Jean-Luc Lagardère
Encyclopedia
Jean-Luc Lagardère was a major French
businessman, CEO of the Lagardere Group
, one of the largest French conglomerate
s.
Jean-Luc Lagardère was a Supelec
engineer
. He began his career in Dassault Aviation
. CEO of Matra
in the 1960s, he became famous with success in Formula One
and Le Mans
. He later built a large media and defense conglomerate that bears his name. He was a member of the Saint-Simon Foundation
think-tank.
In 1981, with his friend Daniel Filipacchi
, he purchased Hachette magazines, which included the French TV Guide (Tele 7 Jours), and the then-struggling Elle
magazine. Elle was then launched in the U.S., followed by 25 foreign editions. Filipacchi and Lagardère then expanded Hachette Filipacchi Magazines in the U.S. with the purchase of Diamandis Communications Inc. (formerly CBS magazines), including Woman's Day, Car and Driver, Road and Track, Flying, Boating, and many others.
He was married to Bethy Lagardère, whose birth name is Elizabeth Luke Pepper (Belo Horizonte, March 29, 1949), a socialite and former Brazilian model who settled in France.
. In 1981, he purchased the renowned Haras d'Ouilly
stud
in Pont-d'Ouilly
, Calvados
that had been owned by François Dupré
and raced under their famous colors of gray with a pink cap. At one time, his operation had as many as 220 horses. He won the French owners' championship in 1998 and between 1995 and 2001 was the leading breeder in France. His most important racing win came with Sagamix who won the 1998 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
.
Upon its formation in 1995, Jean-Luc Lagardère served as the first president of France-Galop. On his death in 2003, the business was taken over by his son Arnaud
who sold Haras d'Ouilly and its entire bloodstock in 2005 to the Aga Khan IV
.
In 2002, the Group One
Grand Critérium
race for two-year-olds at Longchamp Racecourse was renamed in his honor.
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
businessman, CEO of the Lagardere Group
Lagardère Group
Lagardère is a French-based multinational conglomerate headquartered in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. The group once covered a broad range of industries but is now largely focused on the media sector, in which it is one of the world’s leading companies...
, one of the largest French conglomerate
Conglomerate (company)
A conglomerate is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate structure , usually involving a parent company and several subsidiaries. Often, a conglomerate is a multi-industry company...
s.
Jean-Luc Lagardère was a Supelec
Supélec
École Supérieure d'Électricité, commonly known as Supélec, is a French Graduate School of Engineering delivering the equivalent of a Master's Degree as well as Ph.D opportunities. It is one of the most prestigious and selective Grandes Ecoles in France, and a reference in the field of electric...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
. He began his career in Dassault Aviation
Dassault Aviation
Dassault Aviation is a French aircraft manufacturer of military, regional and business jets, a subsidiary of Dassault Group.It was founded in 1930 by Marcel Bloch as Société des Avions Marcel Bloch or "MB". After World War II, Marcel Bloch changed his name to Marcel Dassault, and the name of the...
. CEO of Matra
Matra
Mécanique Aviation Traction or Matra was a French company covering a wide range of activities mainly related to automobile, bicycles, aeronautics and weaponry. In 1994, it became a subsidiary of the Lagardère Group and now operates under that name.Matra was owned by the Floirat family...
in the 1960s, he became famous with success in Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
and Le Mans
Le Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
. He later built a large media and defense conglomerate that bears his name. He was a member of the Saint-Simon Foundation
Saint-Simon Foundation
The Saint-Simon Foundation was a French think tank created in 1982 by the historian François Furet. It gathered intellectuals and businessmen until its dissolving in 1999. It was a member of the The Hague Club international network of think-tanks...
think-tank.
In 1981, with his friend Daniel Filipacchi
Daniel Filipacchi
Daniel Filipacchi is the Chairman Emeritus of Hachette Filipacchi Médias.His life and career have been noted for his passionate involvement in art collecting, photography, and jazz...
, he purchased Hachette magazines, which included the French TV Guide (Tele 7 Jours), and the then-struggling Elle
Elle (magazine)
Elle is a worldwide magazine of French origin that focuses on women's fashion, beauty, health, and entertainment. Elle is also the world's largest fashion magazine. It was founded by Pierre Lazareff and his wife Hélène Gordon in 1945. The title, in French, means "she".-History:Elle was founded in...
magazine. Elle was then launched in the U.S., followed by 25 foreign editions. Filipacchi and Lagardère then expanded Hachette Filipacchi Magazines in the U.S. with the purchase of Diamandis Communications Inc. (formerly CBS magazines), including Woman's Day, Car and Driver, Road and Track, Flying, Boating, and many others.
He was married to Bethy Lagardère, whose birth name is Elizabeth Luke Pepper (Belo Horizonte, March 29, 1949), a socialite and former Brazilian model who settled in France.
Thoroughbred horse racing
Lagardère was a prominent figure in French horse racingHorse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. In 1981, he purchased the renowned Haras d'Ouilly
Haras d'Ouilly
The Haras d'Ouilly is a renowned horse breeding farm in Pont-d'Ouilly, Calvados in the Basse-Normandie region of France established in the 19th century....
stud
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
in Pont-d'Ouilly
Pont-d'Ouilly
Pont-d'Ouilly is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.Pont-d'Ouilly is home to the famous Haras d'Ouilly, a Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding business currently owned by the Aga Khan IV.-History:...
, Calvados
Calvados
The French department of Calvados is part of the region of Basse-Normandie in Normandy. It takes its name from a cluster of rocks off the English Channel coast...
that had been owned by François Dupré
François Dupré
François Dupré was a French, hotelier, art collector, and owner of the thoroughbred horse breeding and racing farm, Haras d'Ouilly....
and raced under their famous colors of gray with a pink cap. At one time, his operation had as many as 220 horses. He won the French owners' championship in 1998 and between 1995 and 2001 was the leading breeder in France. His most important racing win came with Sagamix who won the 1998 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
.
Upon its formation in 1995, Jean-Luc Lagardère served as the first president of France-Galop. On his death in 2003, the business was taken over by his son Arnaud
Arnaud Lagardère
Arnaud Lagardère, born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France, on March 18, 1961, is the son of Jean-Luc Lagardère, the former chairman of Matra and Hachette...
who sold Haras d'Ouilly and its entire bloodstock in 2005 to the Aga Khan IV
Aga Khan IV
Prince Karim, Aga Khan IV, NPk, NI, KBE, CC, GCC, GCIH, GCM is the 49th and current Imam of the Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslims. He has held this position under the title of Aga Khan since July 11, 1957, when, at the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather, Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan...
.
In 2002, the Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
Grand Critérium
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère
The Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October.It is the oldest and most prestigious race in France...
race for two-year-olds at Longchamp Racecourse was renamed in his honor.
Death
On February 27. 2003 Jean-Paul Lagardere had a hip operation. On March 14. he died from acute disseminated encephalomyelitisAcute disseminated encephalomyelitis
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is an immune mediated disease of the brain. It usually occurs following a viral infection but may appear following vaccination, bacterial or parasitic infection, or even appear spontaneously. As it involves autoimmune demyelination, it is similar to multiple...
.