Ubisoft Co-Founder Claude Guillemot Dies in Plane Crash
Claude Guillemot Ubisoft death plane crash
Claude Guillemot, one of the five brothers who co-founded the major video game publisher Ubisoft in 1986, has died following a fatal plane crash in western France. The incident occurred on Friday, June 19, 2026, when a twin-engine Cessna 421 aircraft went down in a field near the La Baule aerodrome in the Loire-Atlantique region. Guillemot, 69, was one of two people aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash; both individuals were killed in the accident.
Local emergency responders arrived at the scene to find the wreckage on fire, with flames spreading to nearby vegetation, which delayed the immediate identification of the victims. French aviation authorities have since launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. Reports indicate that Guillemot, who was a member of the local flying club, had been traveling to the resort town of La Baule to attend a scheduled weekend gathering of aviation enthusiasts.
Guillemot played a fundamental role in the development of Ubisoft, helping to transform the business from its early days in the agricultural supply sector into a global leader in video game publishing. While his brother Yves Guillemot became the public face of the company as its long-serving CEO, Claude served as an operational backbone, holding various senior positions including executive vice president of operations and board member. Beyond his work at Ubisoft, he also served as the chairman and CEO of Guillemot Corporation, the family’s hardware division known for brands such as Thrustmaster and Hercules.
In an official statement, Ubisoft expressed deep sadness regarding the loss, noting the company’s thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this time.
