- Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO.
Fresh out of business school, Yves Guillemot and his four brothers embarked on an adventure in the nascent video game industry and founded Ubisoft in 1986. Early on, they understood that creating original content in-house and developing proprietary brands would be key to Ubisoft's success. Originating from the word ubiquity, Ubisoft immediately announced its intention to be present with all players worldwide. Yves was appointed Chairman by his brothers. He established Ubisoft's strategy of using ground-breaking technologies or changing habits to innovate, create brands and capture market share. With a strong focus on organic growth, he developed an organization recognized for its top-ranking talents and collaborative approach.
For over 30 years now, Yves has been supporting Ubisoft's growth in a constantly evolving industry. Under his leadership, Ubisoft's passionate teams have been able to make the most of technological breakthroughs to innovate and reinforce player commitment. His extensive business experience is highly valued by major international groups such as Andromède, where he sits on the Board of directors.
Yves is also a director of the Cercle des Dirigeants d'Entreprises Franco-Quebécois (French Quebec executives club). He was named Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young in 2009 and 2018, and Glassdoor elected him one of the Top 2 most esteemed CEOs in France in 2018. In March 2020, at the Pegase awards (French academy of video game arts and techniques), he received a Prize of Honor in recognition of his entire career.
- IMDb mini biography by: Ubisoft Official site
- RelativesChristian Guillemot(Sibling)Michel Guillemot(Sibling)Gérard Guillemot(Sibling)Claude Guillemot(Sibling)Gerard Guillemot(Sibling)
- Farming Origins: Before gaming, his parents owned a business selling chemicals and parts to farmers in Brittany, France. Yves and his brothers helped with accounting, shipping, and deliveries.
- The Mail-Order Spark: The brothers moved into video games after realizing their French computer supplier was charging them twice what games cost in the UK. They started a mail-order business in 1984 to sell games at better prices.
- The "Ubiquity" Meaning: The name Ubisoft was chosen as a reference to "ubiquity," reflecting the brothers' early ambition to have their software present everywhere in the world.
- Work-Hard, Play-Hard Castle: In Ubisoft's early days, they set up a development studio in a castle in Brittany to attract talent. Developers worked effectively but lived in the castle together, often coding until 2 AM.
- Award-Winning Leadership: He was named Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young in both 2009 and 2018, and once ranked among the top two most esteemed CEOs in France on Glassdoor.
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