Message from President, Philippe Louis-Dreyfus
Dear Colleagues, dear friends,
It is with profound sadness that I inform you of the passing away last Saturday, in his 103rd year, of Pierre Louis-Dreyfus (P. L-D), my father.
Most of us knew of him, if only by reputation.
Head of the Louis Dreyfus Group over many years and, of course, its shareholder, P. L-D was in fact much more than that : he was a reference to turn to and an example to follow.
A reference in terms of ethics and rigour, he has greatly enforced our group’s image of integrity, reliability and respect for its word which all still contribute to the group’s current reputation and to the value of the companies carrying this name.
An example of courage, not only in wartime when he fought five years “under the fire” – he was made Compagnon de la Libération and Grand Officier de la Légion d’Honneur – but also in everyday life when he feared nothing or nobody.
He also was, for his four children and his grandchildren, a demanding father and grandfather, both hard and affectionate, who considered his role of « Pater Familias » as an educator. He has brought us « up », in the true sense. He passed on to us such essential values as the taste for effort – whether intellectual or in sports – and the duty to respect other people, as well as our Republique.
In particular, he has taught us that the name Louis-Dreyfus, first and above all, gives duties and responsibilities towards others, towards the companies that bear our name and, lastly, towards our country.
After 102 years of a long and above all well fulfilled life P. L-D has left us.
His children, his daughter-in-law, his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren are proud of him and they hope, beyond their sadness, that he will remain in the minds of all of you the reference and the example I mentioned above.
Philippe L-D
