Jean-Paul Béchat

Jean-Paul Béchat (September 2, 1942 – November 22, 2014) was a French engineer. He was the CEO of Snecma then Safran until 2007.

Early life
Béchat was born in Montlhery, France. He held an engineering degree from the École Polytechnique and a Master of Science from Stanford University.

Career
Béchat started career at Snecma in 1965 as a production engineer, where he spent the main part of his career. At the company he later became Director of production during 1974-1978, managing director of Industrial Affairs between 1979-1981, then Assistant General Manager of the reactor power management subsidiary, Hispano-Suiza between 1982-1985. In 1986 he became General Manager then CEO of Messier-Hispano-Bugatti, later creating Messier-Dowty in 1994.

Béchat was CEO of Snecma SA From June 4, 1996 to March 2005. Béchat oversaw the merger of Snecma and the defense-electronics maker Sagem, in 2005, to form Safran, Europe’s second largest engine maker. He ran the company as CEO between 2005 and 2007.

Board Memberships

 * Chairman of AECMA since October 2001
 * Honorary Chairman and Member of the Board of ASD since May 2005
 * Independent Director at Alstom Power AG and Alstom Deutschland GmbH since May 14, 2001 until July 2013
 * Director of GIFAS since 2009
 * Board Member of the IMS International Metal Service until 2010
 * Board Member of Aéroports de Paris 2004-2005
 * Board Member of France Telecom SA 1998-2003
 * Independent Director of Alstom Finland Oy since July 9, 2004
 * Independent Director of Atos SE since 2009
 * Independent Non-Executive Director at Russian Helicopters JSC since 2011
 * Chairman of the Board and CEO of PowerJet
 * Member of the Advisory Board of Banque de France
 * Member of the Advisory Board of the General Board of Weaponry
 * Member of the Advisory Board of the MEDEF Executive Committee
 * Member of the Advisory Board and Director of SOGEPA
 * Director of Messier-Dowty International

Awards

 * Commander of the Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur
 * Officer of the National Order of Merit (France).
 * Commander of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite;
 * Honorary Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society;
 * Member of the Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France (AAAF);
 * Member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA).
 * Gold medal of C.E.A.S. (Council of European Aerospace Societies)

Other Affiliations
Bechat also held the positions of a member of the UIMM, Board Member of the Musée de l'air et de l'espace, and member of the ASD council, in addition to having been a member of the Economic Council of Defense and the General Council of Armaments.