Jean Riboud (15 November 1919 – 20 October 1985) was a French socialist, corporate executive and the chairman of Schlumberger,[1] the largest oilfield services company in the world.[2] He was a member of the French Resistance during World War II and suffered incarceration in Buchenwald concentration camp of the Nazis.[3] His contributions were reported in making Schlumberger into the market leader in oilfield services sector. The Government of India awarded him the third highest civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan, in 1986, for his contributions to society.[4]
Riboud, born on 15 November 1919 in the French city of Lyons to a banker, graduated from Ecole des Sciences Politiques, Paris in 1939.[6] He was involved with politics from his student years and was a supporter of the Popular Front coalition government of Leon Blum. Later, he started his career as a lieutenant in the French Army and after serving the army for a while, he joined the French Resistance. It was during this period he was captured by the Nazis and was sent to Buchenwald concentration camp where spent two years, suffering from tuberculosis,[7] before escaping from there with help from the communists.[8] When the war ended, he pursued a career in banking by joining Andre Istel and Company, a private investment banking firm owned by a friend of his father, and this gave him an opportunity to visit United States in 1946 for opening an office of his bank in New York.[6] There, he met Marcel Schlumberger, one of the founders of the Schlumberger group, and on his invitation, Riboud joined Schlumberger as the founder's assistant in 1951.[3] He continued in the company even after the death of Marcel Schlumberger in 1953 and rose in ranks to become the head of Europe operations[9] and later, as the chief executive of the company in 1965.[10] Seven years later, he became the chairman of the group, in 1972.[3]
Under his leadership, Schlumberger grew to become the largest oilfield services company in the world with interests in other sectors such as semiconductors.[1] He expanded the company business by acquisitions, too; the taking over of Fairchild Camera and Instrument was one such acquisition.[11] By the time he relinquished his position to his successor, Michel Vaillaud, in 1985, the company had a net profit of US$I.2 billion on a revenue of US$6.4 billion[12] and had presence in over 100 countries, controlling the operations of 70 percent of the world's oil wells.[13] At that time, the company employed 80,000 people, held US$10.9 billion in assets[10] and was considered by many as the best managed company in the world.[13]
Riboud married Krishna Roy, historian, art collector, the great-grandniece of Rabindranath Tagore, niece of Soumendranath Tagore, and the great-granddaughter of Dwijendranath Tagore, in 1949, and the couple had a son, Christophe.[8] It is reported that the Riboud couple had an extensive friendship circle, which included political figures like François Mitterrand, Indira Gandhi and Ne Win and art personalities such as Yves Tanguy, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Isamu Noguchi, M. F. Hussain, Joan Miró and Max Ernst. They also had an art collection, parts of which were later donated by Krishna Riboud to the Musee Guimet. where a separate gallery of the Jean and Krishna Riboud collection is being maintained.[8] Towards the later days of his life, he was afflicted with cancer and handed over his responsibilities to Vaillaud in September 1985.[10] A month later, on 20 October 1985, he died at his Neuilly-sur-Seine home, survived by his wife, son and three grandchildren.[14] The Government of India honored him with the civilian award of the Padma Bhushan in 1986.[4] The story of his life has been documented in the book The Art of Corporate Success: The Story of Schlumberger, written by Ken Auletta,[15] as well as in his autobiography, Jean Riboud, published in 1989.[16]
^ ab"Schlumberger Limited". Encyclopedia.com. 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
^David Wethe (21 January 2012). "Schlumberger Fourth-Quarter Profit Rises as Drilling Booms". Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
^ abc"Jean Riboud; Resistance Fighter, Oil Firm Leader". Los Angeles Times. 22 October 1985. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
^ ab(PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 15, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
^"Quotations by Jean Riboud". Strange Wondrous. 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
^ ab"JEAN RIBOUD DIES IN PARIS AT 65". New York Times. 22 October 1985. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
^Ralph Maud (1996). Charles Olson's Reading: A Biography. SIU Press. pp. 266–. ISBN978-0-8093-1995-4.
