Thibault Defrance de Tersant

About Thibault Defrance de Tersant

Thibault de Tersant is a long-standing executive at Dassault Systèmes, where he has spent the core of his career since joining the company in October 1988. For nearly three decades, he served as Chief Financial Officer, helping shape the group’s financial architecture during a period of rapid international expansion and its transformation into a global leader in 3D design, PLM and virtual twin technologies. In January 2018, Dassault Systèmes announced his move to the role of Senior Executive Vice President and General Secretary, while confirming that he would remain a member of both the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors. That transition broadened his remit beyond finance to include governance, legal affairs, strategic initiatives and certain operational matters. During his long tenure as CFO, he oversaw key functions such as finance, internal control, sales administration, contract negotiations, pricing and mergers and acquisitions. Sector and company sources indicate that he was involved in more than 80 successful acquisitions, representing approximately USD 5 billion, which became one of the defining pillars of Dassault Systèmes’ growth strategy. He is widely regarded as an expert in financial discipline, risk management, M&A execution and the governance of listed companies. Beyond his corporate responsibilities, he also serves as President of the Dassault Systèmes Foundation, underlining his commitment to education, research and innovation for the public good. His career reflects a rare combination of deep financial expertise, strategic vision and long-term stewardship within a leading French technology group.