president of the Renault-Nissan Alliance Board from 2001 to 2005. On April 29 2005 he became Chairman of the Renault Board of Directors.

Louis is a Commander of the French legion of Honour and National Order of Merit, and director of several French and foreign companies. Hes is also member of governing boards of various general organisations, particulary in the cultural field.

Since March 6, 2005, Louis Schweitzer has been President of the Haute Autorité de Lutte Contre les Discriminations et Pour l'Egalité. This role was entrusted to him by the French President.

Education

• Bachelor of Laws
• IEP Paris
• École nationale d'administration

Renault Highlights in the Schweitzer years (1992-2005)

• May 27, 1992 > Louis Schweitzer takes over from Raymond Lévy as head of Renault
• December 1992 > Renault wins the Formula 1 Constructors' and drivers' championships.
• September 6, 1993 > Renault and Volvo sign a merger agreement
• December 2, 1993 > Volvo pulls out of the merger
• July 18, 1994 > The Renault privatization bill becomes law. The Régie Nationale des Usines Renault is renamed Renault.
• September 13, 1994 > The French government opens Renault to outside capital
• End-1994 > Renault shares are floated at FRF 180,90. Renault joins the CAC40 index
• June 1, 1995 > Renault decides to open a plant in Brazil
• July 3, 1996 > Renault is fully privatized, with the French government reducing its stake from 52% to 46%
• November 19, 1996 > Renault Scénic is named Car of the yar 1997
• December 1996 > Carlos Ghosn is appointed Executive Vice President.
• February 27, 1997 > The closure of the Belgian Vilvoorde plant is announced.
• December 1997 > Williams Renault wins the Formula 1 Constructors' Championship for the sixth time.
• February 1998 > Renault starts its New Distribution (Nouvelle Distribution) project.
• May 28, 1998 > The Technocentre in Guyancourt, France is opened.
• July 2, 1998 > Renault and the City of Moscow set up OAO Avtoframos.
• November 1998 > Renault starts development work on a car retailing at € 5.000,00.
• December 4, 1998 > Inauguration of the Ayrton Senna Plant in Curitiba Brazil.
• March 27, 1999 > Renault acquires 36,8% of the Japanese carmaker Nissan. Carlos Ghosn becomes head of Nissan
• July 2, 1999 > Renault takes control of Romanian carmaker Dacia.
• Oktober 18, 1999 > Carlos Ghosn announces the Nissan Revival Plan.
• April 21, 2000 > Renault acquires South Korean carmaker Samsung Motors.
• April 25, 2000 > Renault sells its trucks business to Volvo in exchange for a 20% stake in the Swedish group. The futur of Renault Trucks is assured.