Claude Guillemot

At 69, the talismanic co-founder of Ubisoft died due to the crash of the twin-engine Cessna 421 in a wheat field on June 19, 2026, while approaching the La Baule-Escoublac airfield. The incident also resulted in the death of his sole passenger, a flight instructor from Rennes.

For many people, the face of the company was his younger brother Yves, but most of the company’s expansion can be credited to Claude, who served as the company’s operational backbone. As executive vice-president of operations, he was the engine room behind hit franchises like Assassin’s Creed, helping shore up the family empire. ​ Behind the scenes, he scaled by acquiring Hercules, a graphics brand, in 1999 through the Guillemot Corporation. He faced a distinct challenge when he lost a bidding war against Creative Labs to acquire Aureal, the 3D audio specialist. ​ Rather than accepting the loss, he allocated a large budget and built a unique Hercules-branded audio line, which led to the launch of the Game Theater XP external sound processor in the 2000s. By 2005, his company was reported to have generated 117 million euros in revenue and operated teams across 11 countries. ​ Their parents ran a mail-order business while the five brothers founded the Guillemot informatique in 1984, focusing on computer accessories and hardware. The company was split into two ventures, with one software and one hardware wing. It acquired Thrustmaster, an Oregon-based company for its gaming peripheral operations and brand identity, for $15 million in 1999. ​ Claude was certified in industrial computing while holding a Master’s degree in Economics. Having lived in Asia and holding these qualifications, Claude brought the technical expertise and acumen that the other brother lacked to build a legacy. ​ He didn’t fully leave Brittany, as he continued to preside over Club Des Trente from 2009-2016, a circle comprising approximately 40 French business leaders. He held membership of the local La Baule Aero Club. ​ Before bowing out, he passed Guillemot Corporation’s mantle over to his son Valentin Guillemot on July 1, 2025, while still presiding as chairman. ​ “Ubisoft was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Claude Guillemot, co-founder of the group and chairman of Guillemot Corp., in an accident,” a spokesperson for Ubisoft said in a statement on Saturday. “Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.” ​