Pierre Louis-Dreyfus

Pierre Louis-Dreyfus (17 May 1908 – 15 January 2011) was a French Resistance fighter during World War II who later was CEO of the Louis Dreyfus Cie.

Early life and education Pierre Louis-Dreyfus was born on 17 May 1908 in Paris, one of four children born to Charles Louis-Dreyfus (1870–1929), a merchant and ship-owner, and Sarah Germaine Hément. His family was Jewish. His paternal grandfather, Léopold Louis-Dreyfus, founded the Louis Dreyfus Group in 1851. He had two siblings, brother François Louis-Dreyfus (1909–1958) and sister, Arlette Louis -Dreyfus (1911–2001). His granddaughter is Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

In 1928, he graduated from the Lycée Condorcet with a joint degree in arts and law.

Military service Called to military service, he became a cadet in the Reserve Cavalry School at Saumur in October 1928 and was released in May 1929 with the rank of sub-lieutenant. He was then assigned to the 6th Dragoons until his release in October 1929. Thereafter, he worked in the family business, Louis Dreyfus & Cie., eventually becoming a partner. He was recalled in August 1939 and served as a lieutenant in the 2nd Dragoon Regiment. He served two rotations in Luxembourg and France before again being discharged after the French capitulation. In 1929, he married American-born Dolores Neubauer, They had two children: a daughter, Dominique (b. 1930), and a son, Gerard (1932–2016). They separated in 1935 and divorced in 1936. Dolores obtained custody of children and while Pierre was fighting in World War II; she moved to the United States in 1940 and returned to France in 1945.

In 1939, They had two children, Philippe (b. 1945) and Danièle Louis-Dreyfus (died 2006). Philippe is the president of Louis Dreyfus Shipping. He married Anne Boinvilliers, with whom he has three children Charlotte, Edouard, and Marie. Danièle died of breast cancer in 2006.

Louis-Dreyfus participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans eleven times between 1931 and 1955. He raced under the pseudonym 'Heldé', derived from L-D (Louis-Dreyfus).

Pierre Louis-Dreyfus died on 15 January 2011 in Neuilly-sur-Seine. He was buried in Ville d'Avray in the Hauts-de-Seine.

Accolades Louis-Dreyfus earned the following medals and merits: Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor Companion of the Liberation - Decree of 17 November 1945 Croix de Guerre 39/45 (6 citations) Medal of the Resistance with Rosette Commander of Maritime Merit Escapees' Medal Officer of Sporting Merit Officer of the Tourist Merit