Thierry Bolloré: Difference between revisions

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| caption      = Bolloré in 2021
| caption      = Bolloré in 2021
| birth_name  = Thierry Yves Henri Bolloré
| birth_name  = Thierry Yves Henri Bolloré
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1963|5|30|df=y}}
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1963|5|30}}
| birth_place  = [[Quimper]], Brittany, France
| birth_place  = [[Quimper]], [[Brittany]], France
| nationality  = French
| nationality  = French
| occupation  = Businessman, automotive executive
| occupation  = Businessman, automotive executive
| known_for    = CEO of [[Jaguar Land Rover]] (2020–2022), CEO of [[Renault]] (2018–2019)
| known_for    = Former CEO of [[Jaguar Land Rover]] and [[Renault]]
| education    = [[Paris Dauphine University]] (MBA)
| education    = [[Paris Dauphine University]] (MBA)
| children    = 5
| children    = 5
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}}
}}


'''Thierry Yves Henri Bolloré''' (born 30 May 1963) is a French businessman and automotive industry executive who served as chief executive officer of two major international car manufacturers — [[Renault]] and [[Jaguar Land Rover]] (JLR) — within the span of three years. A member of the prominent [[Bolloré family]], he built his career across some of Europe's largest industrial and automotive companies, beginning at [[Michelin]] before moving to [[Faurecia]] and eventually joining Renault in 2012. Bolloré rose to prominence in November 2018 when he was thrust into the role of acting CEO of Renault following the dramatic arrest of [[Carlos Ghosn]] in Japan on charges of financial misconduct. His tenure at Renault lasted less than a year before he was abruptly dismissed by the board of directors in October 2019 in what he publicly characterised as a "coup."<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |date=2019-10-11 |title=Renault ousts chief executive Thierry Bolloré in 'coup' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50016532 |work=BBC News |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> He was subsequently appointed CEO of Jaguar Land Rover in 2020, where he launched an ambitious electrification and transformation strategy known as "Reimagine" before resigning in November 2022, citing personal reasons.<ref name="guardian-resign">{{cite news |date=2022-11-16 |title=Thierry Bolloré steps down as CEO of Jaguar Land Rover |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/nov/16/thierry-bollore-resigns-ceo-jaguar-land-rover |work=The Guardian |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Following his departure from JLR, Bolloré moved into the battery technology sector, joining the start-up About:Energy as a director in 2023.<ref name="autolog">{{cite news |date=2023-12-04 |title=Thierry Bolloré joins About:Energy as director |url=https://www.automotivelogistics.media/supply-chain/thierry-bollore-joins-aboutenergy-as-director/192418 |work=Automotive Logistics |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
'''Thierry Yves Henri Bolloré''' (born 30 May 1963) is a French businessman and automotive industry executive who served as [[chief executive officer]] of two major global automakers within the span of three years. A member of the prominent [[Bolloré family]], he rose through the ranks of the European automotive supply chain over a career spanning more than three decades, holding senior positions at [[Michelin]] and [[Faurecia]] before joining [[Renault]] in 2012. Bolloré became a central figure in one of the most turbulent periods in modern automotive history when, following the dramatic arrest of [[Carlos Ghosn]] in November 2018, he was elevated first to acting CEO and then to CEO of Renault. His tenure at the French carmaker lasted only eleven months before he was abruptly dismissed by the board of directors in October 2019 in what he publicly described as a "coup."<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |date=2019-10-11 |title=Renault ousts chief executive Thierry Bolloré in 'coup' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50016532 |work=BBC News |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> In 2020, Bolloré was appointed CEO of British luxury automaker [[Jaguar Land Rover]] (JLR), where he launched an ambitious electrification and transformation strategy known as "Reimagine" before resigning in November 2022, citing personal reasons.<ref name="guardian">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2022-11-16 |title=Thierry Bolloré steps down as CEO of Jaguar Land Rover |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/nov/16/thierry-bollore-resigns-ceo-jaguar-land-rover |work=The Guardian |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Following his departure from JLR, he took on a directorial role at battery technology start-up About:Energy in 2023.<ref name="autolog">{{cite web |title=Thierry Bolloré joins About:Energy as director |url=https://www.automotivelogistics.media/supply-chain/thierry-bollore-joins-aboutenergy-as-director/192418 |publisher=Automotive Logistics |date=2023-12-04 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


== Early Life ==
== Early Life ==


Thierry Yves Henri Bolloré was born on 30 May 1963 in [[Quimper]], a city in the [[Brittany]] region of northwestern France.<ref name="renault-bio">{{cite web |title=Thierry Bolloré – Membre du CEG |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013215322/https://media.group.renault.com/global/en-gb/groupe-renault/media/documenttext/34980/thierry-bollore-membre-du-ceg |publisher=Groupe Renault |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> He is a member of the [[Bolloré family]], one of France's notable industrial dynasties with roots in Brittany. The Bolloré family is associated with the [[Bolloré Group]], a diversified conglomerate with interests in transportation, logistics, media, and energy storage, though Thierry Bolloré pursued his career primarily within the automotive sector rather than in the family conglomerate's core operations.
Thierry Yves Henri Bolloré was born on 30 May 1963 in [[Quimper]], a city in the [[Brittany]] region of northwestern France.<ref name="renaultbio">{{cite web |title=Thierry Bolloré – Membre du CEG |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013215322/https://media.group.renault.com/global/en-gb/groupe-renault/media/documenttext/34980/thierry-bollore-membre-du-ceg |publisher=Groupe Renault |date= |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> He is a member of the [[Bolloré family]], one of France's notable industrial dynasties with roots in Brittany.<ref name="capital">{{cite news |date= |title=Les petits secrets de Thierry Bolloré, le remplaçant de Carlos Ghosn chez Renault |url=https://www.capital.fr/entreprises-marches/les-petits-secrets-de-thierry-bollore-le-remplacant-de-carlos-ghosn-chez-renault-1339895 |work=Capital |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


Details about his upbringing and childhood are not extensively documented in available public sources. What is known is that Bolloré was raised in France and went on to pursue higher education in business and management, a path that would lead him into the upper echelons of the European automotive industry.
Details regarding Bolloré's childhood and upbringing in Brittany are not extensively documented in public sources. His subsequent career trajectory, however, indicates an early orientation toward the industrial and manufacturing sectors that would define his professional life. He would go on to spend the first two decades of his career at [[Michelin]], the French tyre manufacturer also headquartered in France, before moving into the broader automotive industry through executive roles at major suppliers and, eventually, automakers themselves.


