Antoine Beaussant
Encyclopedia
Antoine Beaussant, 54, has been President of Buffet Crampon since November 2007.
Antoine Beaussant completed a science Baccalauréat
in 1974, at the age of 16. He graduated from Ecole de Hautes Etudes Commerciales du Nord (EDHEC) in Lille
and from Institut Européen d'Administration des Affaires (Insead
), where he followed the European Marketing Program.
He began his professional career in the field of new technologies and the media, first as Head of Multimedia at French newspaper Le Monde
and then at Amaury, publisher of Le Parisien
and L’Equipe .
As an internet pioneer in France, he launched, ran and invested in a number of start-ups between 1994 and 2002. In 1999, he founded Nart, the web’s first art auction site, before going on to buy L’Œil and Le Journal des Arts.
From 2002 to 2005 he was deputy CEO of Capgemini
Sogeti, an IT company with some 15,000 employees, and from 2005 to 2006 he was deputy CEO of ESR, an IT service provider listed on the Paris stock exchange.
He combined his managing director roles with membership of the Conseil Supérieur de la Télématique, the administrative body responsible for regulating the ICT sector, a role to which he was appointed in 1992 by the French Minister for Industry and which he performed until 2000. In 1996, the government appointed him to produce a white paper on internet regulation in France, resulting in publication of the Charte de l’Internet (internet charter). From 2001 to 2008 he was a member of the Conseil des Ventes Volontaires, France’s auctioneering regulator. He is currently chairman of the Conseil de développement de la Communauté d’agglomération de Mantes en Yvelines, an urban planning agency in the Paris area.
In 2005, Beaussant, who is a keen oboist
, joined the Supervisory Board of Buffet Crampon
, Europe’s leading wind instrument manufacturer since its takeover by the Argos Soditic investment fund. He took control of the group in November 2007, a move which enabled him to combine his experience as a manager with his passion for music in the service of the great French professional musical instrument manufacturing tradition. Buffet Crampon was created in 1825, and with some 530 employees based in France, Germany, USA, Japan and China, today turns over around €67 million, of which 94% outside France. It manufactures some 60,000 musical instruments every year under the Buffet Crampon
, Antoine Courtois
, Besson
, W. Schreiber and J. Keilwerth brands.
In 2004, Antoine Beaussant was made Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by the French prime minister .
Antoine Beaussant is thus carrying on the family tradition started by his grandfather Charles-Gustave Beaussant, an entrepreneur and music lover who graduated from HEC in 1923, and upheld by his father Philippe Beaussant
, a writer, baroque music expert and member of the Académie Française
. In 2011 Antoine Beaussant was appointed vice-president of CSFI (Association of Instrument Manufacturers), of the European Association et de la Chambre syndicale Allemande (German Association).
Antoine Beaussant completed a science Baccalauréat
Baccalauréat
The baccalauréat , often known in France colloquially as le bac, is an academic qualification which French and international students take at the end of the lycée . It was introduced by Napoleon I in 1808. It is the main diploma required to pursue university studies...
in 1974, at the age of 16. He graduated from Ecole de Hautes Etudes Commerciales du Nord (EDHEC) in Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
and from Institut Européen d'Administration des Affaires (Insead
INSEAD
INSEAD is an international graduate business school and research institution. It has campuses in Europe , Asia , and the Middle East , as well as a research center in Israel...
), where he followed the European Marketing Program.
He began his professional career in the field of new technologies and the media, first as Head of Multimedia at French newspaper Le Monde
Le Monde
Le Monde is a French daily evening newspaper owned by La Vie-Le Monde Group and edited in Paris. It is one of two French newspapers of record, and has generally been well respected since its first edition under founder Hubert Beuve-Méry on 19 December 1944...
and then at Amaury, publisher of Le Parisien
Le Parisien
Le Parisien is a French daily newspaper covering both international and national news, and local news of Paris and its suburbs. It was established as Le Parisien libéré by Émilien Amaury in 1944, and the name was changed to the current one in 1986...
and L’Equipe .
