SolidWorks CEO is French But It's Not What You Think

Conspiracy theorists will delight in viewing Bertrand Sicot's ascension to CEO of SolidWorks as Dassault's maneuver to install one of their own. Dassault did buy SolidWorks years ago, and yes, we have been seeing and hearing more from their French CEO, Bernard Charles. Yes, we have been offered more Dassault products - whether we think we need them or not. Wouldn't a French corporate general sent from across the ocean complete the French invasion?

Bertrand Sicot, SolidWorks new CEO

The facts may not fit the conspiracy.

I called Bertrand, who is only too well aware of a misconception. "People read between the lines," he said. "I was hired by SolidWorks in 1997." This was the same year Dassault announced plans to acquire SolidWorks, but Bertrand says he was interviewed only by SolidWorks execs.

"So, the fact that you are French and so is Dassault is a happy coincidence?" I ask. "That is a good way to put it," says Bertrand with a laugh.

Bertrand joined SolidWorks -- not Dassault -- as their #2 employee in Europe. Jeff Ray, SolidWorks' outgoing CEO, asked Bertrand to move to US in 2004 as VP of North America sales.

Ok, so he may not be a Dassault general, but he's just a salesman, right? Turns out, he has a mechanical engineering degree! Hey, so did Hirschtick.. and Johnny Mac. Maybe he's one of us.

 

Comments

[Kevin De Smet]

I must concur, when I was driving SolidWorks at a company who made packaging machines, the need for quick changes would be quite better served with direct modeling.

*whispers* move faces everywhere in the bottoms of part trees... shhh, don't tell nobody...

[Jon Banquer]

SolidWorks is devoid of any real direct modeling tools. Those of us who work in machining job shops badly need direct modeling tools in SolidWorks. Up till now no one at SolidWorks Corp. in a position to do something about this serious problem has done jack "s" to solve it. Is Bertrand Sicot planning to fix this glaring problem that has existed for years in SolidWorks?

[Mark Burhop]

I essentially did the opposite moving from the US to France to work for a French company. Being able to get one foot in each environment gives you a better understanding and the ability to communicate more effectively with both groups, not just one.

Argue technical direction all you want but the fact that he is a French engineer is at worst irrelevant but more likely an important business advantage.