IT services provider Capgemini today announced the death of its founder Serge Kampf at the age of 81.
Serge Kampf, who found and built Capgemini Group, died in his home city of Grenoble, France. Serge Kampf was also vice chairman of the Board of Capgemini.
Serge Kampf was born on 13 October 1934 in Grenoble. After double degree in Law and Economics, Serge Kampf started his career in 1960 at the General Direction of Telecommunications in Paris. He joined the Compagnie des Machines Bull and discovered computing opportunities for enterprises.
Serge Kampf created Sogeti with three former colleagues from Bull on 1 October 1967, in Grenoble, in a two-room apartment converted into an office.
Serge Kampf grew the BPO company and build it into a leader in Europe. By 1975 it had an established presence in 21 countries, following the acquisition of two major IT services companies, CAP and Gemini Computer Systems. The Group then joined the CAC 40 in 1988.
Serge Kampf built an international dimension to the Group which, by 1989, was seen as one of the 5 world leaders in the IT sector.
He conducted strategic acquisitions in America and Europe, including United Research (1990), Data Logic (1990), Hoskyns (1990), the Mac Group (1991), Volmac (1992), Gruber Titze & Partners (1993), Bossard (1997), Ernst & Young Consulting (2000), Transiciel (2003), Kanbay International (2007) and CPM Braxis (2010).
In 2012, Serge Kampf announced his departure from the presidency of Capgemini, 45 years after beginning his entrepreneurial journey.
Serge Kampf had a rare strength of conviction, along with a surprising ability to unite and inspire teams. They also recollect his taste for freedom, his absolute requirement for honesty, and his love of words, which he mastered with intransigence and in his own inimitable style.
For Paul Hermelin, chairman and CEO of Capgemini, said: “Serge Kampf was an extraordinary man, an entrepreneur, the likes of which are rare. I will never forget all that Serge has taught us, his quest for excellence, the intellectual stimulation that one felt in his presence, as well as his faithful and loyal friendship.”