== Education ==
== Education ==


Bolloré obtained his [[Master of Business Administration]] (MBA) from [[Paris Dauphine University]], one of France's prominent universities specialising in economics, management, and the social sciences.<ref name="renault-bio" /> Paris Dauphine, officially known as Université Paris-Dauphine, is located in the 16th arrondissement of Paris and is known for its selective programmes in finance and management. This academic background provided Bolloré with the foundation for a career in industrial management and corporate leadership that would span several decades and multiple major European companies.
Bolloré holds a [[Master of Business Administration]] (MBA) from [[Paris Dauphine University]], one of France's leading institutions for business and economics education.<ref name="renaultbio" /> This qualification provided the foundation for his career in industrial management and executive leadership within the automotive sector.


== Career ==
== Career ==


=== Michelin ===
=== Michelin (early career) ===


Bolloré began his professional career at [[Michelin]], the French tyre manufacturer headquartered in [[Clermont-Ferrand]].<ref name="renault-bio" /><ref name="newmobility">{{cite web |title=Thierry Bolloré – the new strong man at Renault and the Alliance |url=https://newmobility.news/2018/11/21/thierry-bollore-the-new-strong-man-at-renault-and-the-alliance/ |publisher=New Mobility News |date=2018-11-21 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Michelin is one of the world's largest tyre companies and a major French multinational, providing Bolloré with early experience in a globally oriented industrial enterprise. The specifics of his roles and duration at Michelin are not comprehensively detailed in available sources, but his time at the company gave him exposure to automotive supply chain management and international manufacturing operations.
Bolloré began his professional career at [[Michelin]], the French multinational tyre manufacturer. He spent approximately two decades at the company, gaining extensive experience in manufacturing, operations, and supply chain management within the automotive components industry.<ref name="renaultbio" /><ref name="newmobility">{{cite web |title=Thierry Bolloré – The new strong man at Renault and the Alliance |url=https://newmobility.news/2018/11/21/thierry-bollore-the-new-strong-man-at-renault-and-the-alliance/ |publisher=New Mobility News |date=2018-11-21 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> His long tenure at Michelin provided him with deep knowledge of the global automotive supply chain and international manufacturing operations, experience that would later prove instrumental in his subsequent executive roles.


=== Faurecia ===
=== Faurecia (2005–2012) ===


In 2005, Bolloré joined [[Faurecia]], the French automotive parts manufacturer that is one of the world's largest suppliers of vehicle components, including seating, interior systems, and emissions control technologies.<ref name="renault-bio" /> Faurecia, which at the time was majority-owned by the [[PSA Group]] (now part of [[Stellantis]]), provided Bolloré with deeper immersion in the automotive supply chain. His work at Faurecia positioned him within the network of French automotive industry leadership and provided experience in managing large-scale component manufacturing operations serving multiple global automakers.
In 2005, Bolloré left Michelin to join [[Faurecia]], a major French automotive parts manufacturer and one of the world's largest automotive suppliers. At Faurecia, he took on senior leadership responsibilities, further broadening his expertise in the automotive components sector.<ref name="renaultbio" /> His time at Faurecia represented a transition from tyre manufacturing to the broader automotive supply industry, positioning him for the move to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) that would follow.


=== Renault ===
=== Renault (2012–2019) ===


==== Appointment and Rise (2012–2018) ====
==== Chief Competitive Officer ====


Bolloré joined [[Renault]] in 2012, initially serving as Chief Competitive Officer.<ref name="renault-bio" /> In this role, he was responsible for overseeing the competitiveness of Renault's operations, a portfolio that encompassed manufacturing efficiency, cost management, and supply chain optimisation. His appointment reflected the company's desire to bring in leadership with deep experience in automotive industrial operations.
Bolloré joined [[Renault]] in 2012 as Chief Competitive Officer, a senior role within the French automaker's executive committee.<ref name="renaultbio" /> In this capacity, he was responsible for overseeing the company's competitiveness strategy, working under the leadership of then-CEO [[Carlos Ghosn]], who simultaneously served as chairman and CEO of both Renault and its Japanese alliance partner [[Nissan]].<ref name="newmobility" />


Over the following years, Bolloré rose through the ranks at Renault. In February 2018, his growing importance within the company was formalised when he was named Chief Operating Officer (COO), placing him directly below chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn in the corporate hierarchy.<ref name="renault-bio" /><ref name="bloomberg">{{cite news |title=Renault's Bolloré Said to Have French Backing as Interim CEO |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-20/renault-s-bollore-said-to-have-french-backing-as-interim-ceo |work=Bloomberg News |date=2018-11-20 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> This promotion was seen as part of a broader leadership restructuring at Renault, and it positioned Bolloré as the operational leader of the French automaker at a time when the [[Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance]] was one of the world's largest automotive partnerships by combined vehicle sales.
Over the following years, Bolloré rose through the Renault hierarchy. In February 2018, he was named Chief Operating Officer (COO), a promotion that placed him as the second-most-senior executive at the company, directly behind Ghosn.<ref name="lesechos2018">{{cite news |date=2018-02 |title=Renault nomme deux experts de la finance à son conseil |url=https://www.lesechos.fr/2018/02/renault-nomme-deux-experts-de-la-finance-a-son-conseil-967694 |work=Les Echos |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The COO appointment was seen as establishing Bolloré as a key operational leader within the company and the broader [[Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance]].


==== Acting CEO and the Ghosn Arrest (November 2018) ====
==== Elevation to CEO following Ghosn's arrest ====


Bolloré's role was dramatically transformed on 19 November 2018, when Carlos Ghosn was arrested in Tokyo by Japanese prosecutors on allegations of financial misconduct at [[Nissan]], including charges of underreporting his compensation.<ref name="bloomberg" /><ref name="reuters">{{cite news |title=Renault taps interim chairman, COO to replace Ghosn: sources |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nissan-ghosn-renault/renault-taps-interim-chairman-coo-to-replace-ghosn-sources-idUSKCN1NP2EJ |work=Reuters |date=2018-11-20 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Ghosn's arrest sent shockwaves through the global automotive industry and immediately raised questions about leadership succession at Renault, where Ghosn had served as chairman and CEO.
On 19 November 2018, Carlos Ghosn was arrested in [[Tokyo]] by Japanese prosecutors on charges of financial misconduct, an event that sent shockwaves through the global automotive industry and created an immediate leadership vacuum at Renault. The French government, which holds a significant stake in Renault, backed Bolloré as the interim leader of the company.<ref name="bloomberg">{{cite news |date=2018-11-20 |title=Renault's Bolloré Said to Have French Backing as Interim CEO |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-20/renault-s-bollore-said-to-have-french-backing-as-interim-ceo |work=Bloomberg |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