^ abc"In memoriam". India Seminar. 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
^Ken Auletta (29 September 2015). The Art of Corporate Success: The Story of Schlumberger. Open Road Media. pp. 32–. ISBN978-1-5040-1859-3.
^ abc"New Boss Will Stick to Schlumberger Formula". Los Angeles Times. 29 September 1985. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
^"A certain poetry". New Yorker. 6 June 1983. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
^"Jean Riboud on HBS". Harvard Business School. 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
^ ab"RIBOUD'S PROTEGE: MICHEL VAILLAUD; ASSUMING THE MANTLE AT SCHLUMBERGER". New York Times. 22 September 1985. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
^"JEAN RIBOUD, LEGENDARY OIL EXECUTIVE". AP News Archive. 21 October 1985. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
^Ken Auletta (1984). The Art of Corporate Success: The Story of Schlumberger. Putnam. ISBN978-0-399-12930-8.
^Jean Riboud (1989). Jean Riboud (Autobiography). NP. ASIN B000ONONWO.
Further reading
Jean Riboud (1989). Jean Riboud (Autobiography). NP. ASIN B000ONONWO.
Ken Auletta (1984). The Art of Corporate Success: The Story of Schlumberger. Putnam. ISBN978-0-399-12930-8.
External links
"Jean Riboud, the French billionaire and industrialist". Blog report. Antiquarian of Calcutta. 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
January 28, 2023
jean, riboud, november, 1919, october, 1985, french, socialist, corporate, executive, chairman, schlumberger, largest, oilfield, services, company, world, member, french, resistance, during, world, suffered, incarceration, buchenwald, concentration, camp, nazi. Jean Riboud 15 November 1919 20 October 1985 was a French socialist corporate executive and the chairman of Schlumberger 1 the largest oilfield services company in the world 2 He was a member of the French Resistance during World War II and suffered incarceration in Buchenwald concentration camp of the Nazis 3 His contributions were reported in making Schlumberger into the market leader in oilfield services sector The Government of India awarded him the third highest civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan in 1986 for his contributions to society 4 Jean RiboudBorn 1919 11 15 15 November 1919Lyons FranceDied20 October 1985 1985 10 20 aged 65 Neuilly sur Seine Paris FranceOccupation s Corporate executiveSocialistYears active1939 1985Known forSchlumbergerSpouseKrishna RoyChildrenChristopheAwardsPadma Bhushan Contents 1 Biography 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksBiography EditIf you want to innovate to change an enterprise or a society it takes people willing to do what s not expected Jean Riboud 5 Riboud born on 15 November 1919 in the French city of Lyons to a banker graduated from Ecole des Sciences Politiques Paris in 1939 6 He was involved with politics from his student years and was a supporter of the Popular Front coalition government of Leon Blum Later he started his career as a lieutenant in the French Army and after serving the army for a while he joined the French Resistance It was during this period he was captured by the Nazis and was sent to Buchenwald concentration camp where spent two years suffering from tuberculosis 7 before escaping from there with help from the communists 8 When the war ended he pursued a career in banking by joining Andre Istel and Company a private investment banking firm owned by a friend of his father and this gave him an opportunity to visit United States in 1946 for opening an office of his bank in New York 6 There he met Marcel Schlumberger one of the founders of the Schlumberger group and on his invitation Riboud joined Schlumberger as the founder s assistant in 1951 3 He continued in the company even after the death of Marcel Schlumberger in 1953 and rose in ranks to become the head of Europe operations 9 and later as the chief executive of the company in 1965 10 Seven years later he became the chairman of the group in 1972 3 