Trained as a French chartered accountant, he joined Dassault Aviation, then called Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation in 1960 as chief financial officer (CFO). In 1975, he became general secretary of Dassault, then vice President in 1986. He replaced Serge Dassault as Dassault CEO in 2000. From 1993 to 2002, he was chairman and CEO of Dassault Systèmes. Since he became CEO of Dassault Aviation, he resigned as CEO of Dassault Systèmes but remains its chairman.