Claude Guillemot, Co-Founder of Ubisoft, Dies in Plane Crash

Claude Guillemot, 69, one of the five brothers who founded Ubisoft, died on Friday, June 19, 2026, in a plane crash near the La Baule airport on the Atlantic coast of western France. The confirmation came from Ubisoft itself via an official statement, expressing that it was "deeply saddened" by the loss of the "co-founder of the group and president of Guillemot Corp.," specifying that no further statements would be made.

On board the aircraft, a twin-engine Cessna 421, there was also a flight instructor: both occupants lost their lives. The two had taken off from Rennes heading to the "Fly In La Baule" aviation gathering, which was expected to host over a hundred light aircraft. When rescuers arrived, the vehicle was on fire and the flames had spread to the surrounding vegetation. The mayor of La Baule, Franck Louvrier, reported that the plane was approaching for landing when, according to witnesses, it made a turn and crashed, as detailed operational accounts collected at the scene confirm. The cause has not yet been determined and French authorities have opened an investigation.

The five Guillemot brothers, Claude along with Yves, Michel, Christian and Gérard, founded Ubisoft on March 28, 1986, in the Breton village of Carentoir. Yves is still the chairman and CEO of the development house. Claude had instead focused his activities on Guillemot Corporation, the family’s publicly traded company that owns Thrustmaster, a gaming peripheral brand, and Hercules, which operates in audio and DJ equipment. The company recorded revenues of €197.7 million in the last fiscal year. In July 2025, Claude Guillemot transferred the operational leadership to his son Valentin, who was appointed CEO, while retaining the chairmanship of the board.

Claude’s passing comes at a delicate time for Ubisoft, where the family maintains control despite holding about 11% of the shares, thanks to double voting rights recognized by the French Florange law for long-term shareholders. Corporate balances remain tied to the growing influence of Tencent: in 2022, the Chinese group invested about €300 million in Guillemot Brothers Limited, the family's private holding, acquiring 49.9% economic rights but only 5% of voting rights, alongside a direct stake of about 9.46% in Ubisoft. In 2025, Tencent then invested €1.16 billion in Vantage Studios, the subsidiary created to manage the main franchises.