As an internet pioneer in France, he launched, ran and invested in a number of start-ups between 1994 and 2002. In 1999, he founded Nart, the web’s first art auction site, before going on to buy L’Œil and Le Journal des Arts.
From 2002 to 2005 he was deputy CEO of Capgemini
Capgemini
Capgemini is a French global IT services company, one of the world's largest management consulting, outsourcing and professional services companies with a staff of 114,274 operating in 40 countries. It is headquartered in Paris and was founded in 1967 by Serge Kampf, the current chairman, in...
Sogeti, an IT company with some 15,000 employees, and from 2005 to 2006 he was deputy CEO of ESR, an IT service provider listed on the Paris stock exchange.
He combined his managing director roles with membership of the Conseil Supérieur de la Télématique, the administrative body responsible for regulating the ICT sector, a role to which he was appointed in 1992 by the French Minister for Industry and which he performed until 2000. In 1996, the government appointed him to produce a white paper on internet regulation in France, resulting in publication of the Charte de l’Internet (internet charter). From 2001 to 2008 he was a member of the Conseil des Ventes Volontaires, France’s auctioneering regulator. He is currently chairman of the Conseil de développement de la Communauté d’agglomération de Mantes en Yvelines, an urban planning agency in the Paris area.
In 2005, Beaussant, who is a keen oboist
Oboist
An oboist is a musician who plays the oboe or any oboe family instrument, including the cor anglais, oboe d'amore, shawm and oboe musette....
, joined the Supervisory Board of Buffet Crampon
Buffet Crampon
Buffet Crampon et Compagnie is a French manufacturer of woodwind musical instruments, including oboes, flutes, saxophones, and bassoons; however, the company is perhaps most famous for their clarinets, as Buffet is the brand of choice for many professionals....
, Europe’s leading wind instrument manufacturer since its takeover by the Argos Soditic investment fund. He took control of the group in November 2007, a move which enabled him to combine his experience as a manager with his passion for music in the service of the great French professional musical instrument manufacturing tradition. Buffet Crampon was created in 1825, and with some 530 employees based in France, Germany, USA, Japan and China, today turns over around €67 million, of which 94% outside France. It manufactures some 60,000 musical instruments every year under the Buffet Crampon
Buffet Crampon
Buffet Crampon et Compagnie is a French manufacturer of woodwind musical instruments, including oboes, flutes, saxophones, and bassoons; however, the company is perhaps most famous for their clarinets, as Buffet is the brand of choice for many professionals....
, Antoine Courtois
Antoine Courtois
The Antoine Courtois company was founded in Paris in 1789. The company's current name comes from the name of one of the founder's children who created the brand name in 1803. The company has been a leading manufacturer of brass instruments ever since, particularly saxophone, trumpet, cornet,...
, Besson
Besson (company)
Besson is a manufacturer of brass musical instrument. It is owned by Buffet Crampon, which bought Besson in 2006 from The Music Group.The company was formed in 1837 by Gustave Auguste Besson, who at the age of 18 produced a revolutionary design of cornet which surpassed all contemporary models. His...
, W. Schreiber and J. Keilwerth brands.
In 2004, Antoine Beaussant was made Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by the French prime minister .
Antoine Beaussant is thus carrying on the family tradition started by his grandfather Charles-Gustave Beaussant, an entrepreneur and music lover who graduated from HEC in 1923, and upheld by his father Philippe Beaussant
Philippe Beaussant
Philippe Beaussant is a French musicologist and novelist, an expert on French baroque music, on which he has published widely. He is the founder of the Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles, of which he was the artistic adviser of 1987 to 1996. He has also been a producer of musical programs for...
, a writer, baroque music expert and member of the Académie Française
Académie française
L'Académie française , also called the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution,...
. In 2011 Antoine Beaussant was appointed vice-president of CSFI (Association of Instrument Manufacturers), of the European Association et de la Chambre syndicale Allemande (German Association).