The following day, on 20 November 2018, the Renault board of directors convened and appointed Bolloré as deputy CEO, effectively placing him in charge of the company's day-to-day operations while Ghosn's legal situation unfolded.<ref name="renault-press">{{cite web |title=Renault Board of Directors Press Release |url=https://group.renault.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/renault-cp-board-20.11.2018-eng-1.pdf |publisher=Groupe Renault |date=2018-11-20 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The appointment was reported to have the backing of the French government, which held a significant stake in Renault.<ref name="bloomberg" /> [[CNBC]] reported that Renault moved to replace Ghosn with COO Bolloré, underscoring the urgency with which the company sought to stabilise its leadership.<ref>{{cite news |title=Renault to replace Ghosn with COO Bolloré |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/20/renault-to-replace-ghosn-with-coo-bollore.html |work=CNBC |date=2018-11-20 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
On 20 November 2018, Renault's board of directors convened and appointed Bolloré as "acting CEO" (directeur général par intérim), tasking him with maintaining the company's operations and its alliance with Nissan and [[Mitsubishi Motors]] during the crisis.<ref name="renaultpr">{{cite web |title=Renault Board of Directors Press Release 20.11.2018 |url=https://group.renault.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/renault-cp-board-20.11.2018-eng-1.pdf |publisher=Groupe Renault |date=2018-11-20 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref name="reuters">{{cite news |date=2018-11-20 |title=Renault taps interim chairman, COO to replace Ghosn |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nissan-ghosn-renault/renault-taps-interim-chairman-coo-to-replace-ghosn-sources-idUSKCN1NP2EJ |work=Reuters |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The appointment was also reported by [[CNBC]], the [[Financial Times]], and other major financial outlets, reflecting the global significance of the leadership transition at one of the world's largest automotive groups.<ref name="cnbc">{{cite news |date=2018-11-20 |title=Renault to replace Ghosn with COO Bolloré |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/20/renault-to-replace-ghosn-with-coo-bollore.html |work=CNBC |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref name="ft1">{{cite news |date=2018-11-20 |title=Renault appoints interim leader after Ghosn arrest |url=https://www.ft.com/content/fe30dd3e-ed0a-11e8-8180-9cf212677a57 |work=Financial Times |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


The [[Financial Times]] described the situation as one of the most significant corporate governance crises in the history of the global automotive industry, with implications not only for Renault but for the entire Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance.<ref>{{cite news |title=Renault appoints interim leadership after Ghosn arrest |url=https://www.ft.com/content/fe30dd3e-ed0a-11e8-8180-9cf212677a57 |work=Financial Times |date=2018-11-20 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Bolloré formally became CEO in January 2019, tasked with guiding Renault through an extraordinarily turbulent period while simultaneously managing the complex relationship with alliance partner Nissan, which had itself been roiled by the Ghosn affair.
Bolloré's role was subsequently confirmed as full CEO of Renault, a position he held from late 2018.<ref name="bbc" /> During this period, he faced the challenge of managing the fallout from the Ghosn affair while navigating the complex political dynamics of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, in which tensions between the French and Japanese partners had been exacerbated by the crisis.


==== Dismissal (October 2019) ====
==== Dismissal from Renault ====


Bolloré's tenure as CEO of Renault came to an abrupt end on 11 October 2019, when the board of directors convened an emergency meeting and voted to remove him from his position with "immediate effect."<ref name="bbc" /><ref name="nyt">{{cite news |title=Renault Ousts Its Chief Executive, Thierry Bolloré |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/11/business/renault-ceo-bollore.html |work=The New York Times |date=2019-10-11 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref name="wsj-renault">{{cite news |title=Renault Chief Executive Thierry Bolloré to Step Down |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/renault-chief-executive-thierry-bollore-to-step-down-11570785214 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=2019-10-11 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The dismissal came after less than a year as CEO and followed growing reports of friction between Renault and its alliance partner Nissan, as well as questions about consulting expenditures with the [[Boston Consulting Group]].<ref name="bbc" />
On 11 October 2019, after approximately eleven months as CEO, Bolloré was removed from his position by Renault's board of directors with "immediate effect" during an emergency board meeting.<ref name="bbc" /><ref name="nyt">{{cite news |date=2019-10-11 |title=Renault Ousts C.E.O. Thierry Bolloré |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/11/business/renault-ceo-bollore.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The abrupt dismissal came amid growing reports of friction with alliance partner Nissan, as well as allegations concerning the use of company funds for consulting engagements with the [[Boston Consulting Group]].<ref name="bbc" />


The [[BBC]] reported that Bolloré was dismissed as part of an effort by the Renault board, under the new chairmanship of [[Jean-Dominique Senard]], to pursue a "new chapter" for the company, particularly in its troubled relationship with Nissan.<ref name="bbc" /> The ''[[New York Times]]'' reported on the ouster as part of the broader upheaval at Renault in the wake of the Ghosn affair.<ref name="nyt" /> The ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' similarly covered the departure, noting the ongoing turmoil at the French automaker.<ref name="wsj-renault" />
The move was widely covered by international media. The ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' reported on Bolloré's removal, noting the broader context of instability within the alliance.<ref name="wsj-renault">{{cite news |date=2019-10-11 |title=Renault Chief Executive Thierry Bolloré to Step Down |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/renault-chief-executive-thierry-bollore-to-step-down-11570785214 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> French business daily ''[[Les Echos]]'' reported that Bolloré described the board's action as a "stupefying coup de force" ("coup de force stupéfiant"), expressing his belief that the dismissal was unjustified and politically motivated.<ref name="lesechos2019">{{cite news |date=2019-10-11 |title=Renault : Thierry Bolloré dénonce un « coup de force stupéfiant » |url=https://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/automobile/renault-thierry-bollore-denonce-un-coup-de-force-stupefiant-1139074 |work=Les Echos |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> ''[[Le Monde]]'' also covered the end of Bolloré's tenure at Renault in detail.<ref name="lemonde">{{cite news |date=2019-10-11 |title=Fin de partie pour Thierry Bolloré chez Renault |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2019/10/11/fin-de-partie-pour-thierry-bollore-chez-renault_6015085_3234.html |work=Le Monde |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The BBC characterised the dismissal as a "coup," reflecting Bolloré's own description of events.<ref name="bbc" />


