Today, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot shared a public statement on the death of his brother and fellow Ubisoft co-founder, Claude Guillemot, who lost his life in a plane crash earlier this month.
On LinkedIn, Yves Guillemot expressed gratitude on behalf of himself and his family to fans, employees, and community members for messages of support. He then reflected briefly on his brother’s life, and his impact on Ubisoft as a company, saying Claude Guillemot “helped shape Ubisoft with an entrepreneurial spirit, curiosity, and unwavering optimism. He believed deeply in innovation, embraced new technologies early, and always encouraged us to look ahead with confidence.”
Claude Guillemot helped found Ubisoft alongside his brothers Yves, Michel, Christian, and Gérard in 1986. He was a member of the board of directors, as well as the president of Guillemot Corporation, and largely worked behind the scenes to shape and expand the business over the years.
Yves Guillemot described his brother as someone with “a remarkable ability to connect with people” who “always gave people his full attention” and was “genuinely interested in others, generous with his time, and always ready to share his enthusiasm or a few words of encouragement.”
“The many tributes we have received all speak of his kindness, wisdom, optimism, and infectious energy. Above all, they remind us how naturally Claude made people feel valued and welcome.
“Those qualities helped shape Ubisoft’s culture and values from the very beginning. Our belief that great games are created by talented people working together with trust, curiosity, and respect owes much to the example Claude set every day. His humanity influenced our company as much as his vision.”
Claude Guillemot died ten days ago unexpectedly in a plane crash at the age of 69. He was one of two victims.