Jean-Bernard Lafonta

Jean-Bernard Lafonta

Founding Partner
Jean-Bernard created HLD in 2010 in conjunction with its leading shareholders. He brings a cross-functional view of the Group's business and his expertise to all investment decisions.
After working in various ministerial cabinets in France, Jean-Bernard joined the investment bank Lazard in 1993. After three years as an M&A advisor to major French companies, he joined BNP as Director of Strategy, then Head of Capital Markets and finally Chairman of Banque Directe. He was recruited by Wendel in 2001 as Chief Executive Officer and then Chairman of the Executive Board. He transformed Wendel into an investment company and made investments in Legrand, Editis and Bureau Veritas.
Education: Polytechnique
At HLD since 2010