Bolloré responded forcefully to his removal. In an interview with ''[[Les Échos]]'', one of France's leading financial newspapers, he described his dismissal as a "stupefying coup de force" (''un coup de force stupéfiant'').<ref>{{cite news |title=Renault : Thierry Bolloré dénonce un « coup de force stupéfiant » |url=https://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/automobile/renault-thierry-bollore-denonce-un-coup-de-force-stupefiant-1139074 |work=Les Échos |date=2019-10-11 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The French newspaper ''[[Le Monde]]'' also covered the end of Bolloré's tenure at Renault, describing it as a definitive "fin de partie" (end of the game) for the executive at the company.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fin de partie pour Thierry Bolloré chez Renault |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2019/10/11/fin-de-partie-pour-thierry-bollore-chez-renault_6015085_3234.html |work=Le Monde |date=2019-10-11 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
The ''Financial Times'' reported on the broader governance implications of Bolloré's removal, situating it within the ongoing power struggles at the top of the Renault-Nissan alliance following Ghosn's downfall.<ref name="ft2">{{cite news |date= |title=Renault board ousts Bolloré |url=https://www.ft.com/content/b79b16b3-cbf1-44bf-a986-33f291a96c91 |work=Financial Times |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


=== Jaguar Land Rover ===
=== Jaguar Land Rover (2020–2022) ===


==== Appointment (2020) ====
==== Appointment ====


On 28 July 2020, [[Jaguar Land Rover]] announced that Bolloré had been appointed as the company's new Chief Executive Officer, effective 10 September 2020.<ref name="jlr-appoint">{{cite web |title=Thierry Bolloré Announced as New Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover |url=https://media.jaguarlandrover.com/news/2020/07/thierry-bollore-announced-new-chief-executive-officer-jaguar-land-rover |publisher=Jaguar Land Rover |date=2020-07-28 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> He succeeded Sir [[Ralf Speth]], who had led JLR since 2010. ''[[The Guardian]]'' reported at the time that the appointment of an "ousted Renault boss" to lead the British carmaker was a significant move for the Tata Motors-owned company.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ousted Renault boss Thierry Bolloré appointed new head of Jaguar Land Rover |url=http://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/jul/28/ousted-renault-boss-thierry-bollore-appointed-new-head-of-jaguar-land-rover |work=The Guardian |date=2020-07-28 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The ''[[Economic Times]]'' also covered the appointment, noting Bolloré's extensive experience in the automotive sector.<ref>{{cite news |title=Thierry Bolloré appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/auto/auto-news/thierry-bollor-appointed-as-the-new-chief-executive-officer-of-jaguar-land-rover/articleshow/77217713.cms |work=The Economic Times |date=2020-07-28 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
On 28 July 2020, [[Jaguar Land Rover]] (JLR), the British luxury automaker owned by India's [[Tata Motors]], announced the appointment of Bolloré as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 10 September 2020.<ref name="jlr-appoint">{{cite web |title=Thierry Bolloré Announced as New Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover |url=https://media.jaguarlandrover.com/news/2020/07/thierry-bollore-announced-new-chief-executive-officer-jaguar-land-rover |publisher=Jaguar Land Rover |date=2020-07-28 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> He succeeded [[Ralf Speth]], who had led JLR since 2010. The appointment was also reported by ''[[The Guardian]]'', which noted that Bolloré was the "ousted Renault boss" being given a second chance at leading a major automaker.<ref name="guardian-appoint">{{cite news |date=2020-07-28 |title=Ousted Renault boss Thierry Bolloré appointed new head of Jaguar Land Rover |url=http://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/jul/28/ousted-renault-boss-thierry-bollore-appointed-new-head-of-jaguar-land-rover |work=The Guardian |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> India's ''[[Economic Times]]'' covered the appointment as a significant leadership change for the company.<ref name="economictimes">{{cite news |date=2020-07-28 |title=Thierry Bolloré appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/auto/auto-news/thierry-bollor-appointed-as-the-new-chief-executive-officer-of-jaguar-land-rover/articleshow/77217713.cms |work=The Economic Times |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


Bolloré's appointment came at a challenging time for JLR, which was facing declining sales, the economic impact of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], and the industry-wide imperative to transition toward electric vehicles. The company, owned by India's [[Tata Motors]], was looking for leadership that could steer it through a period of significant transformation.
==== The "Reimagine" strategy ====


==== The "Reimagine" Strategy ====
At JLR, Bolloré launched an ambitious transformation programme known as "Reimagine," which outlined the company's strategy for electrification and repositioning of its brands. The plan envisioned transforming [[Jaguar (marque)|Jaguar]] into an all-electric luxury brand and accelerating the introduction of electric and hybrid powertrains across the [[Land Rover]] and [[Range Rover]] lineups.<ref name="wsj-jlr">{{cite news |date=2022-11-16 |title=Jaguar Land Rover's CEO, Thierry Bolloré, Stepping Down |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/jaguar-land-rovers-ceo-thierry-bollore-steps-down-11668609431 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The ''Wall Street Journal'' reported that Bolloré had worked to accelerate the electrification of core JLR models such as the [[Range Rover]], [[Land Rover Discovery|Discovery]], and [[Defender (automobile)|Defender]].<ref name="wsj-jlr" />


During his tenure at JLR, Bolloré launched the company's "Reimagine" strategy, an ambitious plan to transform the company and accelerate the electrification of its core vehicle lines. ''The Wall Street Journal'' reported that Bolloré "worked to accelerate the electrification of core Jaguar Land Rover models such as the Range Rover, Discovery and Defender."<ref name="wsj-jlr">{{cite news |date=2022-11-16 |title=Jaguar Land Rover's CEO, Thierry Bolloré, Stepping Down |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/jaguar-land-rovers-ceo-thierry-bollore-steps-down-11668609431 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Under the Reimagine strategy, the [[Jaguar (marque)|Jaguar]] brand was to be repositioned as an all-electric luxury marque, representing a fundamental shift in the brand's identity and market positioning.
In June 2021, Bolloré gave what ''[[Autocar]]'' described as his "only sit-down interview" with the publication during his tenure, discussing the direction of the company under the Reimagine strategy.<ref name="autocar">{{cite news |date=2025-11-28 |title=JLR hasn't launched a car in three years. Here's why its new CEO needs to break the cycle |url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/opinion/business-corporate/no-new-cars-2022-new-jlr-boss-needs-break-inertia |work=Autocar |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


