Ubisoft Co-Founder Claude Guillemot Killed in French Plane Crash
Claude Guillemot, 69, co-founder of video-game publisher Ubisoft, died along with a passenger when a Cessna 421 crashed near La Baule, France, on Friday.
Claude Guillemot, a co-founder of Ubisoft and chairman of Guillemot Corp., died in a plane crash in western France on Friday at the age of 69. The accident involved a twin-engine Cessna 421 that crashed shortly before 6 p.m. while approaching La Baule airport, according to local news outlet ICI. Both occupants of the aircraft were killed; the identity of the second passenger has not been released.
"Ubisoft was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Claude Guillemot, co-founder of the group and chairman of Guillemot Corp., in an accident," a Ubisoft spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the company’s thoughts were with his family and loved ones.
Mayor Franck Louvrier of La Baule confirmed that witnesses reported the plane banked before crashing. No further details about the cause of the crash have been provided.
Guillemot co-founded Ubisoft with his brothers in 1986, helping the company grow from early titles such as Zombi and Rayman into a major developer of franchises including Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry.