FRANCOIS JACKOW

About FRANCOIS JACKOW

François Jackow is a key figure in the governance of Air Liquide, the global industrial group specializing in gases, technologies and services for industry and healthcare. Appointed Chief Executive Officer of L’Air Liquide S.A. on June 1, 2022, and also serving as a Director, he has since become the face of the Group’s strategic continuity and transformation. His long internal career, which began in 1993, gives him a deep understanding of Air Liquide’s businesses, markets and long-term value creation model. Jackow holds a distinctive combination of scientific excellence and executive leadership. He graduated from the École normale supérieure in Paris, earned a Master’s degree in Chemistry from Harvard University, and completed an MBA at the Collège des ingénieurs. This blend of technical and managerial training, acquired in both France and the United States, has shaped a career marked by international exposure and operational breadth. Early in his career, he worked in the United States and the Netherlands, where he took on responsibilities in sales, marketing, engineering and construction. He later spent two years working alongside Benoît Potier, then CEO of the Group, which helped consolidate his understanding of the company’s industrial and strategic priorities. In 2002, he was appointed Vice President of Innovation, overseeing research and development as well as advanced technologies. In 2007, he became Chief Executive Officer of Air Liquide Japan in Tokyo, gaining substantial leadership experience in a demanding Asian market. In 2011, he took charge of the global Large Industries business line. He joined the Executive Committee in 2014 as Group Strategy Vice President, where he helped develop the NEOS strategic plan and played a role in the 2016 Airgas acquisition. He also created the Customer Division in 2014, reflecting a strong focus on customer proximity and organizational efficiency. As CEO, Jackow leads the ADVANCE strategic plan, structured around four priorities: strong financial performance, decarbonization, technological innovation and acting for all stakeholders. His leadership is closely associated with Air Liquide’s ambitions in energy transition, low-carbon hydrogen and high-value solutions for industry and healthcare.