Laurent Mignon

Laurent Mignon
Nationality	French
Occupation	Business executive, investment manager
Title	Group Chief Executive Officer, Wendel
Known for	Chairman of the Management Board of Groupe BPCE; Group CEO of Wendel; Board member of LVMH

Laurent Mignon is a French business executive who has held senior leadership positions across the banking, investment, and insurance sectors in France. He served as Chairman of the Management Board of Groupe BPCE, one of France's largest banking groups, and subsequently became Group Chief Executive Officer of Wendel, a prominent French investment firm listed on the CAC 40. In September 2022, Mignon was appointed Chairman of the French Banking Federation (Fédération bancaire française, or FBF), succeeding Nicolas Théry of Crédit Mutuel. In 2023, French luxury conglomerate LVMH proposed his appointment to its Board of Directors, a move that underscored his standing in French corporate governance circles. Throughout his career, Mignon has been recognized as a significant figure in French finance, holding positions that have placed him at the intersection of banking, private equity, and corporate strategy.

Career

Groupe BPCE

Laurent Mignon served as Chairman of the Management Board of Groupe BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France. Groupe BPCE is the parent entity of the Banque Populaire and Caisse d'Épargne retail banking networks, as well as Natixis, the group's corporate and investment banking, asset management, insurance, and payments arm. In this capacity, Mignon oversaw the strategic direction of a banking group with a significant presence in French retail banking and international financial markets.

During his tenure at Groupe BPCE, Mignon was an active participant in public discussions concerning the French economy and the role of banks in supporting business growth. In June 2021, he participated in the eighth edition of the "Big Bang des Entreprises," an event organized by the French newspaper Le Figaro, which brought together business leaders and policymakers to discuss economic challenges and opportunities facing French enterprises. His presence at such high-profile events reflected the significance of Groupe BPCE within the French financial landscape and Mignon's role as a spokesperson for the banking sector.

In July 2022, Groupe BPCE announced that Mignon would become President of the French Banking Federation (FBF) effective September 1, 2022, replacing Nicolas Théry, Chairman of Crédit Mutuel, who had held the position previously. The FBF is the professional body representing all banks operating in France and plays a key role in shaping banking policy, regulatory engagement, and the industry's public communications. The chairmanship of the FBF rotates among the heads of France's major banking groups, and Mignon's appointment was consistent with the customary rotation of the role among leaders of the country's principal financial institutions.

Wendel

Following his tenure at Groupe BPCE, Laurent Mignon assumed the role of Group Chief Executive Officer at Wendel, one of France's oldest and most prominent investment firms. Wendel, which is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and is a component of the CAC 40, has a history stretching back more than three centuries. The firm operates as a long-term investor, taking significant stakes in companies across a range of sectors including industrial services, technology, and financial services.

Under Mignon's leadership, Wendel has pursued an active acquisition and investment strategy. In late 2023, the Financial Times reported that Wendel was seeking further deals in the private equity industry following its acquisition of a controlling stake in IK Partners, a UK-based buyout firm. The acquisition of IK Partners represented a significant strategic move for Wendel, marking its entry into the private equity fund management business and signaling ambitions to expand its footprint in the alternative asset management space.

In October 2025, it was reported that Wendel Group was in negotiations to acquire a controlling stake in Committed Advisors, a French private equity secondaries specialist managing approximately €6 billion in assets. This potential deal further illustrated the firm's strategy under Mignon to build a diversified platform in alternative asset management, extending from direct buyouts through IK Partners into the secondaries market through Committed Advisors.

Wendel is also notable for its significant investment holdings. The firm holds a 35.5% stake in Bureau Veritas, a global leader in testing, inspection, and certification services headquartered in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris. Bureau Veritas operates in 140 countries with over 79,000 employees and generated $6.34 billion in revenue in 2024. As CEO of Wendel, Mignon oversees the management of this significant portfolio holding, among other investments.

Board Memberships and Industry Roles

French Banking Federation

Laurent Mignon was appointed Chairman of the French Banking Federation (FBF) on September 1, 2022. The FBF represents all banks operating in France and serves as the primary interlocutor between the banking industry and French and European regulatory authorities. In this role, Mignon succeeded Nicolas Théry, Chairman of Crédit Mutuel. The chairmanship of the FBF is a prominent position within French financial circles, as the federation plays a significant role in shaping policy discussions on topics such as banking regulation, consumer protection, sustainable finance, and the digital transformation of financial services.

LVMH Board of Directors

In March 2023, LVMH, the world's largest luxury goods conglomerate, announced that it would propose the appointment of Laurent Mignon as a new member of its Board of Directors. At the time of the announcement, Mignon was identified as the Group Chief Executive Officer of Wendel. Women's Wear Daily (WWD) described Mignon as a "seasoned finance executive," noting that his appointment to the LVMH board reflected the conglomerate's interest in adding financial expertise to its governance structure. The appointment to the board of LVMH, whose portfolio includes brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Moët Hennessy, placed Mignon among a select group of business leaders entrusted with overseeing one of France's most valuable and internationally prominent companies.

TotalEnergies Board of Directors

In March 2025, TotalEnergies, the French multinational energy company, published the convening notice for its Annual Shareholders' Meeting scheduled for May 23, 2025. Documents associated with the meeting indicated Laurent Mignon's involvement with the company's governance. His association with TotalEnergies further demonstrates the breadth of his corporate governance engagements across major French and European companies.

Recognition

Laurent Mignon's career has been marked by appointments to leadership positions at some of France's most significant financial and corporate institutions. His selection as Chairman of the Management Board of Groupe BPCE, one of the country's largest banking groups, placed him among the senior leaders of the French banking industry. His subsequent appointment as Chairman of the French Banking Federation in September 2022 represented recognition by his peers in the banking sector of his leadership and standing within the profession.

His transition to Wendel as Group CEO extended his influence beyond traditional banking into the investment and private equity sphere. The firm's status as a component of the CAC 40 index underscores the scale and significance of the enterprise he leads.

The decision by LVMH to propose Mignon as a member of its Board of Directors in 2023 was described by industry media as a reflection of his established reputation in finance and corporate governance. His selection for the board of the world's largest luxury goods conglomerate, alongside his role on the governance structures of other major companies, positioned Mignon as one of the most connected corporate figures in France.

Legacy

Laurent Mignon's career trajectory illustrates the interconnected nature of French corporate governance, where senior leaders of banking groups, investment firms, and major industrial conglomerates frequently serve in overlapping roles across the country's largest enterprises. His movement from the leadership of Groupe BPCE to the helm of Wendel, combined with board positions at LVMH and engagements with TotalEnergies, reflects a pattern of cross-sector leadership that is characteristic of the upper echelons of French business.

At Wendel, Mignon has led the firm's strategic pivot toward building a platform in alternative asset management, as evidenced by the acquisition of IK Partners and the reported negotiations for Committed Advisors. This approach has positioned Wendel to compete with larger global alternative asset managers while leveraging its historical strengths as a long-term investor. The success or failure of this strategic direction will be a defining aspect of Mignon's legacy at the firm.

His tenure as Chairman of the French Banking Federation, while a rotational role, placed him at the center of policy discussions at a time when the European banking industry was grappling with the implications of rising interest rates, digital transformation, and the regulatory demands of sustainable finance.

As of 2025, Mignon continues to serve as Group CEO of Wendel and maintains his positions on the boards of major French corporations, ensuring his continued influence in French and European business affairs.