''[[Autocar]]'' later noted that in June 2021, Bolloré gave his only sit-down interview with the publication during his two-year tenure, during which he outlined his vision for the company's future.<ref name="autocar">{{cite news |date=2025-11-28 |title=JLR hasn't launched a car in three years. Here's why its new CEO needs to break the cycle |url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/opinion/business-corporate/no-new-cars-2022-new-jlr-boss-needs-break-inertia |work=Autocar |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The Reimagine strategy proved controversial in the automotive industry. ''Torque News'' later described it as "a risky plan that alienated" parts of Jaguar's existing customer base, as the radical repositioning of the brand raised questions about whether it could successfully transition from its heritage as a manufacturer of sports cars and luxury sedans to a fully electric luxury brand.<ref name="torque">{{cite news |date=2025-08-01 |title=Jaguar's Jolting Pivot: A CEO's Exit and a Brand's Reckoning - What The Future Jaguar Could Be |url=https://www.torquenews.com/17995/jaguars-jolting-pivot-ceos-exit-and-brands-reckoning-what-future-jaguar-could-be |work=Torque News |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
The Reimagine strategy proved to be a significant and, in retrospect, contentious undertaking. ''Torque News'' later characterised it as "a risky plan that alienated" part of Jaguar's existing customer base, reflecting debate within the automotive industry and among enthusiasts about the wisdom of such a radical repositioning of the Jaguar brand.<ref name="torquenews">{{cite news |date=2025-08-01 |title=Jaguar's Jolting Pivot: A CEO's Exit and a Brand's Reckoning – What The Future Jaguar Could Be |url=https://www.torquenews.com/17995/jaguars-jolting-pivot-ceos-exit-and-brands-reckoning-what-future-jaguar-could-be |work=Torque News |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


==== Resignation (November 2022) ====
==== Resignation ====


On 16 November 2022, Jaguar Land Rover announced that Bolloré had resigned from his position as CEO, effective immediately, citing "personal reasons."<ref name="guardian-resign" /><ref name="wsj-jlr" /> His departure came approximately two years after he had taken the helm and followed a period during which the company had been grappling with semiconductor chip shortages and supply chain disruptions that had constrained vehicle production across the global automotive industry.
On 16 November 2022, JLR announced that Bolloré had resigned as CEO, citing "personal reasons."<ref name="guardian" /> The departure came after approximately two years in the role. The ''Wall Street Journal'' noted that his exit came at a pivotal moment for the company, as it was in the midst of executing the electrification and transformation strategy he had initiated.<ref name="wsj-jlr" /> ''The Guardian'' reported the resignation, noting that Bolloré had been in the position since September 2020.<ref name="guardian" />


''The Guardian'' reported that Bolloré's resignation left JLR in need of new leadership at a critical juncture, as the company was in the midst of implementing the Reimagine strategy.<ref name="guardian-resign" /> Adrian Mardell, JLR's chief financial officer, was subsequently appointed as interim CEO and later confirmed in the role permanently. Mardell himself departed the company in 2025 after nearly three years at the helm.<ref>{{cite web |title=JLR CEO Adrian Mardell retires after 35 years at the company |url=https://www.team-bhp.com/news/jlr-ceo-adrian-mardell-retires-after-35-years-company |publisher=Team-BHP |date=2025-08-01 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
Following Bolloré's departure, Adrian Mardell, a long-serving JLR executive, was appointed as interim and then permanent CEO in 2023.<ref name="teambhp">{{cite news |date=2025-08-01 |title=JLR CEO Adrian Mardell retires after 35 years at the company |url=https://www.team-bhp.com/news/jlr-ceo-adrian-mardell-retires-after-35-years-company |work=Team-BHP |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


The legacy of Bolloré's Reimagine strategy continued to shape JLR after his departure. ''Autocar'' observed that JLR had not launched a new car since 2022, a situation linked to the transformation programme Bolloré had initiated.<ref name="autocar" /> ''Torque News'' suggested that Bolloré's departure "signals a likely reversal of Jaguar's radical 'Reimagine' strategy," indicating that subsequent leadership might take a different approach to the brand's future direction.<ref name="torque" />
=== Post-JLR career ===


=== Post-JLR Career ===
In December 2023, Bolloré joined About:Energy, a battery technology start-up, as a director. About:Energy is a company that provides battery measurement and modelling services, a field closely tied to the automotive industry's shift toward electrification.<ref name="autolog" /> The move signalled Bolloré's continued involvement in the automotive and energy sectors, albeit in a smaller and more technology-focused capacity than his previous roles leading major automakers.


Following his departure from Jaguar Land Rover, Bolloré moved into the emerging battery technology sector. In December 2023, ''Automotive Logistics'' reported that Bolloré had joined [[About:Energy]], a battery technology start-up, as a director.<ref name="autolog" /> About:Energy specialises in battery measurement and modelling technology, providing data and software tools to companies developing battery-powered products. The move reflected a shift from executive leadership of major automotive manufacturers to an advisory and governance role in the technology companies shaping the future of electric vehicles and energy storage.
== Personal Life ==


== Personal Life ==
Bolloré was born in [[Quimper]], [[Brittany]], and is a member of the [[Bolloré family]], a prominent French industrial family.<ref name="capital" /> He has five children.<ref name="jlr-appoint" /> He has maintained a relatively private personal life, and his resignation from Jaguar Land Rover in November 2022 was attributed to unspecified "personal reasons."<ref name="guardian" />
 
== Recognition ==


Bolloré is a member of the [[Bolloré family]], a prominent French business dynasty with roots in [[Brittany]].<ref name="capital">{{cite news |title=Les petits secrets de Thierry Bolloré, le remplaçant de Carlos Ghosn chez Renault |url=https://www.capital.fr/entreprises-marches/les-petits-secrets-de-thierry-bollore-le-remplacant-de-carlos-ghosn-chez-renault-1339895 |work=Capital |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> He has five children. Bolloré himself was born in [[Quimper]], the capital of the [[Finistère]] department in Brittany, maintaining the family's deep connection to the region.
Bolloré's career has been defined by his leadership of two of Europe's major automotive companies during periods of significant transition. His appointment as acting CEO and then CEO of Renault in the immediate aftermath of the Carlos Ghosn affair placed him at the centre of one of the most closely watched corporate governance crises in the automotive industry. The speed of his elevation — from COO to acting CEO within a day of Ghosn's arrest — and his subsequent dismissal eleven months later drew extensive coverage from international media outlets including the ''Financial Times'', ''The New York Times'', ''The Wall Street Journal'', ''Le Monde'', ''Les Echos'', and the BBC.<ref name="bbc" /><ref name="nyt" /><ref name="wsj-renault" /><ref name="ft1" /><ref name="lemonde" /><ref name="lesechos2019" />


