Antoine Bernheim, one of the most important French businessmen, died today in Paris at the age of 87. A top-level executive, he has played a key role in the European banking and financial landscape, both in France and in Italy, where he was at the helm of Generali from 1995 to 1999 and then again from 2002 to 2010, later replaced at the behest of Mediobanca, a shareholder of the Trieste group, by Cesare Geronzi.
From 1967 to 2005 Bernheim worked with Lazard, becoming the promoter of the greatest fortunes beyond the Alps, from those of Bernard Arnault to those of François Pinault and Vincent Bollorè. Especially the former, who helped build the group in the 80s LVMH, which it would later become over the years the world empire of luxury, and of which he was a member of the board of directors until last April.
