JOSE GONZALO

About JOSE GONZALO

José Gonzalo is a highly regarded French executive known for his senior-level expertise in strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and investment. He currently holds a leading role at Bpifrance, where he serves as Executive Director of Direct Investments in small, medium and large companies, overseeing an assets-under-management portfolio reported at €25 billion. In that capacity, he works on transactions and investment decisions that sit at the intersection of financing, external growth and support for mid-sized and large companies. At EssilorLuxottica, José Gonzalo serves as an independent director. His role on the board reflects the group’s preference for directors who can bring disciplined financial judgment and strategic oversight to a global business operating in a complex international environment. EssilorLuxottica confirmed his appointment to the board as part of the governance refresh introduced in 2021, alongside the company’s other key directors. He studied at Sciences Po Paris and Paris Dauphine University, two institutions strongly associated with finance, public affairs and corporate strategy in France. He has 28 years of M&A experience, which has shaped a career focused on growth transactions, capital restructurings and long-term value creation. He began his professional journey in the mergers and acquisitions department at Compagnie Financière Rothschild, then joined Orange Group, where he held several executive positions. From 2009 to 2014, he served as Head of Mergers and Acquisitions at Capgemini. This background gives him strong credibility in transformation, negotiation and capital allocation. At Bpifrance and across the boards on which he sits, including CMA CGM, Paprec, Total Eren and Galileo Global Education, he brings a practical understanding of governance, financing and industrial strategy. At EssilorLuxottica, his profile strengthens the board’s ability to assess growth plans, M&A opportunities and long-term strategic priorities within a global eyewear leader.