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Pierre Marion

1921 – 2010

French intelligence chief

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About Pierre Marion

Lived 1921 – 2010 (aged 89). Pierre Marion was a French official and civil servant.

Pierre Marion (24 January 1921 – 17 May 2010) was a French senior official, who was the first director of the Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE – Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure) from 1981 to 1982, and its predecessor, the Service de Documentation Extérieure et de Contre-Espionnage (SDECE).

Marion was born in Marseille, and entered the École Polytechnique at just 18 years of age. Following his education, he joined Air France where he held various management positions from 1956 to 1972. He then became managing director of aerospace manufacturer Aerospatiale's North American operations for ten years.

In 1981, Marion was asked by his friend, Charles Hernu (who had been made Minister of Defence in François Mitterrand's government), if he would become director of the SDECE, the French external intelligence agency. He agreed, and set about modernising the service, reducing its ties to the French military, and changing its name to DGSE. Marion clashed with Mitterrand over several issues, including the creation of an anti-terrorist cell operating from within the President's office, and in 1982 he was replaced by Admiral Pierre Lacoste.

Marion died in 2010 in Louviers.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
École polytechnique
Positions held
Director of DGSE, Director, President
Employers
Air France, Aérospatiale

People in Pierre Marion's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Pierre Marion's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Pierre Marion?

French intelligence chief (1921–2010)

When was Pierre Marion born?

Pierre Marion was born on 24 January 1921 in Marseille.

When did Pierre Marion die?

Pierre Marion died on 17 May 2010 in Louviers.

What was Pierre Marion's occupation?

Pierre Marion was an official and civil servant.

What nationality was Pierre Marion?

Pierre Marion was French.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Pierre Marion

· Wikidata: Q2093677

· DBpedia: Pierre Marion

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Pierre Marion. https://biography.guide/pierre-marion/

MLA: "Pierre Marion." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/pierre-marion/.

Chicago: "Pierre Marion." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/pierre-marion/.

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