Dear all,

We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Louis SCHWEITZER on November 6 at the age of 83.

A graduate of the "Robespierre" class (January 1968 - May 1970), he joined the Inspectorate General of Finance on graduating from ENA.

From 1970 to 1971, he was seconded to Assistance Publique de Paris.
After his tour of duty, he took up a position with the Budget Department in 1974. As head of the transport bureau, he developed a marked and lasting interest in rail issues, before being appointed deputy director of the 2ᵉ sous-direction from 1979 to 1981.

In 1981, he was chosen by Laurent Fabius to be his chief of staff, then Minister Delegate for the Budget (1981-1983). He then followed Fabius to the Ministry of Industry and Research (1983-1984), then to Matignon (1984-1986).

After five years in ministerial cabinets, Louis Schweitzer joined Renault in 1986, under the presidency of Georges Besse. He was successively Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President.
In 1992, he was appointed Chairman and CEO of Renault, a position he held until 2005. He profoundly transformed the company. This period was marked by the privatization of the group and the creation of a global group, with the creation of the Renault-Nissan Alliance in 1999 and the acquisition of Romanian carmaker Dacia in the same year.

He was then Honorary Chairman of MEDEF International and Vice-Chairman of Veolia Environnement. He also sat on the Board of Directors of AstraZeneca (2005-2012), before being appointed General Commissioner for Investment from 2014 to 2017.

His many public-interest responsibilities reflect the breadth of his interests and concerns.

Louis Schweitzer was particularly involved in the cultural world; a theater enthusiast, he was a member of the Board of Directors (2005-2020) of the Avignon Festival. He was also a member of the Société des Amis du Quai Branly (2005-2014). He was also a member of the supervisory boards of Le Monde et Partenaire Associés, Le Monde SA and Société Éditrice du Monde (2008-2011).

After chairing the High Authority against Discrimination and for Equality (HALDE ) from 2005 to 2010, from 2011 to 2020 he will be Chairman ofInitiative France, a business start-up network.

In 2012, he also became Chairman of the Fondation Droit Animal Ethique et Sciences.

Louis Schweitzer undoubtedly left his mark on our country's industrial and economic history. He used to say, " Industry is not just a matter of machines and figures, it is above all a human adventure ", demonstrating a management style that was both visionary and profoundly human.

Louis Schweitzer will remain a source of inspiration for many finance inspectors, marked by his open-mindedness, loyalty, elegance, courtesy, sobriety of expression and generosity.

His death also brings to mind the memory of his father Pierre-Paul Schweitzer, hero of the French Resistance, Inspector General of Finance, Director of the French Treasury and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund.

The religious ceremony will take place this Friday, November 14, 2025 at 10:00 am in the Église Protestante Unie de l'Étoile in Paris (75017).

Kind regards to you all,

Catherine