Paris - 19 May 2015– Euronext has learned with great sadness the demise of Jean-François Théodore, former CEO of Euronext NV and deputy CEO of NYSE Euronext.
Jean-François Théodore, a market man and confirmed European, led the major transformation of stock markets in France and in Europe, from the generalization of the electronic market to the creation of Euronext, the first pan-European exchange, and the merger with the New York Stock Exchange to create NYSE Euronext.
Born 5 December 1946, Jean-Francois Theodore graduated from Sciences Po in Paris and was a former student at the élite French business school ENA. He began his career at the Treasury Department in the Ministry of Economy and Finance from 1974 to 1989. He was Head of the Office of African States and the franc zone from 1980 to 1982, the Office of foreign investments in France and French overseas investments between 1982 and 1984, Deputy Director of Credit Institutions from 1984 to 1986 and Deputy Director, Head of the Finance and Holdings Department from 1986 to 1990, which included working alongside Jean-Claude Trichet on large privatization campaigns.
In 1990, he became Chairman and CEO of the SBF Bourse de Paris and led the transformation of the French market. From 1993 to 2000 he was also Chairman of Sicovam SA, the French central depository.
- He led the transformation of the French market; as the head of Sicovam in 1990, he led the completion of the project Relit, the biggest civilian IT project of the 80s, which established the settlement of stock trades in three days. Directing the SBF-Paris Bourse, he set up the generalization of continuous trading on the French market.
- In 1999, when the single market reached a crucial stage with the introduction of the euro in financial markets opening up competition between exchanges, he merged the various French markets (MATIF, MONEP, New Market) within a single entity, Paris Stock Exchange (Paris Bourse SA).
- During this period, he chaired the International Federation of Stock Exchanges for two years (1993-1994) and was President of the Federation of European Stock Exchanges (1998-2000).
In September 2000, he initiated the creation of Euronext, the first pan-European exchange, and was appointed Chairman of the Management Board. Created in September 2000, Euronext brought together the exchanges of Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris around a single exchange operator model.
- In 2001, he led the IPO of Euronext.
- In 2002, he convinced the shareholders and management of Liffe, the second largest derivatives market in Europe, to join Euronext, allowing the company to significantly expand its geographical scope and its activities. In the same year, the Lisbon Stock Exchange joined Euronext, making the group present in five European countries.
- In 2006, Euronext and the New York Stock Exchange announced their merger and Jean-François Théodore became Deputy Chief Executive of the transatlantic NYSE Euronext group.
- In December 2009, Jean-François Théodore left the NYSE Euronext group.