When announcing his resignation from Jaguar Land Rover in November 2022, Bolloré cited "personal reasons" without elaborating further on the specifics.<ref name="guardian-resign" /> He has generally maintained a relatively low public profile outside of his corporate roles, with limited appearances in the media beyond those related to his professional activities.
His appointment to lead Jaguar Land Rover less than a year after his removal from Renault was noted by the automotive press as a remarkable return to the highest levels of the industry.<ref name="guardian-appoint" /> The Reimagine strategy he launched at JLR, whatever its long-term outcomes, represented one of the more ambitious transformation programmes undertaken by a legacy automaker in the transition to electric vehicles.<ref name="wsj-jlr" /><ref name="torquenews" />


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==


Bolloré's career is notable for the tumultuous circumstances surrounding both of his major CEO appointments. At Renault, he was elevated to the top position in the wake of one of the most dramatic arrests in modern corporate history — that of Carlos Ghosn — only to be dismissed less than a year later in what he described as a "coup."<ref name="bbc" /> At Jaguar Land Rover, he was brought in to lead a transformation of the company, launching the Reimagine strategy that sought to fundamentally reposition the Jaguar brand as an all-electric luxury marque, before stepping down after two years.
Bolloré's legacy in the automotive industry is closely linked to the two CEO tenures that defined the latter portion of his career. At Renault, his time as CEO was overshadowed by the circumstances of his appointment — the arrest and fall of Carlos Ghosn — and the acrimony of his departure. His description of his dismissal as a "stupefying coup de force" became one of the defining quotes of the Renault governance crisis, and his removal was seen as part of the broader unravelling of the Ghosn era at the company.<ref name="lesechos2019" /><ref name="bbc" />
 
At Jaguar Land Rover, Bolloré's principal legacy is the Reimagine strategy, which set the direction for the company's transition toward electrification and the repositioning of the Jaguar brand as an all-electric luxury marque. The strategy remained in place after his departure, though subsequent reporting by ''Autocar'' and ''Torque News'' indicated that the direction he set was subject to reassessment and potential revision under his successors.<ref name="autocar" /><ref name="torquenews" /> ''Autocar'' noted in 2025 that JLR had not launched a new car since 2022, a period that encompassed the final months of Bolloré's tenure and the transition to new leadership, suggesting that the company faced significant execution challenges in carrying out the transformation programme.<ref name="autocar" />


The Reimagine strategy he initiated at JLR has had lasting consequences for the company. ''Torque News'' characterised it as a "risky plan" and suggested that Bolloré's departure could signal a reversal of the strategy's more radical elements.<ref name="torque" /> ''Autocar'' noted in 2025 that JLR had not launched a new car since 2022, a gap linked to the transformation programme Bolloré put in place.<ref name="autocar" /> The extent to which JLR's subsequent leadership has retained, modified, or reversed the Reimagine strategy remains a subject of ongoing discussion within the automotive industry.
His subsequent move to About:Energy, a battery technology start-up, in 2023 indicated a continued interest in the electrification of the automotive sector, though in a role far removed from the C-suite of a global automaker.<ref name="autolog" />


Bolloré's career trajectory — from Michelin through Faurecia, Renault, Jaguar Land Rover, and into the battery technology start-up sector — reflects the broader shifts occurring in the global automotive industry during the late 2010s and early 2020s, as established carmakers grappled with the transition from internal combustion engines to electric powertrains. His move to About:Energy in 2023 placed him at the intersection of automotive expertise and the emerging battery technology ecosystem that underpins the industry's electrification agenda.<ref name="autolog" />
Bolloré's career arc — from decades of operational experience at Michelin and Faurecia, to a senior executive role at Renault, to two brief but eventful CEO tenures at Renault and JLR — reflects the volatile leadership dynamics of the global automotive industry during a period of profound technological and strategic transformation.


== References ==
== References ==
<references />
<references />


[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Business executives]]
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[[Category:French people]]
[[Category:French people]]
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:French businesspeople]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Quimper]]
[[Category:People from Quimper]]
[[Category:Paris Dauphine University alumni]]
[[Category:Paris Dauphine University alumni]]
[[Category:Michelin people]]
[[Category:Renault people]]
[[Category:Renault people]]
[[Category:Jaguar Land Rover]]
[[Category:Jaguar Land Rover]]
[[Category:Chief executive officers]]
[[Category:Bolloré family]]
[[Category:French chief executives]]
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[[Category:Automotive executives]]
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Latest revision as of 05:56, 24 February 2026


Thierry Bolloré
Bolloré in 2021
Thierry Bolloré
BornThierry Yves Henri Bolloré
30 5, 1963
BirthplaceQuimper, Brittany, France
NationalityFrench
OccupationBusinessman, automotive executive
TitleFormer CEO of Jaguar Land Rover
Known forFormer CEO of Jaguar Land Rover and Renault
EducationParis Dauphine University (MBA)
Children5

Thierry Yves Henri Bolloré (born 30 May 1963) is a French businessman and automotive industry executive who served as chief executive officer of two major global automakers within the span of three years. A member of the prominent Bolloré family, he rose through the ranks of the European automotive supply chain over a career spanning more than three decades, holding senior positions at Michelin and Faurecia before joining Renault in 2012. Bolloré became a central figure in one of the most turbulent periods in modern automotive history when, following the dramatic arrest of Carlos Ghosn in November 2018, he was elevated first to acting CEO and then to CEO of Renault. His tenure at the French carmaker lasted only eleven months before he was abruptly dismissed by the board of directors in October 2019 in what he publicly described as a "coup."[1] In 2020, Bolloré was appointed CEO of British luxury automaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), where he launched an ambitious electrification and transformation strategy known as "Reimagine" before resigning in November 2022, citing personal reasons.[2] Following his departure from JLR, he took on a directorial role at battery technology start-up About:Energy in 2023.[3]

Early Life

Thierry Yves Henri Bolloré was born on 30 May 1963 in Quimper, a city in the Brittany region of northwestern France.[4] He is a member of the Bolloré family, one of France's notable industrial dynasties with roots in Brittany.[5]

Details regarding Bolloré's childhood and upbringing in Brittany are not extensively documented in public sources. His subsequent career trajectory, however, indicates an early orientation toward the industrial and manufacturing sectors that would define his professional life. He would go on to spend the first two decades of his career at Michelin, the French tyre manufacturer also headquartered in France, before moving into the broader automotive industry through executive roles at major suppliers and, eventually, automakers themselves.

Education

Bolloré holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Paris Dauphine University, one of France's leading institutions for business and economics education.[4] This qualification provided the foundation for his career in industrial management and executive leadership within the automotive sector.

