Jean-François Théodore facts for kids

Jean-François Théodore (born December 5, 1946 – died May 18, 2015) was a very important French businessman. He was the main leader of a big company called Euronext, which runs several stock exchanges in Europe. He also played a key role in creating NYSE Euronext, a huge stock exchange that connected Europe and America.

His Early Life and School

Jean-François Théodore was born in Paris, France, on December 5, 1946. His parents both worked for the government. He went to special schools in Paris, including Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris and the famous Ecole Nationale D'Administration (ENA). He also earned a law degree from the University of Paris.

His Amazing Career

Jean-François Théodore started his career in 1974 at the Treasury Department in France. This department is part of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. He worked there for many years, until 1989. During this time, he held several important jobs. He helped manage money matters for African countries and worked on foreign investments. He also helped with big projects to sell government-owned companies to private owners.

In 1990, Théodore became the leader of Société des Bourses Françaises (SBF). This was the main stock market in France at the time. He helped the SBF become more modern. He moved its trading from old methods to a new electronic system. This made buying and selling stocks much faster and easier.

He was also very active in European finance. From 1993 to 1994, he was the president of the International Federation of Stock Exchanges. Later, from 1998 to 2000, he led the Federation of European Stock Exchanges.

Building Euronext

After the Euro currency was created, Théodore believed that stock markets needed to join together. He thought this would make them stronger. In 1999, thanks to his efforts, several French markets merged into one company called Paris Stock Exchange (Paris Bourse SA).

His next big idea was to create a new, large European stock exchange. He wanted to make the European financial market more modern. In 2000, his hard work led to the creation of Euronext. This was formed by combining the stock exchanges of Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam.

When Euronext started, the companies listed on its markets were worth about $2.2 trillion. This made it Europe’s second-largest stock exchange. In 2001, Théodore made Euronext a publicly traded company itself. This meant people could buy shares in Euronext.

In 2002, under his leadership, Euronext bought a big derivatives exchange in London called Liffe. This made Euronext even bigger. The same year, the Lisbon Stock Exchange also joined the group. This made Euronext the first truly pan-European exchange, operating in five different countries.

Connecting Continents

After connecting markets in Europe, Théodore worked on an even bigger project. He wanted to create the first stock market that connected Europe and America. This idea led to the creation of NYSE Euronext. The plan was announced in 2006 and became a reality in 2007. This was a huge step in connecting global financial markets.

In 2009, he retired from his main job at Euronext. However, he continued to help guide the company with important mergers and deals. People who worked with him said he wasn't focused on getting rich himself. Instead, he wanted to achieve his big goals for the company and the markets. They said his success came from his calm approach, his lack of arrogance, and his strong beliefs. He was known for being careful, patient, and paying close attention to details.

Special Awards

Jean-François Théodore received the INSEAD Transcultural Leadership Award on April 24, 2007. This award recognized his leadership in bringing different cultures and markets together.

About His Family

Théodore married Claudine, a skin doctor, in 1976. They had three children together. In September 2014, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He passed away on May 18, 2015.