Serge Kampf

Serge Kampf (* October 13, 1934, in Grenoble; † March 15, 2016) was a French entrepreneur with Swiss roots. He was the founder and long-standing managing director of Capgemini.

Life
Kampf was born in 1934 in Grenoble and had Swiss roots.

He graduated with a double degree in law and economics and began his professional career in 1960 at the Direction générale des Télécommunications in Paris after failing the École nationale d'administration.

He worked at Groupe Bull, a French computer manufacturer, and left the company in 1967. In the same year, he and three colleagues founded the company Sogeti in Grenoble.

Under his chairmanship, he acquired a majority stake in CAP (Centre d'analyse et de Programmation) in 1973 and took over Gemini Computers Systems. In 1975, the company changed its name to CAP Gemini Sogeti. Cap Gemini Sogeti has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1985 and was included in the French stock index CAC 40 in 1988.

In 2011, he became the center of controversy when Bilan magazine mistakenly included him in a list of wealthy French personalities who had recently settled in Switzerland.

Kampf was CEO until May 23, 1996, then President. He stepped down from his position in 2012 at the age of 77. He was succeeded by Paul Hermelin.

Kampf died on March 15, 2016, at the age of 81.

Social commitment
Kampf was patron of the Rugby Union and a member of the French Sports Academy. His companies Capgemini and Sogeti are among the most important supporters of FC Grenoble Rugby and Biarritz Olympique.

A stand at the Aguiléra sports park in Biarritz is named after him.

For many years, he also supported the French Barbarians, a French rugby team, of which he was honorary president.

With a personal donation of 500,000 euros, he helped save the CS Bourgoin-Jallieu association from insolvency.

A lecture hall at the Grenoble Institute of Neuroscience is named after him to honor his donation during the construction of the building in 2006.

Awards
Serge Kampf was an honorary member of FC Grenoble Rugby and Commander of the Legion of Honor.