PHILIPPE LAUFER

About PHILIPPE LAUFER

Philippe Laufer is a long-standing Dassault Systèmes executive whose career has been built almost entirely within the company since 1985. Trained as an engineer, he holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from École Centrale de Nantes, a master’s degree in Production Automation from École Nationale Supérieure des Techniques Avancées, and a PhD in Systems Engineering. His profile combines deep technical expertise with extensive operational experience across product development, industrial processes, and customer-facing strategy. He began his career in CATIA research and development, working on design and manufacturing solutions. A formative assignment took him to Seattle for two years, where he helped lay the foundations of the Boeing 777 program, strengthening his understanding of large-scale industrial requirements and complex engineering collaboration. He later led Dassault Systèmes’ Automotive Competency Center, where the company’s solutions became a benchmark in the sector. In 1996, he was appointed head of R&D for CATIA’s Shape Design and Styling domain, and in 2006 he took charge of CATIA’s global R&D organization. In 2012, Philippe Laufer became CEO of CATIA, a role in which he was instrumental in shaping the new CATIA around the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and in advancing the brand’s transition from “design thinking” to “experience thinking.” Since 2020, he has served as Executive Vice-President, 3DS Global Brands, with responsibility for all Dassault Systèmes brands, and since 2021 he has also led Customer Engagement teams. His mandate focuses on building strong, long-term relationships with customers and users, promoting Industry Processes and Roles worldwide, and accelerating online and cloud-based engagement. Overall, Laufer stands out as a highly seasoned leader at the intersection of technology, brand strategy, industrial transformation, and customer value creation.