Thank you Bernard Méheut (H.60)

As we begin 2021, we have been deeply saddened to hear of the death of Bernard Méheut (H.60), a Grand Donor of the HEC Foundation and member of the Dean’s Circle, who showed great commitment to HEC Paris for many years.

Olivier Sevillia (MBA.90), President of the HEC Foundation said:

"With the passing of Bernard Méheut (H.60), the HEC Foundation has lost a man of great generosity towards the School. Bernard Méheut was particularly attentive to Equal Opportunities schemes, and the HEC community will always remember this discreet and generous man and the exemplary commitment he displayed."

A career at the service of SMEs and management sciences:

Bernard Méheut entered HEC after passing the 1957 entrance exam in which he placed 41st out of 260 admitted students (1,144 applicants). He graduated in 1960, ranking 9th out of 289 students, with an average grade of 15.66 out of 20. 

After a brilliant career at IBM (1965-1978), he joined IDI Group, founded to provide equity capital support to French SMEs. He contributed to some outstanding investments as Head of Financial Analysis for this group specializing in private equity.

Realizing that the management methods of French SMEs were in need of development, he went into teaching (to third-year students at HEC for 4 years and then at the Collège des Ingénieurs for 25 years). He wrote two books: “Gestion Budgétaire de l’Entreprise” (Dauphine Entreprise Award, 1988) and “Analyse Financière – La Lecture d’un Bilan” and developed the Anafidi financial analysis software program. He was also interested in State management and wrote 30 articles on the tax and financial management of the State, which were published in major newspapers such as Les Echos, La Tribune or Commentaire.

An exemplary commitment to the HEC Foundation:

During his studies at HEC, Bernard Méheut received a scholarship from the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He therefore found it natural to contribute in return to promoting social mobility and developing scholarships at HEC Paris, a cause he supported for many years alongside the HEC Foundation.

In 2014, a lecture hall bearing his name was inaugurated in the presence of his family to mark his exemplary commitment to the School, and it will keep memories of him alive on campus.

We would like to publicly thank Bernard Méheut for his dedication to HEC Paris during all these years and we will always remember this generous and discreet man.

Eloïc Peyrache, Acting Dean of HEC Paris, also spoke about the loss of this Major Donor:

"Bernard Méheut ranked among the great alumni of HEC. He dedicated his career to the development of SMEs and to his passion for teaching. As a proud graduate of HEC Paris, he always set a fine example by giving generously to the School that trained him."