Under his leadership Schlumberger grew to become the largest oilfield services company in the world with interests in other sectors such as semiconductors 1 He expanded the company business by acquisitions too the taking over of Fairchild Camera and Instrument was one such acquisition 11 By the time he relinquished his position to his successor Michel Vaillaud in 1985 the company had a net profit of US I 2 billion on a revenue of US 6 4 billion 12 and had presence in over 100 countries controlling the operations of 70 percent of the world s oil wells 13 At that time the company employed 80 000 people held US 10 9 billion in assets 10 and was considered by many as the best managed company in the world 13 Riboud married Krishna Roy historian art collector the great grandniece of Rabindranath Tagore niece of Soumendranath Tagore and the great granddaughter of Dwijendranath Tagore in 1949 and the couple had a son Christophe 8 It is reported that the Riboud couple had an extensive friendship circle which included political figures like Francois Mitterrand Indira Gandhi and Ne Win and art personalities such as Yves Tanguy Henri Cartier Bresson Isamu Noguchi M F Hussain Joan Miro and Max Ernst They also had an art collection parts of which were later donated by Krishna Riboud to the Musee Guimet where a separate gallery of the Jean and Krishna Riboud collection is being maintained 8 Towards the later days of his life he was afflicted with cancer and handed over his responsibilities to Vaillaud in September 1985 10 A month later on 20 October 1985 he died at his Neuilly sur Seine home survived by his wife son and three grandchildren 14 The Government of India honored him with the civilian award of the Padma Bhushan in 1986 4 The story of his life has been documented in the book The Art of Corporate Success The Story of Schlumberger written by Ken Auletta 15 as well as in his autobiography Jean Riboud published in 1989 16 See also EditBuchenwald concentration camp Neuilly sur Seine Guimet Museum of Asian Arts Paris India portalReferences Edit a b Schlumberger Limited Encyclopedia com 2016 Retrieved May 8 2016 David Wethe 21 January 2012 Schlumberger Fourth Quarter Profit Rises as Drilling Booms Bloomberg com Bloomberg Retrieved May 8 2016 a b c Jean Riboud Resistance Fighter Oil Firm Leader Los Angeles Times 22 October 1985 Retrieved May 8 2016 a b Padma Awards PDF Ministry of Home Affairs Government of India 2016 Archived from the original PDF on October 15 2015 Retrieved January 3 2016 Quotations by Jean Riboud Strange Wondrous 2016 Retrieved May 8 2016 a b JEAN RIBOUD DIES IN PARIS AT 65 New York Times 22 October 1985 Retrieved May 8 2016 Ralph Maud 1996 Charles Olson s Reading A Biography SIU Press pp 266 ISBN 978 0 8093 1995 4 a b c In memoriam India Seminar 2016 Retrieved May 8 2016 Ken Auletta 29 September 2015 The Art of Corporate Success The Story of Schlumberger Open Road Media pp 32 ISBN 978 1 5040 1859 3 a b c New Boss Will Stick to Schlumberger Formula Los Angeles Times 29 September 1985 Retrieved May 8 2016 A certain poetry New Yorker 6 June 1983 Retrieved May 8 2016 Jean Riboud on HBS Harvard Business School 2016 Retrieved May 9 2016 a b RIBOUD S PROTEGE MICHEL VAILLAUD ASSUMING THE MANTLE AT SCHLUMBERGER New York Times 22 September 1985 Retrieved May 9 2016 JEAN RIBOUD LEGENDARY OIL EXECUTIVE AP News Archive 21 October 1985 Retrieved May 9 2016 Ken Auletta 1984 The Art of Corporate Success The Story of Schlumberger Putnam ISBN 978 0 399 12930 8 Jean Riboud 1989 Jean Riboud Autobiography NP ASIN B000ONONWO Further reading EditJean Riboud 1989 Jean Riboud Autobiography NP ASIN B000ONONWO Ken Auletta 1984 The Art of Corporate Success The Story of Schlumberger Putnam ISBN 978 0 399 12930 8 External links Edit Jean Riboud the French billionaire and industrialist Blog report Antiquarian of Calcutta 2016 Retrieved May 9 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jean Riboud amp oldid 1133985494, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
