A significant change is taking place in the management structure of Dassault Systèmes. The company has announced that Bernard Charlès has informed the Board of Directors of his resignation from the positions of chairman and board member for personal reasons. The resignation is effective immediately and is another stage in the succession process that has been prepared in the company in recent years. This decision is also important for the industrial software and digital solutions market for the manufacturing sector, including manufacturers of plastic products and packaging, who have for many years used Dassault Systèmes platforms for design, simulation and product lifecycle management.
The Board of Directors of Dassault Systèmes has unanimously decided that Pascal Daloz, the current chief executive officer, will assume the role of chairman of the Board and CEO, in line with the recommendation of the Compensation and Nomination Committee. The change will take effect on 21 February 2026. The combination of the roles of chairman of the Board and chief executive officer means that responsibility for further development of the company's strategy and oversight of its implementation will be concentrated in a single decision-making center.
Pascal Daloz, the new chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Dassault Systèmes, emphasizes the continuity of vision within the company's leadership and the role of his predecessor in building the enterprise's position on the global market. As he notes, a shared approach to the development of digital technologies and the use of industrial artificial intelligence is to remain the foundation of Dassault Systèmes' strategy in the coming years.
Continuity of vision and the importance of the 3D Univ+rses concept
In his statement, Pascal Daloz highlights both the personal dimension of the change and the long-term nature of the adopted development strategy. "It is an honor for me to succeed Bernard Charlès as chairman of the Board of Directors of Dassault Systèmes, alongside the role of chief executive officer that I already hold. I would like to thank Bernard for his trust, unwavering support and inspiration. We share the same vision: we want to push the boundaries of science and imagination to change the lives of consumers, patients and citizens by bringing virtual worlds into real life. We are also united by a common belief in the plan that is necessary to make this vision a reality."
The new chairman of the Board points to the role of Bernard Charlès in shaping the company's profile as a global provider of solutions for industry. "As co-founder and chief executive officer, Bernard led our company from a start-up to a world leader. He instilled in the organization a culture of continuous innovation and contributed to the transformation of many sectors of the economy, supporting the idea of sustainable development."
An important element of the message is the emphasis on the role of the 3D Univ+rses concept, which uses artificial intelligence to develop the next generation of industrial solutions. Pascal Daloz indicates that cooperation with the former chairman will continue: "I want to thank Bernard for his willingness to continue supporting the company in accelerating the deployment of the AI-powered 3D Univ+rses concept."
According to the new head of Dassault Systèmes, the company's ambition is to play a leading role in the transformation driven by industrial artificial intelligence, among others through the use of 3D Univ+rses. "Our ambition is to lead the transformation driven by industrial artificial intelligence by leveraging 3D Univ+rses. This is a long-term commitment to continuously redefining how industry develops innovation, operates and competes in the generative economy. I am fully determined to provide Dassault Systèmes with the freedom it needs to maintain its role as a leader setting market directions and to further accelerate growth."
Bernard Charlès' resignation and continuity of corporate governance
Bernard Charlès' decision to step down as chairman of the Board of Directors is personal in nature, but in his view it is part of an orderly succession process and continuity of the adopted management model. "I have asked to be released from my duties as chairman of the Board of Directors of Dassault Systèmes for personal reasons. As co-founder of the company, alongside Charles Edelstenne, I am truly pleased that Pascal Daloz is becoming my successor in this role. For 25 years we have worked side by side and I have complete confidence in him, both in terms of running the company and organizing the work of the Board."
As the outgoing chairman stresses, the change in the position of chairman of the Board is intended to strengthen management stability and the trust of key customers. "This decision reflects the continuity of the company's governance, which is the basis of the trust placed in us by our largest customers around the world. I am deeply convinced that it will provide the best conditions for the further successful development of Dassault Systèmes."
In his comments, Bernard Charlès points to the role of employees and business partners in building the company's position and emphasizes his continued involvement in the technological development of Dassault Systèmes. "The employees, teams, customers, purpose and values of Dassault Systèmes, as well as what we are creating together, fill me with pride. Deep in my heart I am a leader in product and technology, this is where my passion lies. I will remain fully available to support the company in accelerating the deployment of the 3D Univ+rses concept. Over the past 40 years, I have initiated six generations of industrial transformations, leading breakthrough product innovations. The seventh generation ('Gen7') is now clearly defined and designed. Pascal and his outstanding team will continue to build on this impressive legacy for the benefit of our customers, partners and shareholders."
Board perspective and implications for the company's further development
Charles Edelstenne, founder and honorary chairman of the Board of Directors of Dassault Systèmes, also commented on the management changes. In his view, Bernard Charlès' contribution to building the company's position as a global leader in product lifecycle management solutions is crucial for the current situation of the enterprise. "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Bernard Charlès for his tireless leadership, thanks to which Dassault Systèmes has become a global leader in product lifecycle management (PLM), as confirmed in all sectors of industry. His exceptional vision, appreciated by many leading global companies, has always been an important competitive advantage for Dassault Systèmes."
Charles Edelstenne notes that in recent years Bernard Charlès has actively prepared the succession process and the development of the next generation of the company's solutions based on artificial intelligence. "Over the past three years, Bernard has diligently prepared the succession process. He ensured the full deployment of the seventh generation of our industrial solutions based on artificial intelligence and passed on his professional legacy while maintaining an unwavering commitment to the highest quality standards. Pascal Daloz will continue to develop Dassault Systèmes, and the company is in good hands with regard to its future."
The changes in the governance structure of Dassault Systèmes mean, for the market and for the plastics processing and packaging production segments in particular, a continuation of the existing direction in the development of digital tools for design, simulation and product lifecycle management. The importance attached in the statements to industrial artificial intelligence and the 3D Univ+rses concept indicates a sustained long-term focus on integrating virtual solutions with real production processes, which has a direct impact on innovation, efficiency and the ability to implement sustainability strategies in industrial enterprises.