Career

Michelin (early career)

Bolloré began his professional career at Michelin, the French multinational tyre manufacturer. He spent approximately two decades at the company, gaining extensive experience in manufacturing, operations, and supply chain management within the automotive components industry.[4][6] His long tenure at Michelin provided him with deep knowledge of the global automotive supply chain and international manufacturing operations, experience that would later prove instrumental in his subsequent executive roles.

Faurecia (2005–2012)

In 2005, Bolloré left Michelin to join Faurecia, a major French automotive parts manufacturer and one of the world's largest automotive suppliers. At Faurecia, he took on senior leadership responsibilities, further broadening his expertise in the automotive components sector.[4] His time at Faurecia represented a transition from tyre manufacturing to the broader automotive supply industry, positioning him for the move to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) that would follow.

Renault (2012–2019)

Chief Competitive Officer

Bolloré joined Renault in 2012 as Chief Competitive Officer, a senior role within the French automaker's executive committee.[4] In this capacity, he was responsible for overseeing the company's competitiveness strategy, working under the leadership of then-CEO Carlos Ghosn, who simultaneously served as chairman and CEO of both Renault and its Japanese alliance partner Nissan.[6]

Over the following years, Bolloré rose through the Renault hierarchy. In February 2018, he was named Chief Operating Officer (COO), a promotion that placed him as the second-most-senior executive at the company, directly behind Ghosn.[7] The COO appointment was seen as establishing Bolloré as a key operational leader within the company and the broader Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance.

Elevation to CEO following Ghosn's arrest

On 19 November 2018, Carlos Ghosn was arrested in Tokyo by Japanese prosecutors on charges of financial misconduct, an event that sent shockwaves through the global automotive industry and created an immediate leadership vacuum at Renault. The French government, which holds a significant stake in Renault, backed Bolloré as the interim leader of the company.[8]

On 20 November 2018, Renault's board of directors convened and appointed Bolloré as "acting CEO" (directeur général par intérim), tasking him with maintaining the company's operations and its alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors during the crisis.[9][10] The appointment was also reported by CNBC, the Financial Times, and other major financial outlets, reflecting the global significance of the leadership transition at one of the world's largest automotive groups.[11][12]

Bolloré's role was subsequently confirmed as full CEO of Renault, a position he held from late 2018.[1] During this period, he faced the challenge of managing the fallout from the Ghosn affair while navigating the complex political dynamics of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, in which tensions between the French and Japanese partners had been exacerbated by the crisis.

Dismissal from Renault

On 11 October 2019, after approximately eleven months as CEO, Bolloré was removed from his position by Renault's board of directors with "immediate effect" during an emergency board meeting.[1][13] The abrupt dismissal came amid growing reports of friction with alliance partner Nissan, as well as allegations concerning the use of company funds for consulting engagements with the Boston Consulting Group.[1]

The move was widely covered by international media. The Wall Street Journal reported on Bolloré's removal, noting the broader context of instability within the alliance.[14] French business daily Les Echos reported that Bolloré described the board's action as a "stupefying coup de force" ("coup de force stupéfiant"), expressing his belief that the dismissal was unjustified and politically motivated.[15] Le Monde also covered the end of Bolloré's tenure at Renault in detail.[16] The BBC characterised the dismissal as a "coup," reflecting Bolloré's own description of events.[1]

The Financial Times reported on the broader governance implications of Bolloré's removal, situating it within the ongoing power struggles at the top of the Renault-Nissan alliance following Ghosn's downfall.[17]

Jaguar Land Rover (2020–2022)

Appointment

On 28 July 2020, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the British luxury automaker owned by India's Tata Motors, announced the appointment of Bolloré as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 10 September 2020.[18] He succeeded Ralf Speth, who had led JLR since 2010. The appointment was also reported by The Guardian, which noted that Bolloré was the "ousted Renault boss" being given a second chance at leading a major automaker.[19] India's Economic Times covered the appointment as a significant leadership change for the company.[20]

The "Reimagine" strategy

At JLR, Bolloré launched an ambitious transformation programme known as "Reimagine," which outlined the company's strategy for electrification and repositioning of its brands. The plan envisioned transforming Jaguar into an all-electric luxury brand and accelerating the introduction of electric and hybrid powertrains across the Land Rover and Range Rover lineups.[21] The Wall Street Journal reported that Bolloré had worked to accelerate the electrification of core JLR models such as the Range Rover, Discovery, and Defender.[21]

In June 2021, Bolloré gave what Autocar described as his "only sit-down interview" with the publication during his tenure, discussing the direction of the company under the Reimagine strategy.[22]

The Reimagine strategy proved to be a significant and, in retrospect, contentious undertaking. Torque News later characterised it as "a risky plan that alienated" part of Jaguar's existing customer base, reflecting debate within the automotive industry and among enthusiasts about the wisdom of such a radical repositioning of the Jaguar brand.[23]

Resignation

On 16 November 2022, JLR announced that Bolloré had resigned as CEO, citing "personal reasons."[2] The departure came after approximately two years in the role. The Wall Street Journal noted that his exit came at a pivotal moment for the company, as it was in the midst of executing the electrification and transformation strategy he had initiated.[21] The Guardian reported the resignation, noting that Bolloré had been in the position since September 2020.[2]

Following Bolloré's departure, Adrian Mardell, a long-serving JLR executive, was appointed as interim and then permanent CEO in 2023.[24]

Post-JLR career

In December 2023, Bolloré joined About:Energy, a battery technology start-up, as a director. About:Energy is a company that provides battery measurement and modelling services, a field closely tied to the automotive industry's shift toward electrification.[3] The move signalled Bolloré's continued involvement in the automotive and energy sectors, albeit in a smaller and more technology-focused capacity than his previous roles leading major automakers.

Personal Life

Bolloré was born in Quimper, Brittany, and is a member of the Bolloré family, a prominent French industrial family.[5] He has five children.[18] He has maintained a relatively private personal life, and his resignation from Jaguar Land Rover in November 2022 was attributed to unspecified "personal reasons."[2]

Recognition

Bolloré's career has been defined by his leadership of two of Europe's major automotive companies during periods of significant transition. His appointment as acting CEO and then CEO of Renault in the immediate aftermath of the Carlos Ghosn affair placed him at the centre of one of the most closely watched corporate governance crises in the automotive industry. The speed of his elevation — from COO to acting CEO within a day of Ghosn's arrest — and his subsequent dismissal eleven months later drew extensive coverage from international media outlets including the Financial Times, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Le Monde, Les Echos, and the BBC.[1][13][14][12][16][15]

