Jean Gandois, the president of the CNPF, the ex-name of Medef, who resigned from this post to protest against the 35 hours, died on August 7 at the age of 90, according to a death notice published this Tuesday in Le Figaro.
This polytechnician had distinguished himself by a very dense career as a captain of industry, at the head of jewels in steel and chemicals such as Sollac, Rhône-Poulenc, Péchiney and Cockerill-Sambre.
“A true captain of industry who has always put the economy before finance and has developed a dual economic and social project,” tweeted Martine Aubry, who was Minister of Labor in the government of Lionel Jospin who decided to move to the week 35 hours. Martine Aubry was recruited in 1989 as deputy general manager of the public group Péchiney by Jean Gandois.
Director of large French groups!
“We were perfectly fooled” on the 35 hours, had reacted the president of the CNPF on October 10, 1997. Three days later, he took the unprecedented decision to resign from the presidency of the CNPF, the main French employers’ organization and ancestor of Medef current. “Saddened by the death of Jean Gandois,” tweeted Tuesday the vice-president and spokesperson for Medef Fabrice Le Saché
Jean Gandois has also worked as a director of certain large groups in France, from Paribas to Peugeot via Danone, Suez and Schneider. He made his international debut by participating in the construction of road equipment in Guinea, Brazil and Peru, before joining the forge masters De Wendel in 1961, and in 1972 taking over the management of the steelmakers Sacilor and Sollac.
