Claude Guillemot, one of the five brothers who co-founded Ubisoft, has died in a plane crash. He was 69. The accident occurred on the evening of Friday, June 19, when a twin-engine Cessna 421 propeller aircraft crashed into a field while approaching the aerodrome at La Baule, a coastal resort town in western France. Guillemot, who owned the aircraft and was a member of the local flying club, was one of two people killed. The second victim was a flight instructor travelling from Rennes, from where the plane had departed earlier that day. Both were reported to be licensed and experienced pilots, and an investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.
A Co-Founder and Behind-the-Scenes Anchor
Guillemot founded Ubisoft in 1986 alongside his four brothers, Christian, Gérard, Michel, and Yves, the last of whom remains the company's chairman and CEO today. The family business began earlier in the decade in Brittany, where the brothers built a mail-order operation selling affordable computer software and hardware before moving into game development and creating the company that would become Ubisoft, a name derived from "ubiquitous software." Over the following decades, Ubisoft grew into one of the world's largest publishers, behind franchises including Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, Prince of Persia, and the Tom Clancy series.
While Yves became Ubisoft's public face, Claude was widely regarded as a behind-the-scenes anchor for the family's business. He held a master's in economic science along with a background in industrial computing, bridging the commercial and technical sides of the company, and sat on Ubisoft's board in a senior capacity, often described as a deputy chief executive role outside the day-to-day leadership team. Since 1997, he also served as chairman and CEO of Guillemot Corporation, the family-controlled firm behind the Thrustmaster and Hercules accessory brands, through which the Guillemot brothers maintain their stake in Ubisoft.
Ubisoft's Statement
Ubisoft confirmed the death in a brief statement, saying it had learned "with deep sadness of the death of Claude Guillemot, co-founder of the group and chairman of Guillemot Corporation, in an accident." The company added, "Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time," and said no further comment would be made at this stage.
His death comes during a turbulent period for Ubisoft, which is preparing to release Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced on July 9 as it works to recover from several financially difficult years. The Guillemot family retains control of the company, with Yves Guillemot continuing to lead it.
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