His appointment to lead Jaguar Land Rover less than a year after his removal from Renault was noted by the automotive press as a remarkable return to the highest levels of the industry.[19] The Reimagine strategy he launched at JLR, whatever its long-term outcomes, represented one of the more ambitious transformation programmes undertaken by a legacy automaker in the transition to electric vehicles.[21][23]

Legacy

Bolloré's legacy in the automotive industry is closely linked to the two CEO tenures that defined the latter portion of his career. At Renault, his time as CEO was overshadowed by the circumstances of his appointment — the arrest and fall of Carlos Ghosn — and the acrimony of his departure. His description of his dismissal as a "stupefying coup de force" became one of the defining quotes of the Renault governance crisis, and his removal was seen as part of the broader unravelling of the Ghosn era at the company.[15][1]

At Jaguar Land Rover, Bolloré's principal legacy is the Reimagine strategy, which set the direction for the company's transition toward electrification and the repositioning of the Jaguar brand as an all-electric luxury marque. The strategy remained in place after his departure, though subsequent reporting by Autocar and Torque News indicated that the direction he set was subject to reassessment and potential revision under his successors.[22][23] Autocar noted in 2025 that JLR had not launched a new car since 2022, a period that encompassed the final months of Bolloré's tenure and the transition to new leadership, suggesting that the company faced significant execution challenges in carrying out the transformation programme.[22]

His subsequent move to About:Energy, a battery technology start-up, in 2023 indicated a continued interest in the electrification of the automotive sector, though in a role far removed from the C-suite of a global automaker.[3]

Bolloré's career arc — from decades of operational experience at Michelin and Faurecia, to a senior executive role at Renault, to two brief but eventful CEO tenures at Renault and JLR — reflects the volatile leadership dynamics of the global automotive industry during a period of profound technological and strategic transformation.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Renault ousts chief executive Thierry Bolloré in 'coup'".BBC News.2019-10-11.https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50016532.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Thierry Bolloré steps down as CEO of Jaguar Land Rover".The Guardian.2022-11-16.https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/nov/16/thierry-bollore-resigns-ceo-jaguar-land-rover.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Thierry Bolloré joins About:Energy as director".Automotive Logistics.2023-12-04.https://www.automotivelogistics.media/supply-chain/thierry-bollore-joins-aboutenergy-as-director/192418.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Thierry Bolloré – Membre du CEG".Groupe Renault.https://web.archive.org/web/20191013215322/https://media.group.renault.com/global/en-gb/groupe-renault/media/documenttext/34980/thierry-bollore-membre-du-ceg.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Les petits secrets de Thierry Bolloré, le remplaçant de Carlos Ghosn chez Renault".Capital.https://www.capital.fr/entreprises-marches/les-petits-secrets-de-thierry-bollore-le-remplacant-de-carlos-ghosn-chez-renault-1339895.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Thierry Bolloré – The new strong man at Renault and the Alliance".New Mobility News.2018-11-21.https://newmobility.news/2018/11/21/thierry-bollore-the-new-strong-man-at-renault-and-the-alliance/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "Renault nomme deux experts de la finance à son conseil".Les Echos.2018-02.https://www.lesechos.fr/2018/02/renault-nomme-deux-experts-de-la-finance-a-son-conseil-967694.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "Renault's Bolloré Said to Have French Backing as Interim CEO".Bloomberg.2018-11-20.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-20/renault-s-bollore-said-to-have-french-backing-as-interim-ceo.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Renault Board of Directors Press Release 20.11.2018".Groupe Renault.2018-11-20.https://group.renault.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/renault-cp-board-20.11.2018-eng-1.pdf.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Renault taps interim chairman, COO to replace Ghosn".Reuters.2018-11-20.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nissan-ghosn-renault/renault-taps-interim-chairman-coo-to-replace-ghosn-sources-idUSKCN1NP2EJ.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Renault to replace Ghosn with COO Bolloré".CNBC.2018-11-20.https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/20/renault-to-replace-ghosn-with-coo-bollore.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Renault appoints interim leader after Ghosn arrest".Financial Times.2018-11-20.https://www.ft.com/content/fe30dd3e-ed0a-11e8-8180-9cf212677a57.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Renault Ousts C.E.O. Thierry Bolloré".The New York Times.2019-10-11.https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/11/business/renault-ceo-bollore.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Renault Chief Executive Thierry Bolloré to Step Down".The Wall Street Journal.2019-10-11.https://www.wsj.com/articles/renault-chief-executive-thierry-bollore-to-step-down-11570785214.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "Renault : Thierry Bolloré dénonce un « coup de force stupéfiant »".Les Echos.2019-10-11.https://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/automobile/renault-thierry-bollore-denonce-un-coup-de-force-stupefiant-1139074.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Fin de partie pour Thierry Bolloré chez Renault".Le Monde.2019-10-11.https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2019/10/11/fin-de-partie-pour-thierry-bollore-chez-renault_6015085_3234.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "Renault board ousts Bolloré".Financial Times.https://www.ft.com/content/b79b16b3-cbf1-44bf-a986-33f291a96c91.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Thierry Bolloré Announced as New Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover".Jaguar Land Rover.2020-07-28.https://media.jaguarlandrover.com/news/2020/07/thierry-bollore-announced-new-chief-executive-officer-jaguar-land-rover.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Ousted Renault boss Thierry Bolloré appointed new head of Jaguar Land Rover".The Guardian.2020-07-28.http://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/jul/28/ousted-renault-boss-thierry-bollore-appointed-new-head-of-jaguar-land-rover.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Thierry Bolloré appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover".The Economic Times.2020-07-28.https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/auto/auto-news/thierry-bollor-appointed-as-the-new-chief-executive-officer-of-jaguar-land-rover/articleshow/77217713.cms.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 "Jaguar Land Rover's CEO, Thierry Bolloré, Stepping Down".The Wall Street Journal.2022-11-16.https://www.wsj.com/articles/jaguar-land-rovers-ceo-thierry-bollore-steps-down-11668609431.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 "JLR hasn't launched a car in three years. Here's why its new CEO needs to break the cycle".Autocar.2025-11-28.https://www.autocar.co.uk/opinion/business-corporate/no-new-cars-2022-new-jlr-boss-needs-break-inertia.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 "Jaguar's Jolting Pivot: A CEO's Exit and a Brand's Reckoning – What The Future Jaguar Could Be".Torque News.2025-08-01.https://www.torquenews.com/17995/jaguars-jolting-pivot-ceos-exit-and-brands-reckoning-what-future-jaguar-could-be.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "JLR CEO Adrian Mardell retires after 35 years at the company".Team-BHP.2025-08-01.https://www.team-bhp.com/news/jlr-ceo-adrian-mardell-retires-after-35-years-company.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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