Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has publicly addressed the recent death of his brother and fellow Ubisoft co-founder, Claude Guillemot. In a statement shared on LinkedIn, Yves expressed gratitude to fans, employees, and the community for their messages of support during this difficult time.
Reflecting on his brother's life, Yves Guillemot stated that Claude "helped shape Ubisoft with an entrepreneurial spirit, curiosity, and unwavering optimism." He further elaborated that Claude "believed deeply in innovation, embraced new technologies early, and always encouraged us to look ahead with confidence." Claude Guillemot was instrumental in founding Ubisoft alongside his brothers Yves, Michel, Christian, and Gérard in 1986. He served on the board of directors and as president of Guillemot Corporation, working behind the scenes to grow the business.
Yves Guillemot described his brother as someone with a "remarkable ability to connect with people," noting that Claude "always gave people his full attention" and was "genuinely interested in others, generous with his time, and always ready to share his enthusiasm or a few words of encouragement." Tributes from others have consistently highlighted Claude's kindness, wisdom, optimism, and infectious energy, emphasizing his natural talent for making people feel valued and welcome.
"Those qualities helped shape Ubisoft’s culture and values from the very beginning," Yves Guillemot wrote. "Our belief that great games are created by talented people working together with trust, curiosity, and respect owes much to the example Claude set every day. His humanity influenced our company as much as his vision."
Claude Guillemot passed away unexpectedly ten days prior to the statement, in a plane crash that claimed two lives. He was 69 years old.